The Green Mile
Compelling
Dark
Unforgettable

The Green Mile The Complete Six Part Novel

Stephen King1996
At Col Mountain Penitentiary, along the lonely stretch of cells known as the Green Mile, killers as depraved as the psychopathic "Billy the Kid" Wharton and the possessed Eduard Delacroix await death strapped in "Old Sparky."
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Reviews

Photo of yuyu
yuyu@mortaja
4 stars
Jan 17, 2025

me diverti mucho

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Bethany@bethibley
4.5 stars
Jun 20, 2024

My first Stephen King book--and probably my last, though not because it wasn't a great book. This was an excellent piece of literature and I'm glad to have read it; I wanted to because I need to see the movie, but I'm not a thriller/suspense/horror fan by any means. I don't need reminding of the depravity of man, the horrors that happen daily among humanity, and I'd rather not dwell on such, much less the harrowing details of it. That being said: if not for the grisly and explicit imagery sprinkled throughout, this would surely be considered classic literature and read in high schools nationwide.

+6
Photo of Ashley Ballard
Ashley Ballard @readingwithashley
5 stars
Jan 11, 2024

this book deserves so much more than just 5 stars

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Sercan Solmaz@sercansolmaz
5 stars
Dec 28, 2023

filmini izlediğimiz bir çok kitap gibi 'yeşil yol' da, kafamızdaki kurduğumuz dünyayı film sahnelerinden çok daha fantastik bir haliyle bize sunuyor. Stephen King'e laf söylemek ne haddimize zaten.

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Mythos@mythos_reviews
2.5 stars
Sep 11, 2023

I am not completely sold on this book. I originally thought it was a stand alone. I was wrong . Either way I don't believe I will continue this series. I couldn't get fully invested in the story and found myself zoning out.

+1
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Katherine Bates @katiebates1
5 stars
Jun 23, 2023

Definitely my favorite King book I’ve read so far.

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Lorenzo Barretta@bavuett
4 stars
Dec 13, 2022

The book is good just like the movie!

Photo of Emelie
Emelie@swedishbookowl
4 stars
Oct 31, 2022

Percy, a real shitface!!

Photo of Emelie
Emelie@swedishbookowl
4 stars
Oct 31, 2022

Oh fuck you, Percy!

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Isabela H @isabelah
5 stars
Oct 8, 2022

a m a z i n g this was the first Stephen King novel that I read and I'm already in love with the writing. Not only was the overall plot of the series enthralling, but the writing was incredibly engaging. Even when the plot slowed down, or events had to be recapped, the writing style had such a strong hold on me that I couldn't be bored. In general, this had a delightful mix of true crime with touches of the supernatural in a way that didn't invalidate the realistic while fully integrating the mystical.

Photo of Mary Garza
Mary Garza@maryherondale
5 stars
Sep 20, 2022

Es un libro hermoso. Pronto una reseña más completa

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Sian Wadey@sianwadeykerr
5 stars
Aug 12, 2022

** spoiler alert ** Although he's the King of Horror, I often enjoy the other King stories, more. The ones that feature realistic characters that you can sympathise with and plots about life. This is one of those stories. I immediately fell in love with the characters, even John Coffey, who you aren't really supposed to care for, not in the beginning at least. King has that amazing ability to make readers really fall in love with characters, and really hate others. If you've yet to read King, I suggest this should be your first.

Photo of chloe mcpherson
chloe mcpherson@randombookhoarder
5 stars
Feb 8, 2022

So this is my first Stephen King book and I honestly don’t know why it took me so long to get to this book. The green mile is one of my all time favourite movies, Tom Hanks done the movie justice and makes me cry every time. And the book was just 10 x as good and made me cry 10 x as more. The book and movie makes me so angry because John Coffey does not deserve to die, he is like a soft little bunny that needs to be protected at all costs. If you haven’t read this then you need to. Just read it.

Photo of Tania Santos Ferro
Tania Santos Ferro@taniasferro
5 stars
Feb 1, 2022

Es un libro intenso y muy profundo que permite dos cosas: disfrutar de una buena historia y a la vez, sumergirte en la reflexión en temas como la muerte y la vida en torno a su temática principal: La silla eléctrica.

Photo of Karla
Karla @gowithkar
4 stars
Jan 2, 2022

Si la peli es cruda, aquí es mucho peor

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Karla @gowithkar
4 stars
Jan 2, 2022

Personajes detestables y Percy

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Olivera Mitić@olyschka
1 star
Nov 24, 2021

Da dam dvojku, bila bi potpuno poklonjena. Ovo je 1,5 za trud.

Photo of Anne Sofie Stavad
Anne Sofie Stavad@reading_trex
4 stars
Nov 24, 2021

4.5

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Dorian Avers@doriavers
4 stars
Nov 17, 2021

I may come back and change my rating on this novel. It's well written, but I think it was wrapped with a too coincidental and neat bow. I don't know if I'm a fan of the serial novel format either. This is a high three, definitely. First off, a rant. I hate that when most people talk about Stephen King they praise his ability to write horror novels, like that's all he is. That's all I thought he was until I started reading his stuff. So every time I go into one of his works I'm waiting for the horror or the twists or the obvious evil and I don't think I've ever gotten that, and I blame everyone around me who only referred to him as the "King of Horror" for my disappointment when I realize I'm not reading a horror novel. The Green Mile is hard to box in with a genre and I'm having trouble categorizing it on my shelves. It's a story about Paul Edgecombe, the man that makes sure executions run smoothly while also playing caretaker to the criminals before they meet Old Sparky. He's a normal guy. What makes his life unique are the people he takes care of on the block. Del has a mouse that whispers things in his ear and Coffey has a talent for healing. But other than that, everything is realistic. There are two things that I want to praise King for in this novel. One, he humanizes the criminals. Yeah, most of these people have done terrible things and deserve to be where they are, but I think it's really easy for us "good" people to look down on them and write them off as scum. It might just be that their impending death and the cut off setting give them perspective, but who knows. Two, the way that King writes in wives and friends. Paul's wife plays a small role in this novel, but he praises her as being smart and fierce and he never once objectifies her. Same with Moores, they treat their wives as their best friends and partners, their equals, there is so much respect for one another and I feel like I don't even see that in modern novels (I just realized how low my expectations are). One of my problems with this novel is that I didn't feel much. I had seen someone post that this novel made them cry and I was expecting to be drawn in by the devastation and wrongdoings, but I never felt like King let us get attached enough to feel broken, and that's what I would've wanted. I want to have to put down the book and just stare into space for a moment and process. Although I didn't love this novel, I still think there's a King work out there that I will love and I will probably continue to read whatever King book falls into my lap until I find it.

Photo of Natalie Manuel
Natalie Manuel@nattymreads
5 stars
Nov 15, 2021

I was expecting to like this but I wasn't expecting how powerful and layered it was. It's hard to miss the parallels with the other famous JC. I don't think it's a 'religious' book as such, but it is essentially the story of an innocent miracle healer who feels the emotions and sins of humanity and is executed alongside two other guilty men. It is also the story of the men who are forced by humanity's failings and corruption to participate and carry out the death, and this is where it shines. The men who work on the green mile are a mixed bunch, but they are written with understanding and empathy in the same way they extend their own empathy towards the condemned. The criminals are also three dimensional - Delacroix in particular. The book asks so many questions but ultimately shows us the tragedy of mankind. That we use each other's love and kindness against each other, that our prejudice and ignorance causes the innocent to suffer. John Coffey dies partly because of racism and prejudice but he also dies because he crumbles under the weight of our sins. At the same time though, it is not a novel without hope. The people who work on the green mile are decent men who show respect for the fear and vulnerability even the most horrible criminals feel on the day they die. While John Coffey remains dead unlike the other JC, he also gives the gift of life to others who continue on. I deliberately haven't mentioned Percy, because we all hate him so. Love to Mr. Jingles. FIVE stars!

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Tannie Davidson@sarcasmwearseyeliner
5 stars
Nov 3, 2021

So great! I need more than five stars!!

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Angela Zeiler@gela
4.5 stars
Oct 31, 2021

Ideen / Ideas: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Handlung / Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Charaktere / Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Schreibstil / Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Unterhaltung / Entertainment: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wiederholen / Repeat: ⭐⭐⭐ In my opinion, “The Green Mile” is a good introduction to Stephen King's books. The genres of historical novels, judicial thrillers, fantasy and horror are combined into an exciting mix with a few very emotional scenes.

+3
Photo of Simona Andrijauskiene
Simona Andrijauskiene@bookfay
5 stars
Oct 19, 2021

One of the best books from Stephen King, that I've read so far. It was like riding a roller coaster of feelings. This gem made me feel sad, mad, happy and frustrated, it made me feel all the feels. It will definitely stay with me for a long time. I have no complaints for it, it was pure perfection to me.

Photo of Ariel Himboi
Ariel Himboi@arielhimboi
4 stars
Oct 19, 2021

I listened to the Green Mile while I was working, going off my Stephen King binge after reading and loving his book IT. I quickly realized just how consistent King's writing style is, unfortunately it's heading towards a slippery slope. I believe that one should read King's work one at a time and once in a while, as to not get tired of the same energy, tone of narration and word choice. I enjoyed The Green Mile, especially after going in plot-blind and not knowing how things would go. At first I was weary, listening to the narration of a man who works as some sort of guard at a prison, in the section where prisoners are sentenced to the electric chair. It was interesting and I was amazed at how much research and interest King put into the characters and story. I thoroughly loved the characters, their developments and how they interacted and the choices they made. One of my favorite minor character's was the MC's wife who was every bit passionate and brutal, honest and amazing and I adored her every time she showed up in the story. After finding out she was created for King's wife, it made me want to know more about his wife as well and what kind of stories she would write. I loved the characters a lot more than the story, when in the middle it seemed to never end, and I often thought there wasn't much in terms of drama. It was realistic, and sometimes I wished King would bend the story and to bring an element of unreality other than a character who, like a god, could heal. I felt like the ending was a sham. It was realistic, maybe, a little over-dramatic if you ask me, the whole "oh there's so much pain just end me". I was also frustrated that the MC's wife gave the other characters so much leeway into helping John and doing something, and I loved when she called them out on being cowards... there was much that COULD be done, but after all the events in the story, it felt like he thought the characters wouldn't. Which says a lot about the characters he created and wrote with. Come on King, you gotta force your hand sometimes. Anyway. It was pretty good. The ending was eh and I felt like I needed a lot more. But whatever. I look forward to reading another one of his books in a few weeks or months or so.