The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel

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The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel (The Green Mile #1-6)

4.36 of 5 stars 4.36 · rating details · 91,573 ratings · 2,226 reviews

Set in the 1930s at the Cold Mountain Penitentiary's death-row facility, The Green Mile is the riveting and tragic story of John Coffey, a giant, preternaturally gentle inmate condemned to death for the rape and murder of twin nine-year-old girls. It is a story narrated years later by Paul Edgecomb, the ward superintendent compelled to help every prisoner spend his last da...more

ebook, 448 pages

Published May 11th 2010 by Pocket Books (first published August 29th 1996)

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Nov 14, 2012 Ellie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: physical-books, bbc-big-read-list, 2012, favorites, reviewed, horror, historical

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...more

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Dec 30, 2007 Ellen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone especially people who arnt into horror and have avoided steven king like the plague

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 na...more

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Sep 10, 2011 Kelanth, numquam risit ubi dracones vivunt rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: narrativa

Credo proprio di essere un fan Kingiano del tutto atipico.
Non si spiegherebbe altrimenti il fatto di come mi sia innamorato de "L'ombra dello scorpione" e abbia trovato pesantissimo "It", di come mi abbiano entusiasmato tutti i libri firmati "Bachman", o l'odiato dai molti "Cell" e abbia trovato lentissimo questo Miglio Verde, tralascio la saga di Roland che è umanamente apprezzata da tutti.
Altro che miglio, qui mi è sembrato di fare la maratona di New York.
Le prime parti del libro sono davvero...more Credo proprio di essere un fan Kingiano del tutto atipico.
Non si spiegherebbe altrimenti il fatto di come mi sia innamorato de "L'ombra dello scorpione" e abbia trovato pesantissimo "It", di come mi abbiano entusiasmato tutti i libri firmati "Bachman", o l'odiato dai molti "Cell" e abbia trovato lentissimo questo Miglio Verde, tralascio la saga di Roland che è umanamente apprezzata da tutti.
Altro che miglio, qui mi è sembrato di fare la maratona di New York.
Le prime parti del libro sono davvero di una lentezza esasperante e solo il finale mi fa aggiungere una stelletta alla mia recensione che altrimenti sarebbe stata una stroncatura piena. Avevo già fatto fatica con il film, ma di solito i libri sono meglio... di solito appunto. C'è sempre un'eccezzione che conferma la regola.
King è bravissimo anche a scrivere racconti, ecco questo l'avrei visto benissimo come un racconto, magari un racconto lungo, tagliando a piedi uniti molte parti, soprattutto quelle di lui invecchiato all'ospizio o quelle di contorno "d'ambito famigliare", davvero troppo indigeste, troppo inutili al contesto.
Mi sembra del tutto superfluo scrivere un riassunto della trama, chi non ha ancora letto il libro avrà sicuramente visto il film, decisamente più passabile, per lo meno quello in un'ora e mezza lo fai fuori.
Non so veramente cosa scrivere di più, non mi è piaciuto, neanche lontanamente e non ci posso fare nulla. Quello che mi ha più infastidito è stato tutto quel continuo richiamo ai miracoli, a Dio, alle preghiere, certo posso capire il contesto culturale del 1930, ma io proprio non lo sopportavo.
Anche i personaggi li ho trovati tediosi all'inverosimile, dal gigante Coffey al Capo Edgecombe, passando per tutte le altre piattole e soprattutto il topo. Per non parlare delle mogli.
E' brutto a scriversi ma i personaggi più negativi erano i più accettabili ai miei occhi, forse perchè almeno loro facevano qualcosa, segno che se un assassino diventa più accattivante agli occhi di un lettore di tutta la ciurma buona, siamo poco al di sopra della cosidetta "frutta".
Accetto il fatto che detesto i libri di King più amati dai suoi fan e letteralmente impazzisco per quelli più odiati.
E va bhe, pace e amen.

http://kelanthsblog.blogspot.com/(less)

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Feb 19, 2012 Andreia Silva rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biblioteca, desafio-das-cores-mrb-2012, leituras-de-2012

É por isto que eu não gosto de ver os filmes antes de ler os livros que lhes serviram de inspiração. Tenho a certeza de que se tivesse lido o livro antes, teria dado 5 estrelas à história. Isto porque a história não teve qualquer surpresa para mim e sabia que aquele seria o final (ainda que me revolte)! Mas mesmo assim, o livro é muito bom. Ainda assim, o livro conseguiu despertar emoções e conseguiu emocionar-me. Há pormenores que não tinha percebido com o filme que me foram esclarecido com o l...more

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Jun 03, 2012 (v!n)(v!n) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: made-me-teary

I have not read any of Stephen King’s novels before this one and I think it certainly left an impression on me. I first heard about the movie but I preferred to read the book first because the films always seem to skip bits.

The first aspect I fell in love with when I started this book was the mouse. I certainly am no lover of mice but I do wish I had a pet mouse after reading this novel. It was a constant theme throughout the book and I certainly thought that this little animal just may have mad...more

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Feb 11, 2011 Andy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

I remember watching (and enjoying) the movie version many years ago when it first came out and have often wanted to see it again. I've never quite got round to it but a year or so ago in Christchurch I found the old box set collection of the original serial novels in a second hand book shop and picked them up. I recall them being released at the time and considered getting them to be part of the grand experiment Stephen King entered but never did and I kind of regret that now. Reading them over...more

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Mar 10, 2009 Preeti rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

[Reviewed in 2003.:]

Have you ever read a book and been so affected by it that it moved you to tears? I just finished reading The Green Mile by Stephen King and I sat there tearing every few pages or so. It's incredible - the emotion, the feelings... Just the starkness of what's presented. It's a prison story, but moves beyond that, touching on naked human sensibilities, on basic human emotions. Ugh. I am really bad at reviews.

What I can talk about, however, is the emotions that the books caused...more [Reviewed in 2003.:]

Have you ever read a book and been so affected by it that it moved you to tears? I just finished reading The Green Mile by Stephen King and I sat there tearing every few pages or so. It's incredible - the emotion, the feelings... Just the starkness of what's presented. It's a prison story, but moves beyond that, touching on naked human sensibilities, on basic human emotions. Ugh. I am really bad at reviews.

What I can talk about, however, is the emotions that the books caused to arise in me.

Do you believe that people can be evil? Hmm, let me be more specific. Do you believe that a person can be bad, or evil, or however you want to put it, without having any good in them? After reading this book, I would say yesh, there are people who don't have an ounce of good in them.

I know, I know - the book is fiction, but that doesn't mean that it can't describe what can actually exist in real life (most of this particular book, anyway). One of the characters in the book was completely... I don't know if I can use the word evil in this context (evil implies demons, maybe even the opposite of god, things like that in my mind), but I guess bad, vicious, diabolic, wicked, cruel would seem like the appropriate description.

Even when people gave him a break, after seeing the cruelty and callousness, it made no difference, he continued the same backbiting, sadistic ways of the past. And it didn't matter how many times he was "forgiven" or let off (for the unbelievably montrous deeds he committed), it was the same. One particular part that hit me hard was this (no spoilers ahead, in case you're planning to read - which I highly recommend you do!):

"Then I understood why he had panicked, why he'd fought us so hard. He thought we were going to put him in with Wild Bill Wharton; that his punishment for the dry sponge was to be a dry cornholing from the resident psychopath. Instead of feeling sympathy for Percy at this realization, I felt disgusted and a hardening of my resolve. He was, after all, judging us by the way he would have behaved, had our positions been reversed."

A person like this can't help but think others will do the same to him as he would to others. I guess that holds true to a certain degree for everyone too. I mean, how often do you think "outside the box"? How often do you think of why a person does or says something without your own perspective having influence over the thoughts? It takes a lot of conscious effort to do that, unless you're enlightened beyond that point.

But anywho, amazing book. I devoured it in two days - I couldn't put it down. In fact, I've been losing sleep the past two nights to the book. You really should check it out.(less)

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Jun 27, 2008 Hasanuddin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiksi, paradigma, film

Warga kulit hitam hingga pertengahan abad 20 adalah masyarakat kelas dua di AS. Karena "kepapaan" itulah, sering menjadi bidikan segala keburukan. Termasuk pelaku kejahatan yang sepertinya "wajib" disandang oleh orang kulit hitam. Proses persidangan tidak lebih hanya legalitas memberi hukuman saja. Inilah yang terjadi pada tahanan "negro" di penjara Green Mile.

Sang terdakwa menerima dengan pasrah, karena tidak ada bentuk pembelaan yang akan menjamin dia lolos dari jeratan hukuman. Dan hukuman i...more

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Apr 29, 2008 Mara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who can take gore

Shelves: contemporary, reviewed, tied-to-movies

Stephen King is a great author?! Who knew? I guess a huge chunk of the world-I recently heard or read somewhere that he's the world's top novelist. That was kind of shocking, but now I'm starting to understand why. I probably didn't give him much of a chance before because I'm not a horror reader and while most movies of his that I've seen scarred me for life, some of them had really bizarre endings that seriously called into question the author's abilities. Why would you ruin what was a suspens...more

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Oct 26, 2007 Josh Feinzimer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror

I did see the movie before I read the book, which actually enhanced my reading. I think the actors were so successfully chosen for the various roles that I acutally pictured Tom Hanks as the narrator and Michael Clark Duncan as the death row inmate.

King weaves some important themes and messages into this story. The most enlightening of which is being comfortable with growing old.

Paul, the prison guard narrator (Hanks' character) emerges as the tragic hero of this novel. While he comes close to d...more

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Jul 17, 2007 Michael Darmitzel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: mature readers

Shelves: mytop10faves

this is the best book Stephen King has written to this point in his already illustrious (and extensive) career. It's the best because it's not simply a thriller (like 'Salem's Lot) or straight up horror (like Carrie or Misery), instead, it's a book filled with beauty and simplicity, and at the same time brutality and murder. While at some times in his career Mr. King has become carried away with gore and sprctacle, he doesn't make that mistake in this book. The story is well set up and unbelieva...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Markus Molina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really, really enjoyed this book, still, I was in between giving it a four or a five, and eventually decided that it deserves a four overall, when I compared it to my other 5 star reads. The best thing about Stephen King, in my opinion, is that he is thee absolute best at hooking a reader right off the first page and never letting go. He is also damn good at getting you to keep turning the pages. I read this book rather quickly because most of the time I was reading it, I couldn't force myself...more

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Nov 05, 2008 Elena rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in-italian

I own a "one book" translated edition (in Italian),even if here too it was sold in six separated volumes. Here I find SK at his best: the characters are vividly depicted, and so are their emotions and thoughts. The plot is quite simple, but it's powerful and moving: a story of social complaint, crime and punishment (and its lawfulness), revenge and forgiveness, innocence and guilt and last but not least, hope - even if the ending is not a happy and reassuring one - I won't tell it, of course!:)
T...more

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Apr 13, 2009 Michele rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This series was awesome. I read it when it was one at a time and I would die waiting until the next one came out :)

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May 11, 2011 Coligne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mondadori, biblioteca, thriller, my, favorite, sfida, dal, libro, al, film

Questo è il primo romanzo di King che leggo, devo dire che come inizio non avrebbe potuto essere migliore! Il Miglio Verde è un gran bel libro, profondo, a volte commovente, e-sopratutto-fa riflettere.
Vanta una delle migliori craterizzazione del personaggi in cui mi sono imbattuto, con personaggi così ben delineati da sembrare quasi reali.
E così non si può non immedesimarsi in Paul Edgecombe, capo delle guardi del Braccio della Morte del carcere di Could Montain, una persona per bene, nonostante...more Questo è il primo romanzo di King che leggo, devo dire che come inizio non avrebbe potuto essere migliore! Il Miglio Verde è un gran bel libro, profondo, a volte commovente, e-sopratutto-fa riflettere.
Vanta una delle migliori craterizzazione del personaggi in cui mi sono imbattuto, con personaggi così ben delineati da sembrare quasi reali.
E così non si può non immedesimarsi in Paul Edgecombe, capo delle guardi del Braccio della Morte del carcere di Could Montain, una persona per bene, nonostante il lavoro terribile che fa.
E non si può non commuoversi di fronte a John Coffey-come la bevanda, ma scritto diverso- il gigante buono con la mente di un bambino e miracolosi poteri curativi. Il secondo sopratutto, è personaggio che colpisce. Il contrasto tra la sua mole e la sua remissività, certamente una cosa voluta, lo rende così simile ad un agnellino sull'altare sacrificale, che è impossibile non parteggiare per lui...
Non mi dilungherò molto sulla trama, dicendo solo che da vero maestro l'ha condita di tanto mistero quanto bastava ad invogliarti a proseguire la lettura proprio nel punti giusti, per passare a parlare dei temi sollevati nel libro.
Sono due principalmente: La pena di morte, e, in un modo molto particolare, il bene e il male.
Il Miglio Verde, contrariamente a quanto si potrebbe pensare, non è un libro contro al pena di morte. King non la critica mai, o meglio non la fai mai criticare alla voce narrante. Mi è piaciuto l'atteggiamento fatalistico asusnto dai protagonisti: mai infatti, nel corso del libro, vediamo Edgecombe, o i suoi colleghi giudicare uno dei loro "ospiti molto speciali". Non sono degli aguzzini, ma come ha fatto notare lo stesso Paul, il loro lavoro è più da psicologi che da secondini...
La seconda questione è trattata meno approfonditamente, ma merita un accenno. è davvero interessante la posizione di Coffey nei confronti di bene e male, che si può riassumere nel suo ultimo discorso (uno dei momenti più toccanti dell'intero libro).(less)

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Dec 23, 2008 Mrs. Katz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Green Mile
By: Stephen King

The book Begins with the story of Paul Edgecombe. Paul works at the Cold mountain penitentiary in the E-Block where people are jailed while they are waiting for their turn to meet “old sparky”, the E-Block’s electric chair. Everything is normal there until a main named John Coffey is brought to E-Block. He is a huge man and he was found with the bodies of two eight year old girls dead in his arms, and everyone assumes that he is guilty but Paul thinks that John is i...more The Green Mile
By: Stephen King

The book Begins with the story of Paul Edgecombe. Paul works at the Cold mountain penitentiary in the E-Block where people are jailed while they are waiting for their turn to meet “old sparky”, the E-Block’s electric chair. Everything is normal there until a main named John Coffey is brought to E-Block. He is a huge man and he was found with the bodies of two eight year old girls dead in his arms, and everyone assumes that he is guilty but Paul thinks that John is innocent. Paul thinks up some ideas about how John may not be guilty. John is nice and this is strange for Paul because he is so timid he wants a light left on after dark at one point which surprises Paul because John is such a large person. John is also nice unlike many of the other people that Paul meets at the E-Block. During one summer that John was there Paul had a urinary infection that wouldn’t go away> John touched him once and it was like he sucked the illness right out of Paul who became cured. After this Paul has a crazy idea to save a woman that he has known his whole life. This plan he has will risk the Jobs of him as well as the jobs of his friends that also work on the Block.
When I began to read this book I did not like it. I stopped reading it for almost three weeks but then I picked it back up again when I had to read it and kept reading it for hours on end and could not put it down. The Books start out slow but the gets better and more interesting the more that you get into it. When you first meet John Coffey he is hard to understand but he develops into an every interesting character that you want to read about more and more. All of the characters have traits that come out farther into the book that you don’t realize that they might have ion the beginning. I do not recommend this book for children that are too young because there are many inappropriate scenes and words thought the book. I do recommend this book for more mature people though. I thought that it was a very interesting book that has many surprises in it. IF you are to read the book I suggest that you read it in parts that are the six different volumes that make up the book because they were published at different times when the book was coming out it leaves you wanting to read more at the vend of each part. In the beginning of the book you think that it is a regular book but in the middle and towards the end you realize that it is a book that must be fictional because of the paranormal powers that John Coffey has and those that he bestows upon some people. If you want to find out how the woman that Paul tries to save and how Paul and his friends end up then read The Green Mile.
(less)

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May 22, 2013 Melissa rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 10, 2013 Sarah Overton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Green Mile by Steven King takes place in the 1930's down in Louisiana. Paul, one of the main characters, works in a prison where they keep the inmates who are scheduled to be executed. The prison workers call the prison block where they work the green mile. The green mile changed one summer when a prisoner came in who was going to be executed and his name was John Coffey. John Coffey is a very large black man who looks very intimidating but as it turns out, he is just a giant teddy bear. He...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Elisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Paul Edgecombe era il capo degli agenti del blocco E del penitenziario di Cold Mountain. È lui che, ormai molto anziano, ospite di una casa di riposo, decide di raccontare che cosa è successo decenni e decenni prima nel reparto in cui lavorava, quello del braccio della morte. Ha bisogno di far conoscere la storia di cui, suo malgrado, è stato protagonista.
Era il lontano 1932 e lui era un quarantenne come mille altri, con una moglie di cui era pazzamente innamorato, Janice, con figli ormai grandi...more Paul Edgecombe era il capo degli agenti del blocco E del penitenziario di Cold Mountain. È lui che, ormai molto anziano, ospite di una casa di riposo, decide di raccontare che cosa è successo decenni e decenni prima nel reparto in cui lavorava, quello del braccio della morte. Ha bisogno di far conoscere la storia di cui, suo malgrado, è stato protagonista.
Era il lontano 1932 e lui era un quarantenne come mille altri, con una moglie di cui era pazzamente innamorato, Janice, con figli ormai grandi, con colleghi di lavoro che, nella maggior parte dei casi, erano diventati anche amici. Quello che non era normale era il lavoro che faceva Paul: insieme a Dean, Brutal, Harry e Percy sorvegliava i detenuti che attendevano di percorrere l'ultimo miglio della loro vita, quello che a Cold Mountain, a causa del colore del pavimento, era chiamato il miglio verde. Alla fine del miglio verde, ad attendere i condannati a morte, si ergeva terrificante Old sparky, la vecchia scintillante sedia elettrica. Era compito di Paul e della sua squadra anche la vera e propria esecuzione.
Nel 1932 le celle del blocco E erano occupate da due criminali detti Presidente e Capo, dopo la loro esecuzione inizia la vera e propria storia narrata da Paul. Tutto cominciò con l'arrivo al braccio della morte di Delacroix e John Coffey (sì, come il caffè, ma scritto diverso). Del era un ometto francese, assassino di molte persone, che però all'interno di quelle mura tirò fuori tutta la propria umanità, affezionandosi a uno strano topolino con gli occhi neri neri, capace, chissà come, di compiere curiosi giochi circensi. Quel topolino vagava già da un po' al blocco E, si intrufolava spesso nella cella vuota che poi avrebbe occupato Del, tanto da far credere ai carcerieri che, chissà come, quel topolino lo stava proprio aspettando. Delacroix lo chiamò affettuosamente Signor Jingles. Al suo arrivo ebbe un piccolo inconveniente con Percy, l'ultimo carceriere assunto, finito lì grazie alle sue alte conoscenze politiche. Un raccomandato invasato e fanatico, che non mostrava mai il minimo di tatto nel rapportarsi con i detenuti, non vedeva l'ora di picchiare qualcuno, di farlo soffrire, di insultarlo. Percy si prese subito male con Del.
Poco dopo Delacroix, giunse al blocco E John Coffey, accusato di aver stuprato e ucciso le due sorelline Deterrick. Non appena Paul lo vide rimase esterrefatto: John Coffey era l'uomo più grande che avesse mai visto. Un negro gigante accusato di aver commesso un crimine orribile, ma che a Paul non fece paura. Gli strinse addirittura la mano il giorno del suo arrivo, non era mai successo prima che si avvicinasse così tanto a un detenuto del blocco E. John Coffey era un omone con il cervello di un bambino. Aveva paura del buio e piangeva in continuazione. Paul lo guardava e non poteva capire come, un uomo all'apparenza così mansueto, potesse aver compiuto un'azione tanto brutta. Eppure era stato trovato con le mani nel sacco. Quando la polizia l'aveva arrestato lui era lungo le rive di un fiume, con in braccio le sorelline morte, sporche di sangue. Le teneva in braccio e piangeva, urlava. Voleva rimediare, ma era troppo tardi.
Presto arrivò anche un terzo detenuto al braccio E, un giovanotto molto pericoloso, uno che potenzialmente era ritenuto in grado di fare qualsiasi cosa, William Wharton, che amava paragonarsi a Billy the Kid.
Il 1932 fu l'anno in cui Paul rimase vittima di una dolorosissima infezione alle vie urinarie. Fu proprio questa sua malattia, e l'incredibile modo in cui ne uscì fuori, a fargli guardare con nuovi occhi il gigante nero del blocco E. Stava soffrendo da cani il giorno in cui John Coffey lo invitò ad entrare nella sua cella. Nessun carceriere sarebbe mai dovuto entrare da solo nella cella di un detenuto, meno che mai in quella di un detenuto grande e grosso come John, eppure Paul lo fece. Senza sapere forse nemmeno il perché si ritrovò seduto accanto a Coffey. Il gigante assassino posò le mani su Paul per alcuni istanti, poi dalla sua bocca iniziò a uscire uno strano sciame di qualcosa di nero che, nell'aria, diventava bianco fino a sparire. Insieme a quella strana roba era sparito anche il dolore di Paul, non sarebbe mai più tornato. Paul rimase sconvolto, John non piangeva e continuava a ripetergli: l'ho aiutata vero? L'ho aiutata capo. Non c'erano testimoni di quanto accaduto, tutti si accorsero semplicemente del fatto che l'infezione, chissà come, era svanita.
Poco tempo dopo John Coffey ebbe di nuovo modo di mostrare le proprie capacità paranormali. Quel giorno Percy si dimenticò come al solito di camminare al centro del corridoio, sbadatamente si spostò un po' troppo verso il lato della cella di Wharton, che non si lasciò sfuggire l'occasione e lo acchiappò al volo. Tra il dolore e l'umiliazione Percy se la fece addosso e Del, notandolo, lo prese in giro. Percy era ancora sconvolto quando il signor Jingles, per stare dietro ai suoi giochetti circensi, uscì fuori dalla cella di Delacroix. Fu un attimo e Percy lo schiacciò col piede. Del urlava, il topolino era immobile a terra, in mezzo a una chiazza di sangue e, dall'altro lato, John Coffey, dopo aver osservato la scena, disse a Paul di dargli il signor Jingles, finché era ancora in tempo. Fu un attimo e quel topolino moribondo, tra le mani del gigante nero, riprese vita. A parte Percy, tutti gli agenti stavolta furono testimoni del miracolo e di quella strana roba che usciva dalla bocca di John.
Paul Edgecombe non credeva che Coffey fosse davvero colpevole, stava mettendo insieme i pezzi, stava riordinando le idee. John era un uomo che dio aveva mandato sulla terra con una capacità di aiutare le persone incredibile. John poteva aiutare, poteva salvare vite. John non sapeva nemmeno allacciarsi le scarpe, Paul era convinto del fatto che non avrebbe mai potuto violentare e uccidere due bambine.
Paul non si sbagliava, fu lo stesso John a fargli capire chi era il colpevole, fu lo stesso Coffey a usare i suoi poteri per punire i cattivi.
Tutti gli uomini del blocco E erano consapevoli del fatto che avrebbero mandato a morire sulla sedia elettrica un uomo innocente, ma non sapevano come aiutarlo, non potevano dimostrare la verità. Fu ancora una volta lui ad aiutare loro, dicendo che per lui era un sollievo porre fine a una vita così, vissuta in solitudine, con quella sua strana capacità di captare il dolore delle persone.
Quella di John Coffey fu l'ultima esecuzione cui partecipò Paul Edgecombe.
Ormai anziano, alla casa di riposo, ripercorre i passi che lo portarono a quell'ultimo miglio verde percorso insieme al suo ragazzone, che gli assicurò: non espoderai, capo. Aveva ragione. Mentre scrive le sue memorie, Paul Edgecombe ha ben 104 anni, non ha più avuto nessun malanno dopo che John Coffey gli ha posato le mani addosso. E non è l'unico ad essere stato fornito di un elisir di lunga vita dal gigante buono. In una baracca accanto al casolare vive ancora il signor Jingles, un po' acciaccato, ma felice. Sa ancora fare i giochi che gli aveva insegnato Delacroix, quello strano uomo francese, pluriomicida, che si innamorò di un topolino. Paul, ultracentenario, ripensa alla strana morte di Del, a quell'esecuzione per mano di Percy che non ebbe niente di umano. Ripensa alle urla che sentiva John nella stanza di Old Sparky. Ripensa a sua moglie morta in un incidente e pensa ad Elaine, a quanto la ami nonostante l'età.

Questo è l'unico libro che ho letto di Stephen King. Volevo leggerlo da tanto, ma l'ho letto solo ora. Non ho nemmeno mai visto il film che ne hanno tratto, ma lo farò presto, anche perché il libro mi ha davvero conquistata. Non posso dire che è una bella storia, perché di bello questa storia non ha niente, però davvero mi sono trovata in mezzo agli eventi con una voglia matta di sapere come si sarebbero evoluti.
Il miglio verde non nasce come un romanzo. Ho scoperto leggendo l'introduzione dell'autore che, come faceva Charles Dickens nell'Ottocento, anche Stephen King ha provato a scrivere una storia a puntate, costruita gradualmente. Né i lettori né l'autore dunque sapevano come sarebbe andata a finire: Stephen King ha, di volta in volta, improvvisato.
Per me il risultato è stato ottimo.
A un tratto della lettura, quando era notte fonda e in casa c'era un silenzio tombale, stavo piangendo. Non metaforicamente: stavo piangendo lacrime vere. Piangevo per Paul, per John, per il signor Jingles, per uno Stato che si erge a emblema della democrazia e poi ha ancora la pena di morte. Mentre leggevo della strana esecuzione di Del, letteralmente fritto sulla sedia elettrica, mi sono sentita orgogliosa di vivere in uno Stato dove non c'è nessun miglio verde, dove non c'è nessuna sedia elettrica, dove nessuno viene pagato per porre fine alla vita di altri esseri umani. Leggendo Il miglio verde, pagina dopo pagina, esecuzione dopo esecuzione, mi sono resa conto che anche solo per non avere la pena di morte nel nostro ordinamento dobbiamo sentirci orgogliosi di essere italiani. Sì, siamo un paese disastrato, comico, economicamente problematico, politicamente instabile, MA non abbiamo la pena di morte. E questo io lo trovo giusto. Ho ancora il voltastomaco per la fine di Delacroix. Ancora quella sensazione che mi fa dire che qualunque reato abbia commesso una persona non la rende meritevole di essere uccisa in quel modo da uno Stato. Capisco la voglia di vendetta di chi è stato toccato personalmente da crimini in nessun modo giustificabili, ma non vorrei mai uno Stato che facesse della vendetta la sua bandiera.
La giustizia, per come la vedo io, non passa per la pena di morte.
E se avessi avuto dei dubbi a riguardo (ma non li avevo) questo libro me li avrebbe certamente chiariti. (less)

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Apr 07, 2013 Andy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Green Mile is a wonderful book. I struggled between 4 and 5 stars. I'm going with 4.5. [No spoilers]

First of all, this isn't horror. There is suspense, supernatural, and many good emotional moments, but this is not a horror book.

I saw the movie first, so I knew what was coming. The movie seems like it was very accurate. I think it was a helpful experience, as I then had strong visuals to associate the characters with. And after reading the book, I realize the movie was cast and set very well...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Emily Ott rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

1932 and all is not well on the Green Mile at the Cold Mountain State Penitentiary down in Alabama. Steven King works us along the winding road that keeps the pages turning and us guessing at what’s coming next. With Paul Edgecombe narrating the story and having problems whether the person was behind bars or not behind bars is the problem, King does a wonderful job narrating, and telling us, through Paul’s eyes the immense problem that the world and society has.

In the world that King paints, th...more 1932 and all is not well on the Green Mile at the Cold Mountain State Penitentiary down in Alabama. Steven King works us along the winding road that keeps the pages turning and us guessing at what’s coming next. With Paul Edgecombe narrating the story and having problems whether the person was behind bars or not behind bars is the problem, King does a wonderful job narrating, and telling us, through Paul’s eyes the immense problem that the world and society has.

In the world that King paints, the world of 1932, blacks are still thought of as inferior to the white man, especially in Alabama. With Paul Edgecombe, the head guard at Death Row, everything seems to happen for a reason, and John Coffey is no different. Though there is something different about this inmate and not just in size either. With a place where, life and death are blurred, and the boundaries of who’s a killer and who’s not a killer, set in stone with racists beliefs, nothing is as it seems. King weaves seamlessly though the transitions between Paul in 1932 and the present, and is a read that most should consider. Though it is a little longer read with about 530 pages, it’s a remarkable book that shows the taste of what the real world is, the truest form of humanity and how there are gifts among us though we choose not to use them even when given to us in the palm of our hand.

A few of the things though in this book that I didn’t like were that, it was a little bit confusing in the beginning of the book where things are jumping from moment to the next, though after the first part, the plot settled more into a pattern and following along was easier, there were also parts where you kinda figured out what he was doing 100 pages before you even got to what he was originally implying to which I didn’t personally like.

In all, this book is a read that most should consider. The reading level of it isn’t that high and though it might be a little longer which might deter people, the pages fly by as your reading. This is a wonderful novel to add to King’s record of great novels and going outside of what is easy and doing what most people are too afraid to do.
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Mar 25, 2013 ♒ᙅĦɐﬡ☂єℓℓᙓ♒ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 713-stephen-king-713, 00713-own-pb-or-hb-00713

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I have read this multiple time and I loved the green mile. I could not put this book down. This story is set in E block of the prison, in 1932. It begins with twin 8 y.o. girls being raped and murder. And who could have done it, well of course, the out of towner, that is covered in blood. John Coffey, like the drink, but not spelled the same, is convicted and sent to death row. The guards don't know what to do with him. He is a uneducated, black giant of a man. There are several guards, on the b...more I have read this multiple time and I loved the green mile. I could not put this book down. This story is set in E block of the prison, in 1932. It begins with twin 8 y.o. girls being raped and murder. And who could have done it, well of course, the out of towner, that is covered in blood. John Coffey, like the drink, but not spelled the same, is convicted and sent to death row. The guards don't know what to do with him. He is a uneducated, black giant of a man. There are several guards, on the block. Paul is the lead, ad he has a feeling John is innocent, but then you have the annoying, want to be, nephew of the warden, he wants to be the one to fry everyone. He wants to throw the switch on Old Sparky.
Eduard Delacroix is one of the inmates. He has a screw loose. He bides his time with a Mr. Jingles, a little mouse he found. Eduard makes Percy look like a fool one day, so he stomps on Mr. Jingles. This is when things begin to happen. The dead mouse is given to John, who cups it in his hands and sucks the death right out of it, the mouse runs off and all this little lights, like fireflies, are released from John's mouth. Then Paul becomes very sick, and John cures him, and again the lights.
Billy the kid is another inmate. He is psychopath. He is always causing problems, spotting , peeing, and screaming.
It comes time for Eduard, and the guards promise to make Mr. Jingles a circus mouse, to meet Old Sparky, and Percy gets his chance. They do practice runs, walkin the mile, walkin the mile, so everything will go as expected for the live execution. Percy being sadist as he is decided to teach Eduard a less for making fun of him. So he purposefully forgets to wet the sponge. Needless to say, it goes terribly wrong. As punishment, he is put in a straight jacket and thrown into a closet, to think about his actions. The warden's wife becomes very sick, when Paul and the other guards hatch a plan to sneak John out of while Percy is tied up. When they arrive at the wardens house, John goes upstairs to the wife. He gives her the kiss of life, and the cancer is gone, but he takes on all her alignments. Upon returning to E Block, John grabs Billy the kid, and releases all the light into him. John touch Paul's arm to show him why.
Later John is walked down the mile, which he is ok with, even though the guards are not.
The story ends with a gentle man telling a story in a nursing home, some 70 years later, of his days as a prison guard, all while feeding Mr.Jingles his dry toast.
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Mar 13, 2013 Morgan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have always been an adoring fan of Stephen King’s work. While most of King’s novels tend to be placed in the genres of horror or thrillers, The Green Mile seems to reside in a genre entirely its own. With elements of realistic fiction, fantasy, humor, suspense, and mystery, Stephen King creates an unforgettable piece of literature. This is truly a book that everyone must read at least once in their lifetime.
Many people had recommended this book to me, so many so that I decided to rent a copy f...more I have always been an adoring fan of Stephen King’s work. While most of King’s novels tend to be placed in the genres of horror or thrillers, The Green Mile seems to reside in a genre entirely its own. With elements of realistic fiction, fantasy, humor, suspense, and mystery, Stephen King creates an unforgettable piece of literature. This is truly a book that everyone must read at least once in their lifetime.
Many people had recommended this book to me, so many so that I decided to rent a copy from the library. Even after reading the synopsis, I had expected something entirely different from the story than what was provided, I anticipated gore, carnage, and all the usual horror that King had supplied for me in his other novels like Carrie or It. When reading, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was wrong. Throughout the entirety of the novel, I was compelled to continue reading by the beautifully devised characters and exceptionally descriptive scenes. The actions of ignorance, hate, and love surely shall move anyone reading to tears.
The Green Mile is set in the E Block of Cold Mountain Penitentiary, Georgia. Paul Edgecomb is the first person narrator of the story, who works as the death row supervisor of Block E of the penitentiary. While Paul and his friends try to keep the inmates content, they also have to keep Percy Wetmore, a vicious, arrogant, fellow guard from harassing the inmates as well. One day, A giant of a man comes to stay at death row, one by the name of John Coffey. Coffey is a man who is convicted of the rape and murder of two young girls, yet cannot sleep without a night light on. When John Coffey enters Block E, the guards all witness wonderful and mysterious occurrences that may change their lives forever.
I recommend this novel to everyone, as it has elements from almost every literature genre there is. There is something in it that everyone reader will love! With strong themes of racism, faith, hope, and sacrifice, The Green Mile definitely is one of my favorite books. I think Stephen King did a wondrous jjob of stepping out of his comfort zone of horror and creating this masterpiece. Everyone should read The Green Mile at least once in their lifetime!
Note: (However I do not recommend for young readers such as 13 or younger, as there is foul language, sexual themes, and some gruesome themes.)
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Feb 07, 2013 Al rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

EDITORIAL REVIEW:

Set in the 1930s at the Cold Mountain Penitentiary's death-row facility, *The Green Mile* is the riveting and tragic story of John Coffey, a giant, preternaturally gentle inmate condemned to death for the rape and murder of twin nine-year-old girls. It is a story narrated years later by Paul Edgecomb, the ward superintendent compelled to help every prisoner spend his last days peacefully and every man walk the green mile to execution with his humanity intact.

Edgecomb has sent...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Sammantha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Stephen King fans

Recommended to Sammantha by: Erik

Shelves: favorites

I give this book 5 stars!! I loved this book! As always, Stephen King has done a fab-u-lous job! I had seen the movie before and loved it! So I knew getting into this book, I'd most definitely enjoy it.

This book made me laugh, smile, and cry. I really liked a lot of the characters in this book. They were very detailed and understandable. Each one had their own characteristics about them that made you love or hate them. If you have seen the movie before reading the book, you will learn and notice...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Caitlin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lolwut

Paul has worked in a prison executing for 20 years before he ever met John Coffey, who had murdered two girls. After John magically heals Paul, Paul believes that John has a special gift. The gift of healing, but unfortunately John has been sentenced to death of electrocution. Paul doesn't believe that John really murdered when he has the power to heal, can he prove John is innocent? Or will John have to sacrifice himself for another's wrong-doing?

Stephen King has a true gift when it comes to wr...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Bent rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Stephen King’s Green mile is a suspenseful horror novel which portrays Paul Edgecombe’s experience while serving as a death row supervisor in Cold Mountain Penitentiary which characters often refer to as “The Green Mile” due to its appearance and size. The story itself switches from Paul reminiscing his service while at the Green Mile in 1932 to his current perspective while at Georgia Pines nursing home in 1996. After a brief introduction and trivial details Jon Coffey arrives at the Green Mil...more Stephen King’s Green mile is a suspenseful horror novel which portrays Paul Edgecombe’s experience while serving as a death row supervisor in Cold Mountain Penitentiary which characters often refer to as “The Green Mile” due to its appearance and size. The story itself switches from Paul reminiscing his service while at the Green Mile in 1932 to his current perspective while at Georgia Pines nursing home in 1996. After a brief introduction and trivial details Jon Coffey arrives at the Green Mile due to him being convicted of raping and killing two little girls and receiving a death sentence. Coffey is a very tall and muscular African American but instead of using his brute force against prison guards and inmates, he acts as a passive kind and often silent character. Billy the Kid who arrives later on is a another inmate placed in the Green Mile facility is the exact opposite of Coffey; though he is not nearly as large as Coffey nor African American, he is bent on causing absolute chaos and turmoil before he is executed. Percy Wetmore is another guard who works with Paul, he is hated by all due to his obnoxious behavior and the fact that he taunts and beats multiple inmates. Paul is suffering from a urinary infection which worsens after time progress’s to the extent to where he is in tears after being punched in that area after getting into a conflict with Billy. Coffey seeing this tries to lure Paul over, after a brief conversation Paul walks up to Coffey’s cell door where he is embraced against the cell and has his infection latterly removed from him through his mouth to Coffey. Paul was released and realized his pain was gone and that Coffey harbors powers of supernatural healing. After explaining what had happened to the guards, they decide to use Coffey’s powers to heal the Wardens wife who is dyeing due to a brain tumor. Percy unaware of this is drugged, tied up, and placed in a padded room seeming as he is untrustworthy. After healing the warden’s wife, and returning to the Green Mile Coffey accidently passes on the sickness the warden was carrying on to Percy. The plot in general never becomes bland and contains multiple plot twists and surprise’s that will keeper the readers interest, however the pace is very slow at time’s especially when progressing to another point in the plot and has multiple details that are unimportant to the actual story. Overall Stephen King has delivered an incredible book that sticks out from his typical work and does not disappoint, this book is recommended for those of a mature age, and strong stomached to the graphic details and deaths foretold.(less)

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Jan 09, 2013 Victoria Lee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Personally, I loved Stephen King’s novel, The Green Mile. It’s both a tear-jerker and an eye-opener, and the novel is aimed for anyone who wants a good read. At first, the copious amount of pages seemed disheartening, but don’t be deceived. Every page is filled with good stuff.

Stephen King’s impeccable choices for this story are astounding. I couldn’t have improved this book in any way, shape, or form, even if I wanted to (which I don’t).

1. Characters: King’s depiction of characters greatly emph...more Personally, I loved Stephen King’s novel, The Green Mile. It’s both a tear-jerker and an eye-opener, and the novel is aimed for anyone who wants a good read. At first, the copious amount of pages seemed disheartening, but don’t be deceived. Every page is filled with good stuff.

Stephen King’s impeccable choices for this story are astounding. I couldn’t have improved this book in any way, shape, or form, even if I wanted to (which I don’t).

1. Characters: King’s depiction of characters greatly emphasizes the significance of The Green Mile as a whole. Paul Edgecombe, the “head guy” up at E block at Cold Mountain state penitentiary is a tough and stolid guard. He didn’t bother to get to know the prisoners in E block, who were sentenced to a date with Old Sparky, the electric chair at the end of the green mile. But all that changed once John Coffey came along.
“Coffey like the drink, only not spelled the same way (King, 17),” he would say when he is introduced. A huge, strong black man with the mind of a child... quite an unusual combination, yet also very intriguing. The accused man of rape and murder to the young Detterick twins does not match up with the same accused man who could not hurt a fly and is afraid of the dark, which (spoiler alert!) in the end, Coffey shows Paul that he is innocent. John Coffey was the gentlest and most innocent character that I have ever known, and I greatly appreciate how King portrays him in his novel.
One of Coffey’s inmates who we get to know is Mr. Eduard Delacroix, a French Canadian man who committed a murder of one woman and two children. Delacroix is one of the most tolerated prisoners, besides Coffey, in E block. Harmless on the outside, but with a dangerous past that he grieves over every day in the cell.
Percy Wetmore. I cannot stand this guy. He walks around E block like he owns the place, where in reality, he only holds his position due to family ties with the governor. He has a smaller stature, but his incredibly rough and haughty personality makes up for it. When new prisoners arrive at E block, he taunts them and herds them like cattle, proclaiming “Dead man walking! Dead man walking here!” (King, 10), as if he were selling hot dogs at a baseball stadium. He would go out of his way to run his stick along the cell bars, and was just a waste of space. But without Wetmore, the environment in E block would not be the same. Though a distasteful character, he does add something to the story.

2. Relationships: The development of relationships between characters is truly touching.
When Edgecombe learns about Coffey’s harmless personality and ability to cure the ill, he is awestruck and simply amazed. Coffey’s innocence is what changes all of the prison guards at E block. Being misunderstood and judged based on his appearance, but having a pure heart, is what touches all of the guards. They haven’t become fonder of a prisoner than Coffey, who can be considered a Christ figure, and indeed he was. As their love for Coffey grew stronger, so did mine; King’s writing was just that powerful.
I don’t know if this is going to sound crazy, but I was really affected by Delacroix’s (Del’s) friendship with the prison mouse, who he names Mr. Jingles. Del really loves that mouse; it is his best friend. He finds enjoyment in playing fetch with Mr. Jingles, and takes pride in stating that he taught it how to, even though the mouse was already that smart to begin with. He keeps Mr. Jingles in an old cigar box in his cell, and during the day, it is always found perched on his shoulder or in his hands. The day of Del’s execution, he couldn’t seem to part with Mr. Jingles. But he was satisfied when the guards told him that Mr. Jingles would be a big hit in the “mouse circus” down in Florida. I still can’t put it into words why I was so moved by this man-mouse relationship. I guess that it shows how the littlest things in life can bring the greatest joy in the most unconditional circumstances.

3. Events: Every single moment in this book is memorable and altogether, makes a great story. But I have to say that Coffey’s execution was the most powerful one for me. It made me sad, but also frustrated at the same time. Of course, Coffey did not deserve to be executed. But what really gets me is that none of the people watching the execution know that he is innocent, except for the prison block guards. Coffey’s final request is to not have the mask over his head when the chair is activated because he is afraid of the dark... seems to be such a little thing, considering that he is about to die. I cannot say I like, but I admire the fact that he accepts that he is going to die and does not fight it. He has the satisfaction of knowing that the wardens know what his story was. I, as well as the prison guards, was very desolate during the whole execution, and I am really disappointed how Coffey’s fate turned out. But I’m not disappointed at the same time. Had Coffey been excused, the impact of the whole story would go out the window... well maybe not out the window, but it wouldn’t make the novel as memorable as it is. I guess I just really liked John Coffey, but sometimes it takes great sacrifice for a more powerful effect.

Stephen King’s novel, The Green Mile, without a doubt is a great read. I recommend this for anyone who wants to experience an amazingly implemented storyline. Were there any flaws? Maybe some, but not anything that I recall at the top of my head. King’s representation of the experiences in an execution prison block could not have been more powerful and moving. Definitely 5 stars for this novel.(less)

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Jan 07, 2013 Conor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Green Mile by Stephen King is a wonderful work of literature. There are so many amazing characters, good and bad. There is also fantastic dialogue in this novel and a very intriguing plot. Paul Edgecombe the main character is a prison guard who holds criminals who are on death row. When a new prisoner named John Coffey is sentenced to die by the electric chair, Paul's life changes forever.
I really enjoyed reading about all the characters in this novel. There are two types of characters in...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Bernard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Bernard by: Jim Bass

Years ago I had a commute to work upwards of 45 minutes each way by car. A coworker lent me his audio edition of this book to pass the time. After all, how much NPR Morning Edition can one take in a week? I had never read (or listened) to a Stephen King novel as usually his subject matter isn't up my literary alley. But, let me write that this story was very compelling, and sometimes I wished my commute were longer so that I could get to the end of a section!

Frank Muller is an outstanding narrat...more Years ago I had a commute to work upwards of 45 minutes each way by car. A coworker lent me his audio edition of this book to pass the time. After all, how much NPR Morning Edition can one take in a week? I had never read (or listened) to a Stephen King novel as usually his subject matter isn't up my literary alley. But, let me write that this story was very compelling, and sometimes I wished my commute were longer so that I could get to the end of a section!

Frank Muller is an outstanding narrator. He switches gears from voice to voice seamlessly as if there were more than just one person relating the tale over the audio waves. This tale, set in a prison's death row, and starring a very interesting and diverse cast of inmates, including the novel's anti-hero, John Coffey, twisted and turned and kept me guessing from "page" one to the end. And, just when I thought, "Well that's it. I figured it out. That's the plot," or something along those lines, it turns out I'm wrong, or I hadn't figured it out, or there was more to the plot that I guessed! This novel had me in its clutches the whole time, just as Coffey had---, well, you'll see (or hear).

Muller, apparently a veteran of Stephen King audio books, even reads King's forward and afterwards, which give a very interesting glimpse into what it is like to write, and publish, a novel in parts, where one part is published and the next hasn't even been finished. Some authors might not be able to pull this off, but King does.

I haven't seen the movie adaptation, but I can easily imagine Tom Hanks playing the role of the main character, from whose perspective the entire novel is written in first person.

If your commute is as long as mine was, get yourself an audio book. If you think you'll enjoy a tale of suspense, drama, mystery, with a big helping of uncensored (after all, this is the unabridged version) swearing by many of the characters, then I'd recommend you pick this one up. (NOTE: This one isn't for kids, as it deals with some mature themes, not the least of which are detailed descriptions of executions, harsh language, and some graphic adult-oriented scenes.) (less)

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About Stephen King

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his parents separated when Stephen was a toddler, 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...more Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his parents separated when Stephen was a toddler, 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 the elderly couple. 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 then 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 from the University of Maine at Orono 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 and Tabitha Spruce married in January of 1971. He met Tabitha in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University of Maine at Orono, where they both worked as students. 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 of these were later gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.

In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching high school English classes 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.(less)

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Trivia About The Green Mile

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Quotes from The Green Mile

“Time takes it all, whether you want it to or not.” — 438 people liked it

“Sometimes there is absolutely no difference at all between salvation and damnation.” — 215 people liked it

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title link	preview: The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel
avg rating	preview: The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel Goodreads rating: 4.36 (91573 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8256484-the-green-mile?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355919002l/8256484.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8256484-the-green-mile?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel by Stephen King[/url]

The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel (The Green Mile #1-6)

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