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The Green Mile #1-6
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When it first appeared, one volume per month, Stephen King's THE GREEN MILE was an unprecedented publishing triumph: all six volumes ended up on the New York Times bestseller lists—simultaneously—and delighted millions of fans the world over.
Welcome to Cold Mountain Penitentiary, home to the Depression-worn men of E Block. Convicted killers all, each awaits his turn to walk the Green Mile, keeping a date with "Old Sparky," Cold Mountain's electric chair. Prison guard Paul Edgecombe has seen his share of oddities in his years working the Mile. But he's never seen anyone like John Coffey, a man with the body of a giant and the mind of a child, condemned for a crime terrifying in its violence and shocking in its depravity. In this place of ultimate retribution, Edgecombe is about to discover the terrible, wondrous truth about Coffey, a truth that will challenge his most cherished beliefes... and yours.
Welcome to Cold Mountain Penitentiary, home to the Depression-worn men of E Block. Convicted killers all, each awaits his turn to walk the Green Mile, keeping a date with "Old Sparky," Cold Mountain's electric chair. Prison guard Paul Edgecombe has seen his share of oddities in his years working the Mile. But he's never seen anyone like John Coffey, a man with the body of a giant and the mind of a child, condemned for a crime terrifying in its violence and shocking in its depravity. In this place of ultimate retribution, Edgecombe is about to discover the terrible, wondrous truth about Coffey, a truth that will challenge his most cherished beliefes... and yours.
471 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1996
8668 people are currently reading
241397 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,393 books888k followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 16,251 reviews
June 18, 2016
So I cheated on my local library last week. I don't think she knows yet, and I feel kind of bad about it. I discovered a smaller library that was actually much closer to my house. She definitely caught my attention, but I never went because it just seemed like the selection was going to be much smaller, and my current library and I have a great thing going right now.
But now I'm involved with two libraries and, boy, is my life going great!
I found this book at the new library where I couldn't find anything else that jumped out to me. I mean, the fiction section is like three rows, maybe four. That includes every genre of fiction. No mystery, romance, horror... it's all fiction.
This is the book I left with last week, and this is now my favorite Stephen King book. This is King at the top of his game. It's the perfect length with all six parts, it ends well, and he doesn't rely on horror or too much salty language to tell a fantastic story.
I've always said King is the best when he stays under 400 pages or so and doesn't write about vampires or monsters. He dabbles in the supernatural here, but not for the sake of scaring the reader. He just really, really hit a home run with this thing.
I liked having six separate parts combined into one novel. Each new section felt fresh with a new plot element, and King helps reset the scene from where he left off before. The characters are all well developed and none of them are too outlandish or over-the-top. Even the antagonist. That was great.
I have a solid love/hate relationship with Mr. King, but I loved this one. Seriously, this is my favorite book I've read from him. Go read it if you haven't already. And watch the movie because it's a classic on its own.
And, thank you Stephen King for a beautiful first date with my local library. I hope our future encounters are this incredible.
But now I'm involved with two libraries and, boy, is my life going great!
I found this book at the new library where I couldn't find anything else that jumped out to me. I mean, the fiction section is like three rows, maybe four. That includes every genre of fiction. No mystery, romance, horror... it's all fiction.
This is the book I left with last week, and this is now my favorite Stephen King book. This is King at the top of his game. It's the perfect length with all six parts, it ends well, and he doesn't rely on horror or too much salty language to tell a fantastic story.
I've always said King is the best when he stays under 400 pages or so and doesn't write about vampires or monsters. He dabbles in the supernatural here, but not for the sake of scaring the reader. He just really, really hit a home run with this thing.
I liked having six separate parts combined into one novel. Each new section felt fresh with a new plot element, and King helps reset the scene from where he left off before. The characters are all well developed and none of them are too outlandish or over-the-top. Even the antagonist. That was great.
I have a solid love/hate relationship with Mr. King, but I loved this one. Seriously, this is my favorite book I've read from him. Go read it if you haven't already. And watch the movie because it's a classic on its own.
And, thank you Stephen King for a beautiful first date with my local library. I hope our future encounters are this incredible.
April 20, 2017
Deserve more than 5 stars
December 13, 2022
I can now clarify, not only with myself, but with every other King fan, that this particular book gave me rather noticeable palpitations and for a moment or two, it made me feel quite faint. I've seen 'The Green Mile' Tom Hanks film adaptation, and although that was also amazing, and it makes for edge-of-the-seat viewing at times, when all is said and done, it has nothing on this book.
This book is up there with my list I like to call "King mind-fucks" and in that group are books like The Shining and Pet Sematary and right there, just on the outside looking in, is Cujo, who didn't quite make that group, but still, it's a book I consider a 'classic King'
There are elements of horror within these pages, but it is done in a subtle way, and I think King gets more of a result with subtle, and not with in your face blood and gore. It just works better, especially for me, and it admittedly makes my toes curl.
The story is led by Paul Edgecombe, who is a guard in charge of 'The Green Mile' which is a block that houses purely death row inmates. While Paul was there, his block housed some wild and mostly unforgettable characters, one being John Coffey, a larger than life man, who was afraid of the dark, and had been accused of a absolutely horrific crime. John Coffey changes the lives of the inmates, and the guards who work on the mile, and we feel human compassion and emotion at it's finest.
The characters are finely drawn with such care, and I felt as if I knew some of those personally. I completely loathed the little dick Percy Whetmore, and I haven't hated a character as much as I did Percy Whetmore at poor Del's execution. It made for horrendously uncomfortable reading, and that was mainly due to Percy Whetmore. He is a despicable excuse for a human being, that literally thrived on watching other people suffer.
I admire the way King writes about how Paul Edgecombe and his men attempt to give the men on death row respect, and dignity until the day when they have to sit on the 'Old Sparky'. I think King captures these tender but also powerful moments with ease, and with a skilful level that is pretty rare to me.
I finished this book this morning, and I'm still sitting about thinking about it. I can report that my heart is somewhat calmer, but I very much doubt that I'll be able to forget this book for the years ahead of me. But, let's be honest here, why on earth would I want to?
This book is up there with my list I like to call "King mind-fucks" and in that group are books like The Shining and Pet Sematary and right there, just on the outside looking in, is Cujo, who didn't quite make that group, but still, it's a book I consider a 'classic King'
There are elements of horror within these pages, but it is done in a subtle way, and I think King gets more of a result with subtle, and not with in your face blood and gore. It just works better, especially for me, and it admittedly makes my toes curl.
The story is led by Paul Edgecombe, who is a guard in charge of 'The Green Mile' which is a block that houses purely death row inmates. While Paul was there, his block housed some wild and mostly unforgettable characters, one being John Coffey, a larger than life man, who was afraid of the dark, and had been accused of a absolutely horrific crime. John Coffey changes the lives of the inmates, and the guards who work on the mile, and we feel human compassion and emotion at it's finest.
The characters are finely drawn with such care, and I felt as if I knew some of those personally. I completely loathed the little dick Percy Whetmore, and I haven't hated a character as much as I did Percy Whetmore at poor Del's execution. It made for horrendously uncomfortable reading, and that was mainly due to Percy Whetmore. He is a despicable excuse for a human being, that literally thrived on watching other people suffer.
I admire the way King writes about how Paul Edgecombe and his men attempt to give the men on death row respect, and dignity until the day when they have to sit on the 'Old Sparky'. I think King captures these tender but also powerful moments with ease, and with a skilful level that is pretty rare to me.
I finished this book this morning, and I'm still sitting about thinking about it. I can report that my heart is somewhat calmer, but I very much doubt that I'll be able to forget this book for the years ahead of me. But, let's be honest here, why on earth would I want to?
December 26, 2021
Racism, capital punishment, and healing magic are a trifecta match made on death row
A grain of white magic
Of about a potion of a few percent given to the most important ingredient, characterization, and everything runs just so much more smoothly. That´s another King trademark, to never go the epic, high fantasy road with loads of big, badass superpowers with rock paper scissors dynamic, but with just a Shining, psi power, or some special medical treatment skills that give the little extra bonus to a great story. Less is so often more and demonstrating how the soft magic influences the magician, witch, or demon and the people confronted with her/him/it, how perception and world view change in other characters and how everything slowly accelerates towards total escalation, is always a hell of a ride.
Coffey lets Paul stay up all night
The main focus is on the interaction and developing relationship of these 2 very different characters, a disillusionized jailer and the gentle giant. The other inmates, colleagues, and the double homicide backstory are just the instigators to get Paul more and more obsessed about what´s really going on with Coffey, both regarding his case and himself as a person, while some, once good, magical realism is making the whole thriller background plotline even more mysterious.
Death penalty and evil inherent flaws of retributive justice
A restorative justice system without killing, hopefully guilty, criminals, wouldn´t have made such an incomparable monument of the shoals of human made systems, and King criticizes the heck out of this escalating, greed driven, not big history vivisected, system called American justice system. No other democratic country combined, or to a certain extent could because they hadn´t enough poor, discriminated groups of people in their own population, neoliberal turbo capitalistic privatization of military industrial prison complexes fed by the legislation that runs on lobbyism, corruption, and neoconservatism, with eliminating close to all free social and welfare services to forever feed the moloch with the fresh souls of the ones who have no other option than to be criminal or live and die young in poverty.
Reasons for that
American history and the current system could be seen as a continuation of the triangular trade with extra steps, one could certainly make interesting graphics including the new big players and masterminds behind it, including historical, sociological, political, and economic legitimations. But that would need objective, big history research no one is interested in because it could awake the extremely expensive monster of compensation for Africans, native Americans, and all the others enslaved, killed, and suppressed people from Columbus to the wild west until the 21st century. That´s nothing elites are interested in.
It´s no problem that it wasn´t meant to be a real book, but just a serial novel
Kings´ ingenuity makes it seem as if it´s one piece, never intentioned to be published part by part, and one bonus of this writing method is that there are even more cliffhangers than in an average novel, because there had to be a bigger hook at each end. Maybe it even wouldn´t have been that good if King would have written another, normal story without this new convention.
Racism and the prison system
King doesn´t directly point the finger at this problem, but just the fact that a could be seen as a metaphor. Just as with his story Hope Springs Eternal culminating in the epic The Shawshank Redemption, King is dealing with the inhumanity, madness, and injustice of many draconic, hellhole prison unjustice systems, focusing on poverty, hate, and the third, most underrated justice that tends to be forgotten for dogmatic and economic reasons, distributional justice with a focus on racism. With free health care and education, and strong social services, most of this suffering could, just as in Europe, easily be avoided.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
A grain of white magic
Of about a potion of a few percent given to the most important ingredient, characterization, and everything runs just so much more smoothly. That´s another King trademark, to never go the epic, high fantasy road with loads of big, badass superpowers with rock paper scissors dynamic, but with just a Shining, psi power, or some special medical treatment skills that give the little extra bonus to a great story. Less is so often more and demonstrating how the soft magic influences the magician, witch, or demon and the people confronted with her/him/it, how perception and world view change in other characters and how everything slowly accelerates towards total escalation, is always a hell of a ride.
Coffey lets Paul stay up all night
The main focus is on the interaction and developing relationship of these 2 very different characters, a disillusionized jailer and the gentle giant. The other inmates, colleagues, and the double homicide backstory are just the instigators to get Paul more and more obsessed about what´s really going on with Coffey, both regarding his case and himself as a person, while some, once good, magical realism is making the whole thriller background plotline even more mysterious.
Death penalty and evil inherent flaws of retributive justice
A restorative justice system without killing, hopefully guilty, criminals, wouldn´t have made such an incomparable monument of the shoals of human made systems, and King criticizes the heck out of this escalating, greed driven, not big history vivisected, system called American justice system. No other democratic country combined, or to a certain extent could because they hadn´t enough poor, discriminated groups of people in their own population, neoliberal turbo capitalistic privatization of military industrial prison complexes fed by the legislation that runs on lobbyism, corruption, and neoconservatism, with eliminating close to all free social and welfare services to forever feed the moloch with the fresh souls of the ones who have no other option than to be criminal or live and die young in poverty.
Reasons for that
American history and the current system could be seen as a continuation of the triangular trade with extra steps, one could certainly make interesting graphics including the new big players and masterminds behind it, including historical, sociological, political, and economic legitimations. But that would need objective, big history research no one is interested in because it could awake the extremely expensive monster of compensation for Africans, native Americans, and all the others enslaved, killed, and suppressed people from Columbus to the wild west until the 21st century. That´s nothing elites are interested in.
It´s no problem that it wasn´t meant to be a real book, but just a serial novel
Kings´ ingenuity makes it seem as if it´s one piece, never intentioned to be published part by part, and one bonus of this writing method is that there are even more cliffhangers than in an average novel, because there had to be a bigger hook at each end. Maybe it even wouldn´t have been that good if King would have written another, normal story without this new convention.
Racism and the prison system
King doesn´t directly point the finger at this problem, but just the fact that a could be seen as a metaphor. Just as with his story Hope Springs Eternal culminating in the epic The Shawshank Redemption, King is dealing with the inhumanity, madness, and injustice of many draconic, hellhole prison unjustice systems, focusing on poverty, hate, and the third, most underrated justice that tends to be forgotten for dogmatic and economic reasons, distributional justice with a focus on racism. With free health care and education, and strong social services, most of this suffering could, just as in Europe, easily be avoided.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
September 10, 2024
Początek był żmudny i myślałam, że nie przebrnę.
No cóż, skończyło się tytułem najlepszej książki 2024
No cóż, skończyło się tytułem najlepszej książki 2024
June 20, 2022
¡Una de las mejores obras de Stephen King! Este libro podría convertirse en la mejor lectura del año de cualquier lector del mundo.
Es increíble el talento que posee Stephen King para escribir. Cada parte, cada escena, cada frase, todo, todo es espectacular en este libro. Mi libro favorito de este gran autor estadounidense seguirá siendo Misery, por la crueldad y giros inesperados del argumento; no obstante, esta historia ha llegado a mi vida para robarme una parte de mi alma e instalarse directamente en mi corazón. Es muy, pero muy probable, que si hubiera leído primero esta obra antes que Misery, mi elección de «libro favorito» sería completamente diferente. ¿Qué me ha gustado del libro? Me ha gustado absolutamente todo. De inicio a fin. Desde la primera palabra, hasta el último renglón, todo, absolutamente todo me ha cautivado y me ha producido un montón de sentimientos. Siempre me gusta sentirme agradecido por la oportunidad de leer libros como este; libros, que me ayudan a descubrir esa faceta tan sensible que poseo. Esa sensibilidad en años anteriores me daba pánico expresarla por miedo al ridículo, pero ahora, con obras tan dramáticas, melancólicas, pero a la vez tan preciosas como esta, puedo lograr sentir millones de emociones que me erizan hasta el último vello de mi cuerpo y es completamente inevitable no expresar lo que hay dentro de mí. Esta historia la recordaré eternamente y será una de las recomendaciones que siempre mencionaré a cualquier persona que se interese por la lectura.
Cuando lees no es fácil resultar enganchado desde el inicio, pero aquí lo viví desde el mismísimo prólogo en el cual el autor nos explica la estructura de la historia, y la forma como fue publicada. La milla verde se publicó de forma periódica en seis entregas, una parte a la vez, asemejándose al modo con el que Charles Dickens presentó sus historias en su época. Más que una estrategia de marketing, fue una apuesta sin expectativas, pero que resultó convirtiéndose en uno de los mejores trabajos de King. Para aquellos lectores que siguieron con fidelidad —en tiempo real— la publicación de esta historia debió ser completamente torturante leer una de aquellas partes, y después tener que forzosamente esperar a la siguiente publicación. Este estilo de estructura le ha proporcionado a La milla verde la oportunidad de no poseer escenas de transición, debido a que cada entrega debía presentar un momento impactante y escenas súper interesantes que atraparan al lector y lo siguieran convenciendo de buscar la futura entrega. Para hacernos a la idea es como si un mangaka, en vez de publicar su manga capítulo tras capítulo, decidiera lanzar un volumen a la vez. Angustiante debieron ser las horas de espera para los lectores, aunque interesantes para reflexionar, crear teorías y conversar con amigos, sobre el futuro y resolución de la triste historia que ocurre en la penitenciaria Cold Mountain.
Es una suerte que este libro se publicara con este estilo porque nos permite conocer la prosa más seductora pero ligera de Stephen King. Este es el libro de King más sencillo de leer con el que me he topado de momento, y soy consciente que en sus demás obras no encontraré algo similar. Aquí las descripciones son pulcramente estilizadas, permitiendo un mayor desarrollo de los personajes que parecen tener vida propia, y también a todas las escenas que se vuelven en un aspecto muy importante del libro. Son importantes porque cada una ofrece una enseñanza, un sentimiento, una reflexión, como lo es por ejemplo la perspectiva interior de una penitenciaría, o los abusos que se cometen en un asilo de ancianos. Sobre el estilo también es importante recalcar la gran dinámica de finalizar cada parte con un momento crítico o emotivo, para luego recapitular con estilo y calidad la continuación inmediata en los primeros párrafos de la siguiente parte. Realmente es un estilo literario que me ha quedado gustando mucho, por lo que me gustaría repetir la experiencia con otros autores, sin importar que tuviera que leer en inglés.
Algo que me ha encantado y sorprendido a la vez es la combinación de oscuridad y luz que presenta esta historia. La maldad representa la oscuridad; la ternura a la luz. Imaginar una penitenciaría atiborrada de terribles criminales nos hace imaginar que encontraremos personajes groseros, vulgares, y completamente corrompidos por sus crímenes. Sin embargo, es una sorpresa encontrar en algunos condenados una luz de nobleza, bondad, amor y ternura, que podría no corresponder con las expectativas, pero que resulta demostrando una gran verdad en la vida: Estamos compuestos de varias facetas que se contradicen entre sí, como la perversidad y la nobleza. Quizás nunca seremos completamente malévolos por más odio que lleguemos a sentir; quizás, cada persona posee en el fondo de su alma una chispa que al encender logra transformarnos completamente, erradicando la maldad de nuestro corazón, embriagándonos de amor. Quizás estar en una cárcel, cerca de nuestra propia ejecución, logra alterar nuestra mente positivamente. Cada uno de los criminales de este libro han llegado a la penitenciaria Cold Mountain por cometer crímenes atroces, pero a pesar de conocer su inevitable final, procuran vivir sus últimos días pacíficamente, recordando su pasado, reflexionando, hablando con los guardias, distrayéndose, etcétera: Conocer que moriremos pronto nos obliga a cambiar nuestras prioridades más inmediatas. Obviamente, no todos los criminales serán así, por lo que disfrutaremos de una interesante gama de matices, distintas personalidades. A la vez, descubriremos que en esta historia los guardias también son diferentes, por lo que igualmente conoceremos el contraste de un buen guardia que intenta mantener un ambiente tranquilo en las celdas, sin llegar a ser permisivo, con otro que es adicto al sufrimiento ajeno y que aprovecha cada oportunidad para maltratar a los presidiarios.
Esa combinación de luz y oscuridad provoca al lector que por momentos sienta repulsión por las injusticias y maldad expuesta, pero en otras ocasiones tristeza por la ejecución de personajes con los cuales se resulta encariñando. El enfrentamiento entre el bien y el mal siempre se llevará a cabo en cualquier parte del mundo, pero leer este libro nos ayuda a tener la pequeña esperanza de que en los lugares menos inesperados pueden desarrollarse escenas tiernas y amorosas, que permiten pequeñas victorias del bien sobre el mal. No todo está perdido, no todo es tan malo, a veces se nos olvida que es igual de fácil hacer el bien, que el mal.
Los personajes han sido excelentes, cada uno tiene su historia muy bien desarrollada, personalidades claramente definidas, e incluso Cascabel, un pequeño ratón, resulta siendo muy importante en esta obra. Sobre los personajes no hay ninguna queja: Los buenos han representado bien su papel; los malos igualmente haciéndose odiar profundamente. Mi personaje favorito ha sido Cascabel, no me queda la menor duda. Su inocencia le ha otorgado mucha belleza, y a la vez tristeza a esta historia.
Cada ejecución ha sido tremenda, la ambientación fue tan perfecta que sentí como si estuviera allí observando la muerte de cada preso, y me dolió mucho pensar en el sufrimiento y miedo que iban sintiendo los criminales una vez llegaba su momento de irse para siempre de este mundo. Cada ejecución tiene tanta mística que incluso los guardias también sufren por hacer su trabajo. Es su trabajo, deben hacerlo, y no pueden renunciar porque fue una época difícil para conseguir empleo, pero asesinar a una persona tampoco es fácil de procesar para ellos. Técnicamente están cumpliendo muy bien su trabajo, pero moralmente los afecta demasiado seguir en ese cargo. No es fácil cuando la conciencia nos recuerda a cada segundo que está mal asesinar a otro ser, que no tenemos derecho a jugar a ser dioses, y que nuestra alma siempre permanecerá sucia por lo acontecido.
Y sobre el final, lo único que tengo que decir es que ha sido completamente conmovedor. El autor eligió la parte final para presentar muchas escenas tristes y lo hace de forma consecutiva, por lo que no nos da tiempo de recuperarnos de las lágrimas del anterior suceso. Todo se acumula, te genera tristeza, nostalgia, y te sientes impotente porque quisieras cambiar las injusticias que existen en el mundo. En la mayor parte del libro King te hace sufrir con ciertos dolores físicos que padecen los personajes, pero, en la parte final, te hace sufrir con los dolores emocionales del protagonista. Es uno de los mejores finales que he leído en mi vida.
Ya para terminar, quiero expresar que este libro se ha vuelto aún más especial para mí, debido a que con esta obra he estrenado mi Kindle que me animé a comprar en los primeros días de febrero. Leer físicamente un libro siempre es genial, no lo niego, pero es bueno adaptarnos a las lecturas digitales: No todo lo podemos adquirir físicamente. Realmente ha sido un estreno maravilloso, perfecto, mágico.
En resumen, una obra recomendada para todo lector. Prosa, personajes, estilo de la obra, todo ha sido genial, y seguramente nunca se arrepentirán de tomar este libro y devorárselo. Todo me ha gustado, todo me ha encantado, lo releeré muchas veces en el futuro, lo tendré siempre en mi corazón. Libro completamente recomendado.
Es increíble el talento que posee Stephen King para escribir. Cada parte, cada escena, cada frase, todo, todo es espectacular en este libro. Mi libro favorito de este gran autor estadounidense seguirá siendo Misery, por la crueldad y giros inesperados del argumento; no obstante, esta historia ha llegado a mi vida para robarme una parte de mi alma e instalarse directamente en mi corazón. Es muy, pero muy probable, que si hubiera leído primero esta obra antes que Misery, mi elección de «libro favorito» sería completamente diferente. ¿Qué me ha gustado del libro? Me ha gustado absolutamente todo. De inicio a fin. Desde la primera palabra, hasta el último renglón, todo, absolutamente todo me ha cautivado y me ha producido un montón de sentimientos. Siempre me gusta sentirme agradecido por la oportunidad de leer libros como este; libros, que me ayudan a descubrir esa faceta tan sensible que poseo. Esa sensibilidad en años anteriores me daba pánico expresarla por miedo al ridículo, pero ahora, con obras tan dramáticas, melancólicas, pero a la vez tan preciosas como esta, puedo lograr sentir millones de emociones que me erizan hasta el último vello de mi cuerpo y es completamente inevitable no expresar lo que hay dentro de mí. Esta historia la recordaré eternamente y será una de las recomendaciones que siempre mencionaré a cualquier persona que se interese por la lectura.
Cuando lees no es fácil resultar enganchado desde el inicio, pero aquí lo viví desde el mismísimo prólogo en el cual el autor nos explica la estructura de la historia, y la forma como fue publicada. La milla verde se publicó de forma periódica en seis entregas, una parte a la vez, asemejándose al modo con el que Charles Dickens presentó sus historias en su época. Más que una estrategia de marketing, fue una apuesta sin expectativas, pero que resultó convirtiéndose en uno de los mejores trabajos de King. Para aquellos lectores que siguieron con fidelidad —en tiempo real— la publicación de esta historia debió ser completamente torturante leer una de aquellas partes, y después tener que forzosamente esperar a la siguiente publicación. Este estilo de estructura le ha proporcionado a La milla verde la oportunidad de no poseer escenas de transición, debido a que cada entrega debía presentar un momento impactante y escenas súper interesantes que atraparan al lector y lo siguieran convenciendo de buscar la futura entrega. Para hacernos a la idea es como si un mangaka, en vez de publicar su manga capítulo tras capítulo, decidiera lanzar un volumen a la vez. Angustiante debieron ser las horas de espera para los lectores, aunque interesantes para reflexionar, crear teorías y conversar con amigos, sobre el futuro y resolución de la triste historia que ocurre en la penitenciaria Cold Mountain.
Es una suerte que este libro se publicara con este estilo porque nos permite conocer la prosa más seductora pero ligera de Stephen King. Este es el libro de King más sencillo de leer con el que me he topado de momento, y soy consciente que en sus demás obras no encontraré algo similar. Aquí las descripciones son pulcramente estilizadas, permitiendo un mayor desarrollo de los personajes que parecen tener vida propia, y también a todas las escenas que se vuelven en un aspecto muy importante del libro. Son importantes porque cada una ofrece una enseñanza, un sentimiento, una reflexión, como lo es por ejemplo la perspectiva interior de una penitenciaría, o los abusos que se cometen en un asilo de ancianos. Sobre el estilo también es importante recalcar la gran dinámica de finalizar cada parte con un momento crítico o emotivo, para luego recapitular con estilo y calidad la continuación inmediata en los primeros párrafos de la siguiente parte. Realmente es un estilo literario que me ha quedado gustando mucho, por lo que me gustaría repetir la experiencia con otros autores, sin importar que tuviera que leer en inglés.
Algo que me ha encantado y sorprendido a la vez es la combinación de oscuridad y luz que presenta esta historia. La maldad representa la oscuridad; la ternura a la luz. Imaginar una penitenciaría atiborrada de terribles criminales nos hace imaginar que encontraremos personajes groseros, vulgares, y completamente corrompidos por sus crímenes. Sin embargo, es una sorpresa encontrar en algunos condenados una luz de nobleza, bondad, amor y ternura, que podría no corresponder con las expectativas, pero que resulta demostrando una gran verdad en la vida: Estamos compuestos de varias facetas que se contradicen entre sí, como la perversidad y la nobleza. Quizás nunca seremos completamente malévolos por más odio que lleguemos a sentir; quizás, cada persona posee en el fondo de su alma una chispa que al encender logra transformarnos completamente, erradicando la maldad de nuestro corazón, embriagándonos de amor. Quizás estar en una cárcel, cerca de nuestra propia ejecución, logra alterar nuestra mente positivamente. Cada uno de los criminales de este libro han llegado a la penitenciaria Cold Mountain por cometer crímenes atroces, pero a pesar de conocer su inevitable final, procuran vivir sus últimos días pacíficamente, recordando su pasado, reflexionando, hablando con los guardias, distrayéndose, etcétera: Conocer que moriremos pronto nos obliga a cambiar nuestras prioridades más inmediatas. Obviamente, no todos los criminales serán así, por lo que disfrutaremos de una interesante gama de matices, distintas personalidades. A la vez, descubriremos que en esta historia los guardias también son diferentes, por lo que igualmente conoceremos el contraste de un buen guardia que intenta mantener un ambiente tranquilo en las celdas, sin llegar a ser permisivo, con otro que es adicto al sufrimiento ajeno y que aprovecha cada oportunidad para maltratar a los presidiarios.
Esa combinación de luz y oscuridad provoca al lector que por momentos sienta repulsión por las injusticias y maldad expuesta, pero en otras ocasiones tristeza por la ejecución de personajes con los cuales se resulta encariñando. El enfrentamiento entre el bien y el mal siempre se llevará a cabo en cualquier parte del mundo, pero leer este libro nos ayuda a tener la pequeña esperanza de que en los lugares menos inesperados pueden desarrollarse escenas tiernas y amorosas, que permiten pequeñas victorias del bien sobre el mal. No todo está perdido, no todo es tan malo, a veces se nos olvida que es igual de fácil hacer el bien, que el mal.
Los personajes han sido excelentes, cada uno tiene su historia muy bien desarrollada, personalidades claramente definidas, e incluso Cascabel, un pequeño ratón, resulta siendo muy importante en esta obra. Sobre los personajes no hay ninguna queja: Los buenos han representado bien su papel; los malos igualmente haciéndose odiar profundamente. Mi personaje favorito ha sido Cascabel, no me queda la menor duda. Su inocencia le ha otorgado mucha belleza, y a la vez tristeza a esta historia.
Cada ejecución ha sido tremenda, la ambientación fue tan perfecta que sentí como si estuviera allí observando la muerte de cada preso, y me dolió mucho pensar en el sufrimiento y miedo que iban sintiendo los criminales una vez llegaba su momento de irse para siempre de este mundo. Cada ejecución tiene tanta mística que incluso los guardias también sufren por hacer su trabajo. Es su trabajo, deben hacerlo, y no pueden renunciar porque fue una época difícil para conseguir empleo, pero asesinar a una persona tampoco es fácil de procesar para ellos. Técnicamente están cumpliendo muy bien su trabajo, pero moralmente los afecta demasiado seguir en ese cargo. No es fácil cuando la conciencia nos recuerda a cada segundo que está mal asesinar a otro ser, que no tenemos derecho a jugar a ser dioses, y que nuestra alma siempre permanecerá sucia por lo acontecido.
Y sobre el final, lo único que tengo que decir es que ha sido completamente conmovedor. El autor eligió la parte final para presentar muchas escenas tristes y lo hace de forma consecutiva, por lo que no nos da tiempo de recuperarnos de las lágrimas del anterior suceso. Todo se acumula, te genera tristeza, nostalgia, y te sientes impotente porque quisieras cambiar las injusticias que existen en el mundo. En la mayor parte del libro King te hace sufrir con ciertos dolores físicos que padecen los personajes, pero, en la parte final, te hace sufrir con los dolores emocionales del protagonista. Es uno de los mejores finales que he leído en mi vida.
Ya para terminar, quiero expresar que este libro se ha vuelto aún más especial para mí, debido a que con esta obra he estrenado mi Kindle que me animé a comprar en los primeros días de febrero. Leer físicamente un libro siempre es genial, no lo niego, pero es bueno adaptarnos a las lecturas digitales: No todo lo podemos adquirir físicamente. Realmente ha sido un estreno maravilloso, perfecto, mágico.
En resumen, una obra recomendada para todo lector. Prosa, personajes, estilo de la obra, todo ha sido genial, y seguramente nunca se arrepentirán de tomar este libro y devorárselo. Todo me ha gustado, todo me ha encantado, lo releeré muchas veces en el futuro, lo tendré siempre en mi corazón. Libro completamente recomendado.
December 17, 2022
“We each owe a death, there are no exceptions, I know that, but sometimes, oh God, the Green Mile is so long.”
Stephen King can write. Capital-W write. In that trademark way of his that has me stay up for half of the night — at age 16 and 38 alike — just so that I can finish his story, sleep be damned. It’s that strange spellbinding storytelling magic he’s so good at.
And this is King at his best, on the level of “Shawshank” and “The Body”.
The Green Mile is a quieter King, the one who knows the power of subtle unease and the strength of understated stories that are at their core just about life. It’s a King that can break your heart so easily and leave both teenage and adult me slowly blinking off that inconvenient moisture in my eyes while trying to pretend that it’s all fine, man, all good. It’s a King that catches you with emotion and sadness and then with seeming casualness gut punches you. And it’s great. Cruel but great.
King is perfect yet again. The characters - easily drawn and actually human, both good ones and the slimy little shits. The easy and completely natural dialogue with good ear for actual quirks in speech; the dialogue that sounds real, like it should be spoken rather that stuffily written. The slice of life moments that never feel overlong despite the leisurely pace. The beauty of strangest moments and the slow creepiness of others. The things that stay with you when you are at the end of your own Green Mile - the mix of regrets and loveliness and kindness and pain that’s life.
One moment he has me pondering along with his protagonist Paul Edgecombe, a death row prison guard in the 1930s South when he comes across something strange and wonderful and also awful, “Sometimes there is absolutely no difference at all between salvation and damnation.” And the next moment he has me admire through chuckles his ability to cunningly turn a phrase in such a way that it’s both precise and funny and weirdly memorable (“During that time I didn’t dare fart sideways, let alone take a day off to investigate the idea I’d gotten at my kitchen table on the morning after all the upheavals.”) Fart sideways indeed.
He’s good. He’s got me under his spell for life.
King will always be among my favorite writers, and honestly, one of the best writers of our time, and it’s pointless to try to convince me otherwise.
5 stars.
—————
Buddy read with Dennis.
Stephen King can write. Capital-W write. In that trademark way of his that has me stay up for half of the night — at age 16 and 38 alike — just so that I can finish his story, sleep be damned. It’s that strange spellbinding storytelling magic he’s so good at.
And this is King at his best, on the level of “Shawshank” and “The Body”.
The Green Mile is a quieter King, the one who knows the power of subtle unease and the strength of understated stories that are at their core just about life. It’s a King that can break your heart so easily and leave both teenage and adult me slowly blinking off that inconvenient moisture in my eyes while trying to pretend that it’s all fine, man, all good. It’s a King that catches you with emotion and sadness and then with seeming casualness gut punches you. And it’s great. Cruel but great.
“Time takes it all, whether you want it to or not. Time takes it all, time bears it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again.”
King is perfect yet again. The characters - easily drawn and actually human, both good ones and the slimy little shits. The easy and completely natural dialogue with good ear for actual quirks in speech; the dialogue that sounds real, like it should be spoken rather that stuffily written. The slice of life moments that never feel overlong despite the leisurely pace. The beauty of strangest moments and the slow creepiness of others. The things that stay with you when you are at the end of your own Green Mile - the mix of regrets and loveliness and kindness and pain that’s life.
One moment he has me pondering along with his protagonist Paul Edgecombe, a death row prison guard in the 1930s South when he comes across something strange and wonderful and also awful, “Sometimes there is absolutely no difference at all between salvation and damnation.” And the next moment he has me admire through chuckles his ability to cunningly turn a phrase in such a way that it’s both precise and funny and weirdly memorable (“During that time I didn’t dare fart sideways, let alone take a day off to investigate the idea I’d gotten at my kitchen table on the morning after all the upheavals.”) Fart sideways indeed.
He’s good. He’s got me under his spell for life.
King will always be among my favorite writers, and honestly, one of the best writers of our time, and it’s pointless to try to convince me otherwise.
5 stars.
—————
Buddy read with Dennis.
April 2, 2024
zielona mila
pelna zalu historia mezczyzny, ktory pracowal jako straznik wiezienny. pewnego dnia na blok przychodzi nowy wiezien- wielki i wrazliwy mezczyzna. zarzeka sie, ze probowal pomoc, a glowny bohater popada w obled starajac sie dowiesc mu racji. ksiazka jest przeplatana tez jego przyszloscia z domu opieki, a sa to fragmenty przerazliwie smutne.
rozpaczliwie inteligentna pozycja traktuje o niesprawiedliwosci i nostalgii. czuje sie jakbym dalej byla na bloku z nimi i nie wiem czy juz bedzie inaczej.
pelna zalu historia mezczyzny, ktory pracowal jako straznik wiezienny. pewnego dnia na blok przychodzi nowy wiezien- wielki i wrazliwy mezczyzna. zarzeka sie, ze probowal pomoc, a glowny bohater popada w obled starajac sie dowiesc mu racji. ksiazka jest przeplatana tez jego przyszloscia z domu opieki, a sa to fragmenty przerazliwie smutne.
rozpaczliwie inteligentna pozycja traktuje o niesprawiedliwosci i nostalgii. czuje sie jakbym dalej byla na bloku z nimi i nie wiem czy juz bedzie inaczej.
April 30, 2025
The Green Mile ...a nickname acquired because of the color on the floor in the cheerless Cold Mountain Penitentiary's (somewhere in the American South), E Block , death row under a different alias, during the gloomy year of 1932, the inmates taking the long, long walk their last, to see Old Sparky, the electric chair that will end the lives of these miserable convicted killers ...Nevertheless , the unique green surface is the last thing the nervous residents are thinking about , in their humble cells, peering through the bars... besides it isn't a distant mile, much shorter they will find out... soon. When the recently convicted murderer of two nine- year- old twin girls, the Detterick's, John Coffey, a giant black man, strong as an ox, enters his final home, sadistic prison guard Percy Wetmore, the governor's wife's, nephew, he brags about the political connection constantly, enthusiastically shouts "Dead man walking ", the vicious young officer got that idea, reading it in a cheap magazine. Paul Edgecombe, the official in charge of the block, starts to believe he's innocent...a hopeless situation, Coffey's face is always covered with tears, he is afraid of the dark asking if the lights are kept on at night, the simple minded assassin can't read or write has trouble remembering, a gentle person that has unknown powers though..He cures Paul's very painful urinary tract infection, the very grateful guard tries to find out more information , about the stranger's case ...Mr. Jingles is not an official inmate in E Block, an unregistered guest you might say, a stowaway they would call him if this was a ship, in fact a mouse, quite intelligent for sure , but some others think , is something else entirely . The pet of soon to be extinct inmate M. Eduard Delacroix a Cajun from Louisiana, yet Mr. JINGLES , is obviously smarter then the doom Frenchman. All the guards love this brave little critter, feeding and even getting him a cigar box to sleep in, except you guessed it Percy , an enemy he got, by escaping his deadly clutches hiding in another room. John Coffey saves the mouse's life, the other men hate the creep Percy but cannot get rid of ....tensions increase as a murderer is put to death by Old Sparky ... an ugly, disgusting sight, the mistakes ( or are they) are caused by Mr.Wetmore, not realizing the consequences of his vengeance, he loathe the convict ...watched by witnesses who faint and get sick, puking their dinners. The officers involved in the execution including Paul , despises the job, but during the Great Depression, with long bread lines , they need to feed their families and themselves, many people would be eager to do it. Warden Hal Moores, (a good friend of Mr. Edgecombe)... wife , Melinda , is very ill she will die shortly if nothing is done now.. Paul has an audacious , risky notion, maybe the healer Coffey can save this wonderful, kind woman , it can get him and his pals, the other correctional officers into a big mess...even jail time here in Cold Mountain, ironically. ..A superb story by Stephen King, always entertaining, you will learn also, and even feel the pain of the interesting characters...As good as the glorious film version.
June 9, 2020
Some books are worth waiting years for to read and I have certainly waited a very long time to read this one.
I have to confess I am not a Stephan King fan as Horror or science fiction just doesnt work for me but having watched the Green Mile Movie some years ago I have always wanted to read the book and when I happened to find a copy among a pile of books lately I just knew there was no time like the present.
My only problem with reading a book after watching such an iconic movie is that I am unable to imagine the characters for myself, but setting that aside.......What a phenomenal read this was Now I am actually jealous of readers who haven't read the book yet because this one is such a beautiful, compelling and brilliant story, I was blown away by the read.
The Green Mile is a unique tale of Paul Edgcombe, a prision guard in charge of death town in Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Convicted Killers all await their turn to walk the Green Mile and their date with the Electric Chair. When John Coffey is condemned for a terrifying and horrendous crime, Paul Edgecombe is confronted with the terrible wondrous truth that will change his life forever.
I went though all sorts of emotions when reading this story. The writing is vivid and the story believable and you feel and experience everything this tale has to offer. There were actually times I felt the humid heat so well described in the book. The characters are so realistic and believable, and the plot twists and turns kept me turning the pages. A little sprinkle (just a little) of magical happenings make this novel the perfect story that I will remember a long time from now. John Coffey’s character made me well up on so many occasions and yet there is a lovely sense of hope in the novel that keeps the book from becoming depressing.
I only have a tiny paperback copy of this book which I really have to replace with a hard copy for my real life bookshelf.
If you have this on your TBR Shelf ...........Do yourself a favor this summer and bump it right up to the top of the pile as this is a book you won’t regret reading and only after you have finished then watch the movie.
I have to confess I am not a Stephan King fan as Horror or science fiction just doesnt work for me but having watched the Green Mile Movie some years ago I have always wanted to read the book and when I happened to find a copy among a pile of books lately I just knew there was no time like the present.
My only problem with reading a book after watching such an iconic movie is that I am unable to imagine the characters for myself, but setting that aside.......What a phenomenal read this was Now I am actually jealous of readers who haven't read the book yet because this one is such a beautiful, compelling and brilliant story, I was blown away by the read.
The Green Mile is a unique tale of Paul Edgcombe, a prision guard in charge of death town in Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Convicted Killers all await their turn to walk the Green Mile and their date with the Electric Chair. When John Coffey is condemned for a terrifying and horrendous crime, Paul Edgecombe is confronted with the terrible wondrous truth that will change his life forever.
I went though all sorts of emotions when reading this story. The writing is vivid and the story believable and you feel and experience everything this tale has to offer. There were actually times I felt the humid heat so well described in the book. The characters are so realistic and believable, and the plot twists and turns kept me turning the pages. A little sprinkle (just a little) of magical happenings make this novel the perfect story that I will remember a long time from now. John Coffey’s character made me well up on so many occasions and yet there is a lovely sense of hope in the novel that keeps the book from becoming depressing.
I only have a tiny paperback copy of this book which I really have to replace with a hard copy for my real life bookshelf.
If you have this on your TBR Shelf ...........Do yourself a favor this summer and bump it right up to the top of the pile as this is a book you won’t regret reading and only after you have finished then watch the movie.
February 13, 2019
One of King’s best, up there with The Shining and The Stand.
King is able to terrify because he is adept at drawing us into a scene, luring the reader in with deft characterization and attention to detail that creates empathy and understanding.
In Francis Ford Coppola’s brilliant The Godfather part II, in the scene where a young Vito Corleone (played by Robert De Niro) shoots Fanucci, he wrapped his pistol in a towel and the cloth catches fire after the shots. That detail has stayed in my mind in greater clarity than the actual murder. Coppola drew us in to that grisly sight with detail that we can feel, a towel can get scorched and catch fire, and we become a part of what’s going on.
Likewise, in Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film Jaws, when Roy Scheider’s character is shoveling chum into the water, the shark surfaces right in front of Scheider. The audience laughs at the irreverent profanity, but then is immediately shocked at the monster’s appearance. Spielberg’s direction played us like a fiddle, drawing us in with humor and then, when we are open and vulnerable, scaring us with the surprise.
King provides that kind of detail and can also play with our emotions. He understands and makes use of the technique of adding unusual but memorable detail and also mixes shades of humor in with the darker hues of terror to make the portrait more tangible.
The Green Mile is also a minimalist statement about institutional life in America reminiscent of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Set in the south during the great depression, King does not let us forget that these men endured this job because it was employment, one they were happy and lucky to have. But more than this, King’s description of prison life, like Kesey’s portrayal of mental hospitals and treatment, carries with it a sense of desperate inevitability, the harsh realities of this life come down the line like a freight train coming down a track, unavoidable and unstoppable. There is a detail from the book that I don’t think was included in the 1999 film, that was hard to take, injustice always is, but King’s depiction of this was more complicated than what could have been in the movie and so all the more heart wrenching.
A story about executioners, in this case a shift of prison guards working on death row and whose job it is to both care for the condemned inmates and then to actually carry out the sentence, is a setting custom made for King’s great talent. We are walked through the rehearsals for the executions (by electric chair) and then seen the performance of that instrument. We get to know the men who have this unenviable task and to also spend time with the men who await death in a prose similar in its sympathetic representation to Capote’s In Cold Blood.
John Coffey (played so well by Michael Clarke Duncan in the Frank Darabont film) was as tragic a figure as ever appeared in our literature and while a cursory comparison could be made to Lenny in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, King’s inclusion of fantasy and supernatural elements adds an almost theological tone to the narrative. Clearly this is no coincidence as King describes several men as devout and Biblical references and symbolism are ubiquitous.
Highly, highly recommended.
King is able to terrify because he is adept at drawing us into a scene, luring the reader in with deft characterization and attention to detail that creates empathy and understanding.
In Francis Ford Coppola’s brilliant The Godfather part II, in the scene where a young Vito Corleone (played by Robert De Niro) shoots Fanucci, he wrapped his pistol in a towel and the cloth catches fire after the shots. That detail has stayed in my mind in greater clarity than the actual murder. Coppola drew us in to that grisly sight with detail that we can feel, a towel can get scorched and catch fire, and we become a part of what’s going on.
Likewise, in Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film Jaws, when Roy Scheider’s character is shoveling chum into the water, the shark surfaces right in front of Scheider. The audience laughs at the irreverent profanity, but then is immediately shocked at the monster’s appearance. Spielberg’s direction played us like a fiddle, drawing us in with humor and then, when we are open and vulnerable, scaring us with the surprise.
King provides that kind of detail and can also play with our emotions. He understands and makes use of the technique of adding unusual but memorable detail and also mixes shades of humor in with the darker hues of terror to make the portrait more tangible.
The Green Mile is also a minimalist statement about institutional life in America reminiscent of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Set in the south during the great depression, King does not let us forget that these men endured this job because it was employment, one they were happy and lucky to have. But more than this, King’s description of prison life, like Kesey’s portrayal of mental hospitals and treatment, carries with it a sense of desperate inevitability, the harsh realities of this life come down the line like a freight train coming down a track, unavoidable and unstoppable. There is a detail from the book that I don’t think was included in the 1999 film, that was hard to take, injustice always is, but King’s depiction of this was more complicated than what could have been in the movie and so all the more heart wrenching.
A story about executioners, in this case a shift of prison guards working on death row and whose job it is to both care for the condemned inmates and then to actually carry out the sentence, is a setting custom made for King’s great talent. We are walked through the rehearsals for the executions (by electric chair) and then seen the performance of that instrument. We get to know the men who have this unenviable task and to also spend time with the men who await death in a prose similar in its sympathetic representation to Capote’s In Cold Blood.
John Coffey (played so well by Michael Clarke Duncan in the Frank Darabont film) was as tragic a figure as ever appeared in our literature and while a cursory comparison could be made to Lenny in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, King’s inclusion of fantasy and supernatural elements adds an almost theological tone to the narrative. Clearly this is no coincidence as King describes several men as devout and Biblical references and symbolism are ubiquitous.
Highly, highly recommended.
September 28, 2020
*4.5 stars *
Loved the movie, loved the book!
Loved the movie, loved the book!
September 16, 2021
I’M NOT CRYING! YOUR ASS IS CRYING! 😫
I’ve watched the movie so many times and it always broke my heart and made me rage and all the feels! I finally read the book and damn it all to hell if it’s not just the same 😫
I love John Coffee!
Mr. Jingles…
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
I’ve watched the movie so many times and it always broke my heart and made me rage and all the feels! I finally read the book and damn it all to hell if it’s not just the same 😫
I love John Coffee!
Mr. Jingles…
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
June 7, 2025
المكان: مدينة صغيرة بإحدى الولايات الجنوبية و بالتحديد سجن الولاية – عنبر الموت
الزمان: زمن الكساد الكبير في ثلاثينيات القرن الماضي
الحدث: الرأسمالية التي تلتهم الحرية على مهل دون أن ندري عن ذلك شيئا
لم يعد في استطاعتي القيام بهذا العمل بعد الأن. سواء أحدث الكساد أم لم يحدث. لم أعد أستطع مشاهدة المزيد من الرجال و هم يمرون بمكتبي في طريقهم لملاقاة حتفهم. و حتى شخص واحد أخر سيكون كثيرا علي أن أراه.الرواية ملغمة بالرموز منذ البداية فكل اسم يحمل بين طياته قصة و هدف و كل حدث مهما بدا غريبا أو تافها فهو مقصود مرتين. مرة لذاته و مرة لدلالته الرمزية.
في البداية وجدتني أقول: تبا له أيفرد كل تلك المساحة ليحدثنا عن فأر؟!! و لكن بعد أن انقشع الضباب و بدأت شمس الحقيقة تلوح في الأفق تبين لي مدى عبقرية الكينج.
نرسف جميعا في أغلالنا من المهد إلى اللحد فإن كنت مشاغبا فستجتاز الميل الأخضر الذي سيسلمك إلى سباركي العجوز .. ذلك الكرسي الكهربائي الذي لا يرحم. أما ان كنت طيبا وامتثلت لإيقاع الحياة فالطريق مفتوح أمامك حيث دار العجائز التي ستموت فيها بعد أن تبلل فراشك مئات المرات و تفقد عقلك و لا تجد من يزورك في وحدتك الا مشرف الدار الذي يتسلى بمضايقتك و انتهاك ما تبقى لك من خصوصية.
العالم يدور. هذا كل ما في الأمر. يمكنك أن تواصل حياتك و تدور معه. أو أن تقف مكانك لتحتج و يقذف بك إلى خارج العالم.يصور ستيفن كينج المجتمع الأمريكي في أبشع صوره حيث الرأسمالية قد تجذرت في أعماقه و صار السعي على الرزق و الركض وراء القرش هو الهدف في حد ذاته و صارت القاعدة الصوفية الشرقية مطبقة بشدة في هذا المجتمع!. لا قاعدة الزهد و التقشف بل قاعدة الطاعة و الانصياع للقدر. من اعترض انطرد.
نقل فان هاي التيار إلى الدرجة الثالثة و عاد جسم الزعيم يرتجف من جديد و هو يتمايل بشدة من جانب إلى أخر تحت رحمة التيار الكهربائي. و حينما وضع الطبيب سماعته هذه المرة كان الأمر قد انتهى. كنا قد نجحنا مرة أخرى في أن نميت ما لا يمكننا أن نحييه ... نفسا بشرية. عاد الهمس يعلو بين الشهود و أغلبهم يقبع مكانه خافض الرأس .. ينظر إلى الأرض مصدوما أو خجلا.كل شخصية من الحراس تعبر عن شريحة من المجتمع الأمريكي حتى السجناء منهم الرئيس و الزعيم و منهم الهندي الذي اغتاله الحلم الأمريكي بعد منعه حتى من التزين بريشته لحظة الوفاة إلى الزنجي إلى الفرنسي الذي صدر لهم الحرية و تمثالها و القيم الإنسانية الراقية و الفنون فجاء هنا ليروض ذلك الفأر. الفأر الذي هو رمز الحلم الأمريكي و بطل روايته الكرتونية التي لم يمل العالم منها حتى هذه اللحظة. بالرغم من اعدام الفرنسي إلا أن الفأر ظل كحلم ينتظر تحققه على يد الأجيال الجديدة فقد ترك المكان لأنه كان يتوق إلى الحرية بعد أن أنقذه الكلب كالعادة و كما يحدث في الحلقات الكارتونية تماما.
أنا لا أنادي بعودة الرق بل أرى أنه يجب علينا أن نكون آدميين و كرماء في جهودنا لحل المشكلة العرقية. و لكن علينا أن نتذكر دوما أن ذلك الزنجي سيعض حتما إذا ما واتته الفرصة. تماما كما سيفعل الكلب الهجين إذا ما واتته الفرصة و خطر له أن يفعل.جون كوفي هو الكلب الضخم الطيب أحيانا و الغبي دائما. هل قتل الفتاتان أم حاول انقاذهما؟
لقد قمت في حياتي بعدد من الأمور التي لا أفتخر بها إلا أن هذه هي المرة الأولى التي أشعر فيها حقا بالخوف من الذهاب للجحيم.و طبقا للواقع فإن الطيبون و العظماء ليس لهم مكان في هذه الحياة و لكن ربما وجدنا لهم مكان على الميل الأزرق ثم في أحضان سباركي العجوز
نظرت إليه لأتيقن أنه لا يمزح. لا أعتقد أنه كان يمزح "ماذا تعني؟"
قال: أعني أننا نعد العدة لنقتل شخصا لم يؤذ أحد منا أو أي شخص أخر. ماذا عساي أن أقول عندما ينتهي بي الأمر واقفا بين يدي الديان و يطلب مني أن أفسر لماذا فعلت ذلك؟ هل أقول أن هذه وظيفتي.
أنا متعب من الألم الذي أسمعه و أشعر به أيها الزعيم. متعب من السير على الطريق وحيدا كطائر صغير في المطر. لم يكن لي مطلقا شخص أسير معه أو يخبرني إلى أين نحن سائران أو من أين نحن قادمان أو لماذا. أنا متعب من قسوة الناس على بعضهم بعضا. إن الألآم تملا رأسي كشظايا من زجاج مكسور. متعب من المرات التي حاولت فيها المساعدة و لم أستطع. متعب من البقاء في الظلام. إن الألم مصيري في كل شيء و ينتظرني أينما توجهت. ألآمي أنوء تحت حملها و لو كان بإمكاني التخلص منها لفعلت. لكنني لا أقدر.الميل الأخضر ما زال يلتهم المزيد من القيم و المباديء و الأخلاقيات و ما زال سباركي العجوز شرها و نهما و متطلعا للمزيد من الدماء التي يحب تجفيفها.
الوقت يأخذ معه كل شيء سواء رضينا أم أبينا. الوقت يأخذ كل شيء و يحمل كل شيء بعيدا و في النهاية لا نجد إلا الظلام. أحيانا نجد الأخرين في هذا الظلام و أحيانا نفقد أثرهم مرة أخرى
October 13, 2020
A wondrous book on so many levels. Two very young white girls are brutally raped and murdered - the missing girls' search party come across a distraught and crying, huge black man holding their corpses(!) - his name is John Coffey. This is the story of what really happened during his incarceration, trial and sentencing as told by his warden, many decades later.
A Stephen King masterclass with a tremendous use of pacing, tone and historical setting. A semi reliable and definitely biased narrator tells a story that has almost every key development clearly foreshadowed, yet the book is a delight and as King oft does, damning on America's treatment of African-Americans. And yet King manages to overly, almost engulf this with a concurrent supernatural and beautiful tale about Coffey's humanity. A gem! 9 out of 12.
A Stephen King masterclass with a tremendous use of pacing, tone and historical setting. A semi reliable and definitely biased narrator tells a story that has almost every key development clearly foreshadowed, yet the book is a delight and as King oft does, damning on America's treatment of African-Americans. And yet King manages to overly, almost engulf this with a concurrent supernatural and beautiful tale about Coffey's humanity. A gem! 9 out of 12.
November 11, 2023
Rarely does it happen to me that I read a book which actually causes me to tear up to some extent and which I can't stop thinking about even months after turning the last page. You might should have heard about the movie adaption starring Tom Hanks and the late Michael Clarke Duncan (may he rest in peace), and if you haven't considered watching it yet, then please don't hesitate to do so for even one moment. The Green Mile is easily one of my favorite movies of all time, and to be completely honest, I had certain doubts about whether the Stephen King novel it was actually adapted from would be capable of causing the same range of emotions in me as the movie did.
And oh, how it succeeded with doing that.
First off, allow me to mention something about my love-hate-relationship with Stephen King. During the 80's, he built up for himself a reputation as being one of the major horror writers of his time, but few people actually know about the few touching, emotionally affecting stories he can be called responsible for - let me just mention Stand By Me and Shawshank Redemption, both of which are beautiful movies actually based on a less famous work by Stephen King. I am the first one to admit that King has a capability to write novels you will have a lot of troubles with if you expect to find stories with literary worth. But books like The Green Mile are what I love this author for.
For those who are unfamiliar with the story, The Green Mile is the nickname for the death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary, a prison in Louisiana. During the 1930s, our protagonist Paul Edgecomb receives John Coffey into his custody as supervisor of the death row. Coffey turns out to be physically intimidating, but mentally challenged. How could a man like him, a man who is afraid if the lights are not kept on during the night, have been capable of murdering two innocent girls? Trust me, this is not a story about Coffey's guilt or innocence, however. What King confronts us with is a character-driven story about the daily events on the death row, raising moral and ethic questions along the way, allowing us to care about the small amount of characters he presented to us. Untypically for King's novels, we only meet a few characters, but even those of minor importance to the story are drawn out in such a fascinating way that it becomes difficult to resist caring for all of them.
Originally, King published this book in six different installments before releasing the six parts altogether in this novel. Each of those six parts focuses on different elements to the story, with all these parts interfering with each other along the way and finally weaving together a convincing picture of a prison in the 30's. Is this book only about life in prison, however? No, it isn't - by far it isn't. In a frame story, King introduces us to the older Paul Edgecomb who revisits the events on the Green Mile in an attempt to write down his story before his memory can begin to fade away. King starts off each of the six installments of the story by including more insight on the story of Paul's older self, until he finally manages to masterfully create the illusion of two deeply connected plots.
Supernatural elements are a minor part of the story, though - as skeptical as I usually am about stories involving magical realism - its inclusion mainly just allowed to emphasize the beauty of the story.
"Coffey like the drink, only not spelled the same way." Coffey is introduced as a simple-minded man who is not capable of even understanding what he is accused of, and Paul Edgecomb realizes this - just like he realizes that there is more to the character of John Coffey than just the accusation of having raped and murdered two girls. The cast of characters in this novel is truly convincing - we meet Brutus "Brutal" Howell, Eduard Delacroix with his beloved pet mouse Mr. Jingles, and of course Percy Wetmore. If you haven't met Percy yet, you just have to know that there are actually polls circling around the internet asking whether Hannibal Lecter or Percy Wetmore is the most evil antagonist ever to be introduced in a novel/movie. And Percy actually has more than just a few votes.
Talking about Mr. Jingles, I will miss him. Oh, how I will miss him.
In the end, this story manages more than just to raise questions. It turned me into a pile of emotions, ranging from nostalgia over grief up to relief - but mostly nostalgia. The last pages included some of the best writing I have ever encountered and yes, I will gladly admit that both the movie and the book made me cry, and I don't find it difficult to believe that they will continue to make me do so in future. Because out of all the movies I have seen and the books I have read, The Green Mile in both its book and its movie version is a story I am going to revisit over and over.
If you have only seen the movie, then please don't fear reading the book because even though it is a completely different experience due to a few minor changes and, obviously, a huge distinction in its narrative, the book doesn't fail to convince even after having watched the movie. And if you have only read the book - then what are you waiting for? The Green Mile is, in my opinion, one of the best book-to-movie adaptions which have ever entered the big screen.
A beautiful, touching book which I am never going to forget.
Buddy Read with Anne who I have to truly thank for continuously encouraging me to keep up reading!
And oh, how it succeeded with doing that.
First off, allow me to mention something about my love-hate-relationship with Stephen King. During the 80's, he built up for himself a reputation as being one of the major horror writers of his time, but few people actually know about the few touching, emotionally affecting stories he can be called responsible for - let me just mention Stand By Me and Shawshank Redemption, both of which are beautiful movies actually based on a less famous work by Stephen King. I am the first one to admit that King has a capability to write novels you will have a lot of troubles with if you expect to find stories with literary worth. But books like The Green Mile are what I love this author for.
For those who are unfamiliar with the story, The Green Mile is the nickname for the death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary, a prison in Louisiana. During the 1930s, our protagonist Paul Edgecomb receives John Coffey into his custody as supervisor of the death row. Coffey turns out to be physically intimidating, but mentally challenged. How could a man like him, a man who is afraid if the lights are not kept on during the night, have been capable of murdering two innocent girls? Trust me, this is not a story about Coffey's guilt or innocence, however. What King confronts us with is a character-driven story about the daily events on the death row, raising moral and ethic questions along the way, allowing us to care about the small amount of characters he presented to us. Untypically for King's novels, we only meet a few characters, but even those of minor importance to the story are drawn out in such a fascinating way that it becomes difficult to resist caring for all of them.
Originally, King published this book in six different installments before releasing the six parts altogether in this novel. Each of those six parts focuses on different elements to the story, with all these parts interfering with each other along the way and finally weaving together a convincing picture of a prison in the 30's. Is this book only about life in prison, however? No, it isn't - by far it isn't. In a frame story, King introduces us to the older Paul Edgecomb who revisits the events on the Green Mile in an attempt to write down his story before his memory can begin to fade away. King starts off each of the six installments of the story by including more insight on the story of Paul's older self, until he finally manages to masterfully create the illusion of two deeply connected plots.
Supernatural elements are a minor part of the story, though - as skeptical as I usually am about stories involving magical realism - its inclusion mainly just allowed to emphasize the beauty of the story.
"Coffey like the drink, only not spelled the same way." Coffey is introduced as a simple-minded man who is not capable of even understanding what he is accused of, and Paul Edgecomb realizes this - just like he realizes that there is more to the character of John Coffey than just the accusation of having raped and murdered two girls. The cast of characters in this novel is truly convincing - we meet Brutus "Brutal" Howell, Eduard Delacroix with his beloved pet mouse Mr. Jingles, and of course Percy Wetmore. If you haven't met Percy yet, you just have to know that there are actually polls circling around the internet asking whether Hannibal Lecter or Percy Wetmore is the most evil antagonist ever to be introduced in a novel/movie. And Percy actually has more than just a few votes.
Talking about Mr. Jingles, I will miss him. Oh, how I will miss him.
In the end, this story manages more than just to raise questions. It turned me into a pile of emotions, ranging from nostalgia over grief up to relief - but mostly nostalgia. The last pages included some of the best writing I have ever encountered and yes, I will gladly admit that both the movie and the book made me cry, and I don't find it difficult to believe that they will continue to make me do so in future. Because out of all the movies I have seen and the books I have read, The Green Mile in both its book and its movie version is a story I am going to revisit over and over.
If you have only seen the movie, then please don't fear reading the book because even though it is a completely different experience due to a few minor changes and, obviously, a huge distinction in its narrative, the book doesn't fail to convince even after having watched the movie. And if you have only read the book - then what are you waiting for? The Green Mile is, in my opinion, one of the best book-to-movie adaptions which have ever entered the big screen.
A beautiful, touching book which I am never going to forget.
Buddy Read with Anne who I have to truly thank for continuously encouraging me to keep up reading!
July 30, 2024
A re-read of The Green Mile on my journey to reading all of SK's book in publication order and it's still a 5 star read.
I feel like I say this a lot but this is one of my favourite SK books. I did see the film before I read the book and although the film is super accurate to the book, the book is 100% worth the read. There are some difference between the film and the book and somehow the book is even sadder. If this book doesn't make you shed a tear then you must be pretty hardcore.
The main reason why the books hit so hard is because of Jon Coffey and Paul's relationship, they couldn't be much more opposite, one condemned to death and the other man pulling the switch. Their relationship starts to blossom as soon as they meet and in another world/life maybe they would have been best friends. SK is a master with words and the way these characters interact is masterful. I have to talk about Percy to, one of the best written villain's King has ever created and it's not because he's the evilest or most sick villain but because we all know a Percy. Percy is sleezy, nasty and has short man syndrome he does so pretty awful things, he is a bully.
This is a horror so expect some horrifying moments it isn't as gruesome as other SK books or creepy but it's scary in it's own way. You can't help thinking about your own soul and mortality while reading this book. The death penalty is something very scary to me, Dell's execution in particular sticks in my mind. I remember the first time I watched the film I couldn't stop thinking about Dell.
I think Paul narrating this as an old man is such a nice format, it shows that he's never forgot his time on The Green Mile and never will. I do think the flicking back to Paul's future self could be annoying for some readers, but for me it gave me a break from the horrors of The Green Mile. This book is full of regret and admiration it's bleak, harsh and so powerful. It's a deep delve into what is right and wrong and when the line it blurred. The book has quite a different ending to the film and it's so sad. I will of course mention Mr Jingles a mouse that SK gives so much personality, not a word was uttered by him but he is a main character somehow.
A SK book that is imprinted in my mind, if you want to give SK a try but aren't a big fan of being too scared I think this is the way to go. I don't believe anyone has ever regretted reading this book.
I feel like I say this a lot but this is one of my favourite SK books. I did see the film before I read the book and although the film is super accurate to the book, the book is 100% worth the read. There are some difference between the film and the book and somehow the book is even sadder. If this book doesn't make you shed a tear then you must be pretty hardcore.
The main reason why the books hit so hard is because of Jon Coffey and Paul's relationship, they couldn't be much more opposite, one condemned to death and the other man pulling the switch. Their relationship starts to blossom as soon as they meet and in another world/life maybe they would have been best friends. SK is a master with words and the way these characters interact is masterful. I have to talk about Percy to, one of the best written villain's King has ever created and it's not because he's the evilest or most sick villain but because we all know a Percy. Percy is sleezy, nasty and has short man syndrome he does so pretty awful things, he is a bully.
This is a horror so expect some horrifying moments it isn't as gruesome as other SK books or creepy but it's scary in it's own way. You can't help thinking about your own soul and mortality while reading this book. The death penalty is something very scary to me, Dell's execution in particular sticks in my mind. I remember the first time I watched the film I couldn't stop thinking about Dell.
I think Paul narrating this as an old man is such a nice format, it shows that he's never forgot his time on The Green Mile and never will. I do think the flicking back to Paul's future self could be annoying for some readers, but for me it gave me a break from the horrors of The Green Mile. This book is full of regret and admiration it's bleak, harsh and so powerful. It's a deep delve into what is right and wrong and when the line it blurred. The book has quite a different ending to the film and it's so sad. I will of course mention Mr Jingles a mouse that SK gives so much personality, not a word was uttered by him but he is a main character somehow.
A SK book that is imprinted in my mind, if you want to give SK a try but aren't a big fan of being too scared I think this is the way to go. I don't believe anyone has ever regretted reading this book.
September 16, 2021
A pesar de ser una seguidora incondicional de Stephen King, no había leído este libro porque he visto en incontables ocasiones su adaptación al cine; esa maravillosa película protagonizada por Tom Hanks y el espectacular elenco que lo acompaña. No es que me cuestionara que la novela fuera mejor o peor, sino que simplemente conocía el argumento de memoria y pensé que por eso mismo la lectura no me despertaría mayor interés.
No podía estar más equivocada. Leer esta novela fue una aventura inolvidable, ya que junto a la maravillosa pluma de Stephen King, recreé en mi mente cada escena, cada diálogo, cada gesto..., porque además, salvo mínimos detalles (que podría incluso enumerar, así de fanática), la adaptación es increíblemente fiel al libro.
Por otra parte, como está escrito en primera persona desde el personaje de Paul Edgecombe, se disfruta una narración muy intimista que además, hacia el final, nos revela como cada personaje importante en la trama recorrió su propia milla verde, con las mismas injusticias que se vivieron en el año 1932 en la penitenciaría del Cold Mountain.
Recomendadísimo.
No podía estar más equivocada. Leer esta novela fue una aventura inolvidable, ya que junto a la maravillosa pluma de Stephen King, recreé en mi mente cada escena, cada diálogo, cada gesto..., porque además, salvo mínimos detalles (que podría incluso enumerar, así de fanática), la adaptación es increíblemente fiel al libro.
Por otra parte, como está escrito en primera persona desde el personaje de Paul Edgecombe, se disfruta una narración muy intimista que además, hacia el final, nos revela como cada personaje importante en la trama recorrió su propia milla verde, con las mismas injusticias que se vivieron en el año 1932 en la penitenciaría del Cold Mountain.
Recomendadísimo.
May 28, 2020
This is one of the best serial novels I've ever read. Originally in 6 single issues I can highly recommend buying them as single volume. You won't miss any issue. Paul Edgecombe tells his heart warming story about Could Mountain Penitentiary and reveals everything about John Coffey, Mr Jingles and the characters involved. A very philosophical and moving novel. Absolutely recommended!
March 12, 2025
I have read this book. But almost all of my memories of the story are from the film. So, were I to attempt a review, I'd probably be reviewing the film.
I do remember though that King does a fine job of humanising the chief prison guard (played in the film by Tom Hanks) giving excruciating descriptions of his urinary tract infection, in typical King down-to-earth style, making the hero of piece vulnerable, with the frailties of an everyman. It's also the case that it provides something for the true, non-point-of-view hero to heal, but King does this sort of thing in many of his books, eroding Roland's peerless gun skills through the loss of fingers, for example, or undermining others through addiction (generally to alcohol).
King also spent more time than the film on the aftermath, seeing our guard as an old man, and giving us for once, a rather touching and effective end. King generally writes excellent books with pretty poor endings. The Green Mile - perhaps because its title suggests a definite journey and destination - ends well.
One of his better books, in my estimation, and I've found them all to be at least good.
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...
I do remember though that King does a fine job of humanising the chief prison guard (played in the film by Tom Hanks) giving excruciating descriptions of his urinary tract infection, in typical King down-to-earth style, making the hero of piece vulnerable, with the frailties of an everyman. It's also the case that it provides something for the true, non-point-of-view hero to heal, but King does this sort of thing in many of his books, eroding Roland's peerless gun skills through the loss of fingers, for example, or undermining others through addiction (generally to alcohol).
King also spent more time than the film on the aftermath, seeing our guard as an old man, and giving us for once, a rather touching and effective end. King generally writes excellent books with pretty poor endings. The Green Mile - perhaps because its title suggests a definite journey and destination - ends well.
One of his better books, in my estimation, and I've found them all to be at least good.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
December 31, 2007
I have just finished this book and wow what a read. I'm not at all into horror, either in books or in films, and even though my boyfriend has for years tried to get me to read Steven King I've avoided him like the plague. I did know that he wrote other types of books, namely through the re-makes of these books into Hollywood films, i.e. 'The Shawshank Redemption', 'Stand By Me' and of course 'The Green Mile' but still I was weary of approaching him.
It was only after my boyfriend read this and nagged me into doing the same that I picked it up and I'm so glad that I did. The characters are just so beautifully written and I'm not ashamed to say that I cried many a tear even though I knew exactly what was coming up having seen the movie numerous times. If you are a fan of the movie then you can not fail to fall in love with the book as the movie is one of those rare exceptions in that it is very true to its original source. The delight with the book, as is often the case with books, is that it goes into much more detail in particular with the character of Mr Jingles.
This book just illustrates how versatile King is as a writer and that in years to come will probably be considered one of the great literary genius of the Twentieth century.
It was only after my boyfriend read this and nagged me into doing the same that I picked it up and I'm so glad that I did. The characters are just so beautifully written and I'm not ashamed to say that I cried many a tear even though I knew exactly what was coming up having seen the movie numerous times. If you are a fan of the movie then you can not fail to fall in love with the book as the movie is one of those rare exceptions in that it is very true to its original source. The delight with the book, as is often the case with books, is that it goes into much more detail in particular with the character of Mr Jingles.
This book just illustrates how versatile King is as a writer and that in years to come will probably be considered one of the great literary genius of the Twentieth century.
June 19, 2022
He llorado como un condenado, lo cual es irónico ya que la historia se desarrolla en una cárcel.
«No pasará nada. No son asesinos, debió de pensar Percy. Pero luego, al recordar la Freidora, debió de saber que sí, que en cierto modo éramos asesinos. Yo solo había ejecutado a setenta y siete hombres; más de los que había inmovilizado con la camisa de fuerza, más de los que había matado el sargento York en la Segunda Guerra Mundial.»
Pero ya en serio, ¿Cómo se deja de llorar? Es más, ¿cómo se supera un libro de tal magnitud? Con personajes tan humanos y que se sienten en cada página, en cada conversación, en cada letra. Es muy pero muy buen libro. Tanto así, que hasta me estoy replanteando que sea el que más me gustó de este escritor y eso que no es a lo que acostumbra escribir King. Lo único seguro es que se convirtió de mis historias favoritas del maestro. Y definitivamente se habla mucho de King como un referente en el terror pero aquel que se aleja de este género y se acerca al realismo es igual o más bueno por el nivel de sensibilidad con el que retrata la realidad, el entorno, los temas y los personajes con sus distintas relaciones. Y buena prueba de eso es este libro, y novelas cortas como El cuerpo y Rita Hayworth y la redención de Shawshank que ya leí con anterioridad y recomendó muchísimo también.
«—Que vamos a matar a un elegido de Dios —respondió—. A alguien que nunca hizo daño a nadie. ¿Qué podré decir en mi favor cuando me encuentre con el Creador y me pida explicación, qué le diré? ¿Que era mi trabajo, mi obligación?»
La historia sigue a Paul y todo lo que pasó por allá en 1930 cuando trabajaba como carcelero en la penitenciaria Cold Mountain. Por medio de una narración ulterior el protagonista poco a poco comienza a desenvolver una historia muy sensible y humana sobre la maldad y la inocencia, la injusticia y la bondad sin esperar nada a cambio, sobre lo cruento, deprimente y turbio que es un lugar como la cárcel tanto para los que pagan sus respectivas condenas como para los que trabajan allí. Una historia que con tan poco detalles como la aparición de un muy curioso y llamativo ratón se pone en ejercicio la simpleza y la maravilloso que es la vida cuando encuentras motivos que te pueden alegrar el día o unir a otras personas más que antes. Es fenomenal que solo eso sea material suficiente para contar y recordar anécdotas que te dejan indudables enseñanzas.
Ahora, la trama de la historia viene cuando a la prisión llega John Coffey, un hombre culpado de haber asesinado a dos gemelas. Desde allí es un no parar de empatizar, preocuparse o querer saber si alguien que muestra tantos signos de humanidad puede en realidad ser tan asqueroso como para cometer tal aberración. La historia juega con el dilema de saber si de verdad John Coffey es culpable del crimen que se le imputa, ya que cuando el protagonista conoce a ese negro gigante, con manos grandes e imponente piensa que puede ser verdad; pero cuando lo mira solo ve a un niño temeroso, llorón y desolado que le tiene miedo a la oscuridad. Pero allí entra otra cuestión más compleja que le lleva a cuestionarse si todas esas reacciones sensibles y tan lamentables son solo producto del mismo arrepentimiento y culpabilidad de haber cometido tal acto monstruoso con las niñas o si por el contrario siempre ha sido inocente pero no hay manera de demostrarlo.
«Nos guste o no, el tiempo lo cura todo. El tiempo se lo lleva todo y al final sólo queda oscuridad. A veces encontramos a otros en esa oscuridad y otras veces los perdemos en ella.»
Lo más curioso de una lectura como estas es que permite mostrar que en ese ambiente oscuro, putrefacto y lleno de abusos pueden haber pequeñas luces de esperanza, empatía y un poco de generosidad por parte de algunos personajes, pero también mostrar la ruda realidad de otros que están al mando y utilizan su poder para posicionarse sobre los demás y hacer porquerías que pueden llegar a compararse con crímenes atroces; donde la fina línea que los divide de las rejas que los separan de los presos a veces parece disolverse y terminan parececiendo igual de inhumanos que ellos. O peor.
Y tampoco se puede negar que uno se puede colocar gradualmente poco a poco en el lugar de algunos criminales que parecen tener un rastro de arepentimiento después de los actos tan bárbaros y repugnantes por los que están pagando allí encerrados, a la espera de su juicio en la silla eléctrica. Un panorama desalentador en el que la vida y la muerte, el bien y el mal, lo moral y lo amoral, lo incorrecto y lo políticamente correcto no tienen los límites muy claros tanto para ellos como para el lector que empatiza con varias situaciones por las que pasan tanto los carceleros como los prisioneros. Y aunque el título más vendido es La milla verde lo cierto es que El pasillo de la muerte es lo que mejor define un lugar plagado de gente que espera el final de su vida a manos de otros que no terminan de acostumbrarse a cumplir el papel de ejecutores en una tarea que no es nada sencilla y les es igual de monstruosa que las cosas malas que suceden a diario allá fuera, lejos de esa prisión.
«No pasará nada. No son asesinos, debió de pensar Percy. Pero luego, al recordar la Freidora, debió de saber que sí, que en cierto modo éramos asesinos. Yo solo había ejecutado a setenta y siete hombres; más de los que había inmovilizado con la camisa de fuerza, más de los que había matado el sargento York en la Segunda Guerra Mundial.»
Pero ya en serio, ¿Cómo se deja de llorar? Es más, ¿cómo se supera un libro de tal magnitud? Con personajes tan humanos y que se sienten en cada página, en cada conversación, en cada letra. Es muy pero muy buen libro. Tanto así, que hasta me estoy replanteando que sea el que más me gustó de este escritor y eso que no es a lo que acostumbra escribir King. Lo único seguro es que se convirtió de mis historias favoritas del maestro. Y definitivamente se habla mucho de King como un referente en el terror pero aquel que se aleja de este género y se acerca al realismo es igual o más bueno por el nivel de sensibilidad con el que retrata la realidad, el entorno, los temas y los personajes con sus distintas relaciones. Y buena prueba de eso es este libro, y novelas cortas como El cuerpo y Rita Hayworth y la redención de Shawshank que ya leí con anterioridad y recomendó muchísimo también.
«—Que vamos a matar a un elegido de Dios —respondió—. A alguien que nunca hizo daño a nadie. ¿Qué podré decir en mi favor cuando me encuentre con el Creador y me pida explicación, qué le diré? ¿Que era mi trabajo, mi obligación?»
La historia sigue a Paul y todo lo que pasó por allá en 1930 cuando trabajaba como carcelero en la penitenciaria Cold Mountain. Por medio de una narración ulterior el protagonista poco a poco comienza a desenvolver una historia muy sensible y humana sobre la maldad y la inocencia, la injusticia y la bondad sin esperar nada a cambio, sobre lo cruento, deprimente y turbio que es un lugar como la cárcel tanto para los que pagan sus respectivas condenas como para los que trabajan allí. Una historia que con tan poco detalles como la aparición de un muy curioso y llamativo ratón se pone en ejercicio la simpleza y la maravilloso que es la vida cuando encuentras motivos que te pueden alegrar el día o unir a otras personas más que antes. Es fenomenal que solo eso sea material suficiente para contar y recordar anécdotas que te dejan indudables enseñanzas.
Ahora, la trama de la historia viene cuando a la prisión llega John Coffey, un hombre culpado de haber asesinado a dos gemelas. Desde allí es un no parar de empatizar, preocuparse o querer saber si alguien que muestra tantos signos de humanidad puede en realidad ser tan asqueroso como para cometer tal aberración. La historia juega con el dilema de saber si de verdad John Coffey es culpable del crimen que se le imputa, ya que cuando el protagonista conoce a ese negro gigante, con manos grandes e imponente piensa que puede ser verdad; pero cuando lo mira solo ve a un niño temeroso, llorón y desolado que le tiene miedo a la oscuridad. Pero allí entra otra cuestión más compleja que le lleva a cuestionarse si todas esas reacciones sensibles y tan lamentables son solo producto del mismo arrepentimiento y culpabilidad de haber cometido tal acto monstruoso con las niñas o si por el contrario siempre ha sido inocente pero no hay manera de demostrarlo.
«Nos guste o no, el tiempo lo cura todo. El tiempo se lo lleva todo y al final sólo queda oscuridad. A veces encontramos a otros en esa oscuridad y otras veces los perdemos en ella.»
Lo más curioso de una lectura como estas es que permite mostrar que en ese ambiente oscuro, putrefacto y lleno de abusos pueden haber pequeñas luces de esperanza, empatía y un poco de generosidad por parte de algunos personajes, pero también mostrar la ruda realidad de otros que están al mando y utilizan su poder para posicionarse sobre los demás y hacer porquerías que pueden llegar a compararse con crímenes atroces; donde la fina línea que los divide de las rejas que los separan de los presos a veces parece disolverse y terminan parececiendo igual de inhumanos que ellos. O peor.
Y tampoco se puede negar que uno se puede colocar gradualmente poco a poco en el lugar de algunos criminales que parecen tener un rastro de arepentimiento después de los actos tan bárbaros y repugnantes por los que están pagando allí encerrados, a la espera de su juicio en la silla eléctrica. Un panorama desalentador en el que la vida y la muerte, el bien y el mal, lo moral y lo amoral, lo incorrecto y lo políticamente correcto no tienen los límites muy claros tanto para ellos como para el lector que empatiza con varias situaciones por las que pasan tanto los carceleros como los prisioneros. Y aunque el título más vendido es La milla verde lo cierto es que El pasillo de la muerte es lo que mejor define un lugar plagado de gente que espera el final de su vida a manos de otros que no terminan de acostumbrarse a cumplir el papel de ejecutores en una tarea que no es nada sencilla y les es igual de monstruosa que las cosas malas que suceden a diario allá fuera, lejos de esa prisión.
September 23, 2025
Великолепен роман! Филмът по „Зеленият път“ също ми е любим, но книгата ме развълнува много по-силно... Стивън Кинг описва по страшно въздействащ начин живота в отделението за осъдени на смърт в щатски затвор.
Главният надзирател Пол Еджкоум си спомня години по-късно (когато вече се намира в старчески дом) за отминалите времена в „Студената планина“… Най-яркият му спомен е този за пристигането през 1932 г. на невероятния Джон Кофи. Огромният чернокож затворник не прилича на останалите престъпници и изглежда невинен, а освен това има свръхестествена способност да лекува… Надзирателите се грижат последните дни от живота на затворниците да преминат спокойно, но откакто при тях се е уредил на работа жестокият Пърси Уетмор, непрекъснато имат проблеми с него. Една мишка, наречена господин Джингълс, също има важна и интересна роля в събитията… Действието се развива в две времеви линии, като настоящето на Пол в дома за възрастни също е увлекателно поднесено. „Зеленият път“ е доста мрачна и меланхолична история, но напълно си заслужава четенето!
„На кино спасението е евтино. Невинността също. Даваш петак и получаваш за него действителната му стойност. Истинският живот струва повече и в голямата си част отговорите са различни."
„По-късно, когато се прибрах вкъщи, разбрах, че изобщо не са си приличали — причината, поради която ми се бе сторило така, се криеше в последиците от стреса и скръбта, изписани по лицата им. Странно, как болката оставя отпечатъка си върху нас и ни кара да изглеждаме като едно семейство."
„Уморен съм от хората, които се държат толкова грозно един към друг.“
„Времето лекува всичко, времето го отнася и накрая има само мрак. Понякога откриваме други в мрака и понякога отново ги губим.“
„Всички ние дължим една смърт и изключения няма, зная това, но понякога, о, Господи, Зеленият път е толкова дълъг.“
Главният надзирател Пол Еджкоум си спомня години по-късно (когато вече се намира в старчески дом) за отминалите времена в „Студената планина“… Най-яркият му спомен е този за пристигането през 1932 г. на невероятния Джон Кофи. Огромният чернокож затворник не прилича на останалите престъпници и изглежда невинен, а освен това има свръхестествена способност да лекува… Надзирателите се грижат последните дни от живота на затворниците да преминат спокойно, но откакто при тях се е уредил на работа жестокият Пърси Уетмор, непрекъснато имат проблеми с него. Една мишка, наречена господин Джингълс, също има важна и интересна роля в събитията… Действието се развива в две времеви линии, като настоящето на Пол в дома за възрастни също е увлекателно поднесено. „Зеленият път“ е доста мрачна и меланхолична история, но напълно си заслужава четенето!
„На кино спасението е евтино. Невинността също. Даваш петак и получаваш за него действителната му стойност. Истинският живот струва повече и в голямата си част отговорите са различни."
„По-късно, когато се прибрах вкъщи, разбрах, че изобщо не са си приличали — причината, поради която ми се бе сторило така, се криеше в последиците от стреса и скръбта, изписани по лицата им. Странно, как болката оставя отпечатъка си върху нас и ни кара да изглеждаме като едно семейство."
„Уморен съм от хората, които се държат толкова грозно един към друг.“
„Времето лекува всичко, времето го отнася и накрая има само мрак. Понякога откриваме други в мрака и понякога отново ги губим.“
„Всички ние дължим една смърт и изключения няма, зная това, но понякога, о, Господи, Зеленият път е толкова дълъг.“
April 11, 2020
The year is 1932, the place is death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Who are the monsters here? A gentle giant name of John Coffey, sentenced to death for an unspeakable crime, is a strong possibility. But let's look at the prison guards on duty there. The one called Brutal, that can't be happenstance, can it? What about Percy, high on holding a position with a little power? With his girly hands, hand tooled leather baton holster, and his mean stupid bullying ways, I wouldn't count him out. Full of miracles and wonders, this is a Stephen King offering that is such a good story. Don't expect your heart to come out intact. It's apt to break just a little bit.
November 14, 2012
I'm a huge fan of Stephen King and The Green Mile has got to be one of the best novels he has ever written. In fact, it's one of the best novels I have ever read in my entire life and a great piece of literature to boot!
The novel is simply amazing. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down! It is very beautifully written and extremely moving at times. The plot is original, gripping and heart-breaking. All the characters had depth, and were vivid, intriguing, and believable. The story is told so well that it was easy to imagine yourself in Cold Mountain Penitentiary in Alabama back in 1932.
It takes a terrific writer to evoke feelings of sympathy for murderers, but Stephen King managed this effortlessly. I wished that John Coffey would be set free somehow, but I knew deep down that he would die. I had tears streaming down my face when he was executed. The novel left me thinking about the death penalty and whether it's time it should be abolished worldwide. I've developed quite a convinced moral stance against the death penalty thanks to reading this novel. My country doesn't have the death penalty so I never really thought much about it until I read this book.
I'd give this book more than five stars if I could!
The novel is simply amazing. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down! It is very beautifully written and extremely moving at times. The plot is original, gripping and heart-breaking. All the characters had depth, and were vivid, intriguing, and believable. The story is told so well that it was easy to imagine yourself in Cold Mountain Penitentiary in Alabama back in 1932.
It takes a terrific writer to evoke feelings of sympathy for murderers, but Stephen King managed this effortlessly. I wished that John Coffey would be set free somehow, but I knew deep down that he would die. I had tears streaming down my face when he was executed. The novel left me thinking about the death penalty and whether it's time it should be abolished worldwide. I've developed quite a convinced moral stance against the death penalty thanks to reading this novel. My country doesn't have the death penalty so I never really thought much about it until I read this book.
I'd give this book more than five stars if I could!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2018
This was undoubtedly one of the best books I have ever read and I enjoyed it even more than I expected (and I had set the bar super high!). This was also the most horrible book I have ever read - but in the best possible way!
Not a single sentence was unneccessary; I enjoyed every scene and interaction.
The main character was wonderfully developed - he really seemed like a real person and at times it was hard for me to forget that he's just fictional. It was easy to forget that all of this was just made up (and yes, even the fantastical aspects were written and presented in a way that made them seem realistic and believable!).
Some might say that John Coffey's character development falls a bit on the short side as you do not find out too much about him and his life. But I thought this was perfect for him and for the role he plays in the story.
I found myself wanting to keep reading constantly. I wanted to find out so badly what would happen next, I forgot everything around me! But at the same time, I wanted to set the book aside and never pick it up again, because I just didn't want the story to end.
I also want to mention that I have never seen the movie before (something I will now do as soon as possible!), so I absolutely had no idea what would happen. I'm really glad about this, because the events that unfolded in part 6 completely surprised me. Looking back to it, I have to say that the suspense and the buildup to it was done in a perfectly subtle way - something I would love to see more in other books! I often (correctly) guess what will happen in the end, but this time nothing prepared me and I was completely clueless throughout.
Overall, this was a wonderful reading experience and I already know that this story is going to stay with me for the rest of my life (and will be reread many, many times). I wish I could describe my feelings about the topics of this book better, but there a simply too many feelings I have. I tried telling my mum about my thoughts, but I just couldn't find the right words - nothing seemed to do this fantastic book justice.
Not a single sentence was unneccessary; I enjoyed every scene and interaction.
The main character was wonderfully developed - he really seemed like a real person and at times it was hard for me to forget that he's just fictional. It was easy to forget that all of this was just made up (and yes, even the fantastical aspects were written and presented in a way that made them seem realistic and believable!).
Some might say that John Coffey's character development falls a bit on the short side as you do not find out too much about him and his life. But I thought this was perfect for him and for the role he plays in the story.
I found myself wanting to keep reading constantly. I wanted to find out so badly what would happen next, I forgot everything around me! But at the same time, I wanted to set the book aside and never pick it up again, because I just didn't want the story to end.
I also want to mention that I have never seen the movie before (something I will now do as soon as possible!), so I absolutely had no idea what would happen. I'm really glad about this, because the events that unfolded in part 6 completely surprised me. Looking back to it, I have to say that the suspense and the buildup to it was done in a perfectly subtle way - something I would love to see more in other books! I often (correctly) guess what will happen in the end, but this time nothing prepared me and I was completely clueless throughout.
Overall, this was a wonderful reading experience and I already know that this story is going to stay with me for the rest of my life (and will be reread many, many times). I wish I could describe my feelings about the topics of this book better, but there a simply too many feelings I have. I tried telling my mum about my thoughts, but I just couldn't find the right words - nothing seemed to do this fantastic book justice.
November 24, 2016
Siempre había escuchado cosas positivas en torno a esta historia, pero por alguna razón, siempre le había escapado. Quizá porque suelo ser muy sensible con ciertos tópicos, y por lo poco que había escuchado del libro, sabía que iba a sufrir como condenada pun intended. Y así fue, me lloré la vida, principalmente luego de la mitad del libro. Pero no me arrepiento de haberlo leído, por lo contrario, se ha convertido en uno de mis libros favoritos en la vida, y no solo del autor.
Bella historia, remueve mil emociones, te mantiene enganchado hasta último momento, y toca tus fibras más sensibles. Hermoso libro, recomendadísimo. Haré una reseña más extensa en mi canal.
Bella historia, remueve mil emociones, te mantiene enganchado hasta último momento, y toca tus fibras más sensibles. Hermoso libro, recomendadísimo. Haré una reseña más extensa en mi canal.
July 6, 2020
An unforgettable and emotional novel. John Coffey has to be the sweetest character King has ever written along with Paul Edgecomb. The ending left me feeling emotionally numb because of the injustice that occurred. The movie adaptation of the novel series is just as good if not better. Personally, I rank this novel in the same level as IT and The Stand.
January 6, 2019
★★★★/5
Very interesting and thought provoking book. It's certainly a story that really consumes you and then you start reading it you can put it down. In my opinion, it had a few issues, but overall great writing and story itself deserve readers' attention.
Very interesting and thought provoking book. It's certainly a story that really consumes you and then you start reading it you can put it down. In my opinion, it had a few issues, but overall great writing and story itself deserve readers' attention.
Read
November 30, 2018The Kindle edition is currently on offer: 0.99p in the UK and $0.99 in the States.This is another book, I read eons' ago, and is up there with my favourite King' novels (The Shining, The Stand, Firestarter, Misery, Cujo, Pet Sematary, Salems Lot, etc). If Goodreads, existed at that juncture; when I first read it, I would've accoladed it five-stars. I've still got the softback copy of the book, which is in pristine condition, so not sure whether to buy the Kindle one - or not. I'm looking forward to doing a reread, someday.
"The Girl with all the Gifts" is currently the same price, as this one, as well - in their respective, territories. I bought that one.
"The Girl with all the Gifts" is currently the same price, as this one, as well - in their respective, territories. I bought that one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 16,251 reviews