Mass Market Paperback, 536 pages
English language
Published March 8, 1999 by Pocket Books.
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 …
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. --back cover
An emotional and startling journey down the green mile, complete with fascinating characters, that'll stay with after the end.
In which the stereotypical magical black man stuns all by being spiritually gifted but is characterized as being hulking and stupid. Real classy
Un roman de Stephen King que j'avais bien aimé à l'époque où je l'avais lu. Marquant, par son cadre, ses personnages et son récit.
Oof. What a read! I really loved this book. Stephen Kind is such an amazing story teller. And so visual. He makes you hear and see things, and (unfortunately) to smell them too. I did not see any of the twists coming, and when last did that happen? Usually you can plot twists come trudging up over the horizon and by the time you reach them you can greet them by the hand like old friends.
This story is told from the point of view of Paul Edgecomb, a guard at the Death Row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. His life seems to be ticking over in a fairly orderly way until the arrival of John Coffey. Very large, very black, covered with scars and accused of a horrific crime. And yet even before he knows anything about him, Paul finds himself shaking hands with John Coffey. A thing he has …
Oof. What a read! I really loved this book. Stephen Kind is such an amazing story teller. And so visual. He makes you hear and see things, and (unfortunately) to smell them too. I did not see any of the twists coming, and when last did that happen? Usually you can plot twists come trudging up over the horizon and by the time you reach them you can greet them by the hand like old friends.
This story is told from the point of view of Paul Edgecomb, a guard at the Death Row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. His life seems to be ticking over in a fairly orderly way until the arrival of John Coffey. Very large, very black, covered with scars and accused of a horrific crime. And yet even before he knows anything about him, Paul finds himself shaking hands with John Coffey. A thing he has never done with a death row prisoner before.
Since this is Stephen King, you probably already know that things get pretty grim. You learn a lot more about the electric chair than you really need to know. But wow! What a book. A great story that tears you right along with it.
I did find the Christ symbolism a little over the top at times, but you know what? It made sense as well. Fantastic book.
''This happened in 1932, when the state penitentiary was still at Cold Mountain. And the electric chair was there, too, of course.''
One of my favorite King stories
