The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel

I did not read this book in the original serialized aspect. Instead, I read this not too many years ago as the one book. And I do not believe that it hurt the book at all. I don’t think there is anything that could hurt this book. The Ugly: As I said, there is hardly anything wrong with this book. The only thing I couldn’t stand about the book was the fact that it was told in flashback form. I don’t know what it is, but when it comes to flashbacks I don’t usually have a problem with them. It was just in this book it didn’t seem to work out for me. The Bad: Just because a man isn’t smart, doesn’t mean that he won’t be able to find a way to make it be known that he wasn’t the one to the kill the girls. Just by looking at the man, one would be able to tell that he wasn’t a killer. Sadly, he wasn’t smart enough to even kill a person. I know it was part of the book, but it also hurt the story going through. The Good: The emotions of the book is what drove it along. And it was what made the book so damn good. King was brilliant in the way he made everyone seem like their lives are nothing more than their emotions in the writing. It just seemed that this is the most emotional book that King has written. Final Thoughts: Even if you have seen this movie, you need to read this book. Easily one of King’s best books just because of the emotion in it.

I could write a thousand word essay and never do this book the justice it deserves. The FLAVOR of the time and place is more than HD could ever be. So please do not let me hear, "Oh, I saw the movie." So what? The intimate story is told in 7D, with help from the master story-teller. NO, NOT EVER will the move be as good as the story was meant to be - and is. (I saw the move as well, it was darned good!) Stephen transports you to a place and time that no longer exist. People lived in such a different world then; even though not that many years ago, that time is so... gone.. The narrative style is GENIUS. Of course it goes without saying that things happen in this book that are better left unspoken. But you leave satisfied.

A few friends have recommended that I read this book over the years. I'm glad I finally did. It's a flawlessly told story of life inside the Death Row block of a penitentiary. There's ostensibly a mystery that's slowly revealed as the story progresses. But even though I've never read this book before, and never seen the movie in its entirety (just snippets here and there), the sheer weight of this story's success means you know who done what from the start. There's still plenty of suspense, though, and loads of twists and turns. I absolutely loved it. I was pretty sure I was going to give this book four stars, because of the formatting issues in my Kindle edition. I got the impression it was scanned in from a print version, and then someone was tasked with reading through it and fixing all the OCR software's mistakes. Only they missed quite a bit. It's the typical OCR stuff: mostly n, h, and b being confused, so you'd see the word "hoss" instead of "boss" for example. Being tech-savvy, I immediately saw what probably happened... but sometimes, both possibilities are actually words, making the situation worse. The last couple of chapters though... wow, those last few chapters are intense. Gut-wrenching. Incredibly emotional. With an ending like that, I'd be nothing more than a petty lugoon if I docked a star for some silly software issues!

I've seen the movie more than once, but the last time was still a very long time ago. It was one of those moving stories that one doesn't tire of. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the movie only tells the one side of the story: the part that happens in 1932 and forms the memoirs that Paul is busy writing when we first meet him - about 60 years later. The other part is what happens to Paul while he is busy writing the story and where he is, his friends in the present day, and (eventually) what happened to everyone else who featured in his life at the time of The Green Mile and John Coffey. I'm still sad about what happened to John Coffey. I wish there could have been some other way.

This book just gets more brilliant and heartbreaking every single time I read it. I always think I’m prepared for the emotions I’m about to feel but I never am and it destroys me every single damn time! It’s just such a heartbreakingly beautiful story, it touches on every emotion and just makes me feel so much. And when it comes down to it, I think that’s what makes it such an excellent story. There are horror and heartbreak and anger and everything in between and it’s all woven together so perfectly that you can’t help but be completely drawn in and invested in these characters and their fate. This is definitely one of my top favourite King stories, it truly is a masterpiece!

I had gone on an amazon book haul for sad/tear-jerking novels, and this was the only one that succeeded. This is just a beautiful. beautiful. novel and its gives beautiful insight into the human journey towards justice. The novel tantalizing begins describing what is known of a case of the rape and murder of two girls, and the man convicted is waiting on death row. The story is told from the perspective of one of the workers of 'the green mile' and without giving anything away, I can say that all is not as it seems. Warning: When reading, for the first few chapters, you have to put some effort into sticking with the book because there are sections that seemingly run dry. However, when the book begins to pick up again, you'll be so glad that you never put it down.

I have only really like one King book which is "The Stand". I also very much disliked the authors habit of including a character from a previous book. If such an Easter egg exists for The Green Mile, I am unaware of such. So, early on I made a note in my Kindle that I hoped one of the men would tell John Corey that it was okay for him to simply lie in his bunk and die. I think he would have said, "Yes, Boss, I'm tired." This ending would have been appropriately miraculous. I am sure that Mr. King meant to save that gift from God from torture. So how about it, wanna do a re-write?

I couldn't put it down, normally I'm lucky if I can get through 2 or 3 chapters a day but last night I read 12 in a row. I got to 2 chapters in particular that caused me an anxiety attack because I got so into it (it's important to note here that I have panic disorder as well as several others so it's probably not going to happen to you)

I don't know how many times I have read this, but Paul Edgecombe telling the story of "E Block" at Cold Mountain Penitentiary in 1932 rips my heart out ... Every ... Single ... Time ... Obviously I know going in what is going to happen and how it is going to happen. That doesn't make it any easier. I feel the grief just the same. I might even feel it more intensely because of the anticipation of it. There is some repetition because of the original serialized format, but nothing can take away from the power of this story.

If you've seen the award-winning movie with Tom Hanks, then by and large, you know exactly what to expect from this book. That's not to say you shouldn't read this book for fear it will be redundant. In fact, I would almost advise you to watch the movie first, then read the book. The movie recreates the novel almost scene for scene, so much so that, barring some minor omissions, the movie quotes much of the dialogue verbatim. I say watch the movie first because when you read the book, you'll compulsively imagine each of the characters using the actor that portrayed them in the film. Each actor that was cast was PERFECT for the character as they're described in "The Green Mile", so for those who have trouble transforming words into a face and accent, the movie helps out a lot. A word of caution though: while 3/4s of the novel is translated to film almost perfectly, the movie cuts out multiple scenes that occur later in the book, and ultimately changes the ending quite extensively ... and that's for the better. The final scenes in the book are good, without a doubt, but in comparison to the film, somewhat lacking for dramatic impact. Additionally, there is a chapter at the very end of the book that, really, can just be ignored, as it feels tacked on and doesn't add anything to the rest of the story. If you're familiar with, and have read Stephen King's work, then in many ways you know what to expect from this novel: dialogue, including slang and vernacular, are handled beautifully in this novel, and as always, makes you feel like someone you know is relating this story to you. In the case of "The Green Mile", this is especially true since this is one of King's only books to use the first person perspective throughout. And it's not simply that instead of a lot of third person phrasing it uses first person phrasing, but that the narrator himself is truly a character both within and outside the story. What I mean by this is that "The Green Mile" takes the format of an old man recalling, bit by bit, his experiences from 60 years prior. As would be befitting of something like this, this means the narrative is frequently interjected with frank opinions, incongruous recollections, and general use of slang that makes it feel exactly like a real person is recalling a real set of memories. To some this might make the story somewhat confusing; at times, the narrative doubles back on itself (though this is mostly an artifict of the conversion from serial novella to one piece novel), and each chapter begins in the present day before flipping back to the 1930s. Unlike many of King's novels, this story is largely devoid of any monsters, aliens, or magical happenings. In fact, other than a few scenes (possibly a half-dozen in number or so), this story reads mostly as a period piece centered around one strange man's time on death row. But this isn't a bad thing at all; this story is still incredibly compelling, reading like a combination of a character study and a classic mystery tale. The eventual plot twist heigtens the drama and throws things for a loop, which makes the conclusion of both the 1930s plot, and the current day plot nothing short of memorable to a degree that might bring forth a few tears. I would definitely advise that you leave yourself an hour or so to read right through the final chapters of the novel to avoid interrupting the pace and emotional impact.

I did not read this book in the original serialized aspect. Instead, I read this not too many years ago as the one book. And I do not believe that it hurt the book at all. I don’t think there is anything that could hurt this book. The Ugly: As I said, there is hardly anything wrong with this book. The only thing I couldn’t stand about the book was the fact that it was told in flashback form. I don’t know what it is, but when it comes to flashbacks I don’t usually have a problem with them. It was just in this book it didn’t seem to work out for me. The Bad: Just because a man isn’t smart, doesn’t mean that he won’t be able to find a way to make it be known that he wasn’t the one to the kill the girls. Just by looking at the man, one would be able to tell that he wasn’t a killer. Sadly, he wasn’t smart enough to even kill a person. I know it was part of the book, but it also hurt the story going through. The Good: The emotions of the book is what drove it along. And it was what made the book so damn good. King was brilliant in the way he made everyone seem like their lives are nothing more than their emotions in the writing. It just seemed that this is the most emotional book that King has written. Final Thoughts: Even if you have seen this movie, you need to read this book. Easily one of King’s best books just because of the emotion in it.

I could write a thousand word essay and never do this book the justice it deserves. The FLAVOR of the time and place is more than HD could ever be. So please do not let me hear, "Oh, I saw the movie." So what? The intimate story is told in 7D, with help from the master story-teller. NO, NOT EVER will the move be as good as the story was meant to be - and is. (I saw the move as well, it was darned good!) Stephen transports you to a place and time that no longer exist. People lived in such a different world then; even though not that many years ago, that time is so... gone.. The narrative style is GENIUS. Of course it goes without saying that things happen in this book that are better left unspoken. But you leave satisfied.

A few friends have recommended that I read this book over the years. I'm glad I finally did. It's a flawlessly told story of life inside the Death Row block of a penitentiary. There's ostensibly a mystery that's slowly revealed as the story progresses. But even though I've never read this book before, and never seen the movie in its entirety (just snippets here and there), the sheer weight of this story's success means you know who done what from the start. There's still plenty of suspense, though, and loads of twists and turns. I absolutely loved it. I was pretty sure I was going to give this book four stars, because of the formatting issues in my Kindle edition. I got the impression it was scanned in from a print version, and then someone was tasked with reading through it and fixing all the OCR software's mistakes. Only they missed quite a bit. It's the typical OCR stuff: mostly n, h, and b being confused, so you'd see the word "hoss" instead of "boss" for example. Being tech-savvy, I immediately saw what probably happened... but sometimes, both possibilities are actually words, making the situation worse. The last couple of chapters though... wow, those last few chapters are intense. Gut-wrenching. Incredibly emotional. With an ending like that, I'd be nothing more than a petty lugoon if I docked a star for some silly software issues!

I've seen the movie more than once, but the last time was still a very long time ago. It was one of those moving stories that one doesn't tire of. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the movie only tells the one side of the story: the part that happens in 1932 and forms the memoirs that Paul is busy writing when we first meet him - about 60 years later. The other part is what happens to Paul while he is busy writing the story and where he is, his friends in the present day, and (eventually) what happened to everyone else who featured in his life at the time of The Green Mile and John Coffey. I'm still sad about what happened to John Coffey. I wish there could have been some other way.

This book just gets more brilliant and heartbreaking every single time I read it. I always think I’m prepared for the emotions I’m about to feel but I never am and it destroys me every single damn time! It’s just such a heartbreakingly beautiful story, it touches on every emotion and just makes me feel so much. And when it comes down to it, I think that’s what makes it such an excellent story. There are horror and heartbreak and anger and everything in between and it’s all woven together so perfectly that you can’t help but be completely drawn in and invested in these characters and their fate. This is definitely one of my top favourite King stories, it truly is a masterpiece!

I had gone on an amazon book haul for sad/tear-jerking novels, and this was the only one that succeeded. This is just a beautiful. beautiful. novel and its gives beautiful insight into the human journey towards justice. The novel tantalizing begins describing what is known of a case of the rape and murder of two girls, and the man convicted is waiting on death row. The story is told from the perspective of one of the workers of 'the green mile' and without giving anything away, I can say that all is not as it seems. Warning: When reading, for the first few chapters, you have to put some effort into sticking with the book because there are sections that seemingly run dry. However, when the book begins to pick up again, you'll be so glad that you never put it down.

I have only really like one King book which is "The Stand". I also very much disliked the authors habit of including a character from a previous book. If such an Easter egg exists for The Green Mile, I am unaware of such. So, early on I made a note in my Kindle that I hoped one of the men would tell John Corey that it was okay for him to simply lie in his bunk and die. I think he would have said, "Yes, Boss, I'm tired." This ending would have been appropriately miraculous. I am sure that Mr. King meant to save that gift from God from torture. So how about it, wanna do a re-write?

I couldn't put it down, normally I'm lucky if I can get through 2 or 3 chapters a day but last night I read 12 in a row. I got to 2 chapters in particular that caused me an anxiety attack because I got so into it (it's important to note here that I have panic disorder as well as several others so it's probably not going to happen to you)

I don't know how many times I have read this, but Paul Edgecombe telling the story of "E Block" at Cold Mountain Penitentiary in 1932 rips my heart out ... Every ... Single ... Time ... Obviously I know going in what is going to happen and how it is going to happen. That doesn't make it any easier. I feel the grief just the same. I might even feel it more intensely because of the anticipation of it. There is some repetition because of the original serialized format, but nothing can take away from the power of this story.

If you've seen the award-winning movie with Tom Hanks, then by and large, you know exactly what to expect from this book. That's not to say you shouldn't read this book for fear it will be redundant. In fact, I would almost advise you to watch the movie first, then read the book. The movie recreates the novel almost scene for scene, so much so that, barring some minor omissions, the movie quotes much of the dialogue verbatim. I say watch the movie first because when you read the book, you'll compulsively imagine each of the characters using the actor that portrayed them in the film. Each actor that was cast was PERFECT for the character as they're described in "The Green Mile", so for those who have trouble transforming words into a face and accent, the movie helps out a lot. A word of caution though: while 3/4s of the novel is translated to film almost perfectly, the movie cuts out multiple scenes that occur later in the book, and ultimately changes the ending quite extensively ... and that's for the better. The final scenes in the book are good, without a doubt, but in comparison to the film, somewhat lacking for dramatic impact. Additionally, there is a chapter at the very end of the book that, really, can just be ignored, as it feels tacked on and doesn't add anything to the rest of the story. If you're familiar with, and have read Stephen King's work, then in many ways you know what to expect from this novel: dialogue, including slang and vernacular, are handled beautifully in this novel, and as always, makes you feel like someone you know is relating this story to you. In the case of "The Green Mile", this is especially true since this is one of King's only books to use the first person perspective throughout. And it's not simply that instead of a lot of third person phrasing it uses first person phrasing, but that the narrator himself is truly a character both within and outside the story. What I mean by this is that "The Green Mile" takes the format of an old man recalling, bit by bit, his experiences from 60 years prior. As would be befitting of something like this, this means the narrative is frequently interjected with frank opinions, incongruous recollections, and general use of slang that makes it feel exactly like a real person is recalling a real set of memories. To some this might make the story somewhat confusing; at times, the narrative doubles back on itself (though this is mostly an artifict of the conversion from serial novella to one piece novel), and each chapter begins in the present day before flipping back to the 1930s. Unlike many of King's novels, this story is largely devoid of any monsters, aliens, or magical happenings. In fact, other than a few scenes (possibly a half-dozen in number or so), this story reads mostly as a period piece centered around one strange man's time on death row. But this isn't a bad thing at all; this story is still incredibly compelling, reading like a combination of a character study and a classic mystery tale. The eventual plot twist heigtens the drama and throws things for a loop, which makes the conclusion of both the 1930s plot, and the current day plot nothing short of memorable to a degree that might bring forth a few tears. I would definitely advise that you leave yourself an hour or so to read right through the final chapters of the novel to avoid interrupting the pace and emotional impact.

After I finished The Stand, I wanted very badly to read another King immediately, and this book was recommended by quite a few people. Well, THANK YOU! If you are one of the many readers I have heard from lately, that have wanted to read King, but aren’t fans of horror-this is the King book for you. The Green Mile is the amazing story of of Paul Edgcombe, a prison guard in charge of death row in Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Though set in one of the worse place imaginable, King gives us a story about goodness, kindness, and love. I had to slow myself down from reading too quickly, so I could enjoy and absorb the story. I hope I am wrong, but I doubt I will ever find another character like Paul Edgcome. I actually made my husband PPV the movie the minute I finished reading the book, though in hindsight, maybe not the best idea, as I was exhausted the nest day. He felt bad for me, since I cried for the last half hour while reading the book!

I have seen the movie, many years ago, it was a brilliant movie as i remember they didnt spoil it by changing the story to make it more palatable for the viewers. I am so glad i read the book after watching the movie, it made the read even more enjoyable. That said this is the best steven king book ever and he has written some damn good novels, to many to name . If you want a really good read, this is the one you want.

I read Firestarter and was disappointed with how King ended the novel. But I decided to give him another chance with this book because it had great reviews and I love the way King writes. This book was incredible. It dives in to the meaning of life (in my opinion). I just finished the book and I burst in to tears after, thinking about my own relationships and people I spend my life with. Don’t hesitate buying this. It will be one of your favorite books.

I've read Stephen King when he's good; I've read Stephen King when he's bad; I've even read Stephen King when he was mediocre, and when it appeared both author and reader were completely indifferent. With THE GREEN MILE, Stephen King is very, very good; this novel, first released as a six-part serial in 1996, is (in my humble opine) King's very best book. Telling the story of a group of inmates and their keepers on a death penalty block (the Green Mile) in Depression Era Mississippi, King's writing is clean and compelling and insightful; through the recollections of Paul Edgecombe, in charge of running the Mile, King's delightful prose evokes the full gambit of emotions, as we are told the interacting stories of Paul, John Coffey, Brutal, Dean, Harry, Janice Edgecombe, Delacroix, Percy, Wild Bill Wharton, and Hal and Melinda Moores. King brings all of them to life, makes all of them believable and all too human--people interacting in a very difficult and disturbing environment. We've all seen (and loved) the

I read everything Stephen King wrote for years and then my reading changed. I haven't read any of his books in a long time. The Green Mile is different. I didn't read it in serial form like it originally did. I have watched the movie many times. For someone too have written two Excellent prison books that became excellent movies to describe the feelings the intensity King is at his best.

I had been an avid Stephen King reader until the fall of 1977 when I put the Shining down half read. I have always had problems sleeping, and that book wasn't helping. Since then, I have read only King's non scary books. He is truly and master of writing, and this is one of the best. The way he leaves little threads from the first chapter and by the end has knitted them into something fulfilling and meaningful.

This will ALWAYS be one of my favorite books of all time. I remember reading it when it was released as a series of small chapter books and waiting impatiently for the next one!! The movie adaptation is amazing as well and the actors were just phenomenal. Stephen King is a writer like no other and I grew up reading his books and watching the movies as they came along. I give this book 10 stars and will likely read many more times!!!

I’ve seen the movie and thought I knew the story. However this work of art from Stephen King has almost everything - Hero’s, villains, average people, monsters, love, redemption and even regret and forgiveness. Hollywood did a great job bringing what is a terrific story to the big screen but you’ll do the story a disservice but not getting the full epic tale.

The book was King at his best--the bad guys were really evil, the good guys were fully drawn. The first person narrator was especially well drawn--an intelligent and warm human being, but not too perfect , a character with an edge. Even discounting the J. C. motif, I found the book a page turner although I had read the book when it was first published AND had seen the movie, too!

I realized recently that of all King's books, I hadn't read this one. And now I know why I liked the movie so much. An incredible story, with a truly remarkable character. I couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like to read this in six installments as originally published. The waiting between segments would have been tough.

Admittedly, I am a Stephen King junkie. Read all the books, seen all the movies (even the bad ones). This book intrigued me from the start. It was maddening not to read ahead and devour the whole story cause King released this initially as chapter plays - feeding you 120-150 pages at a time and then making you wait until the next month to continue the story. The movie strays somewhat from the book but is pretty true to King's form. The choice of Tom Hanks as Paul Edgecomb was brilliant. An actor who says so much without uttering a word. A shame Michael Clarke Duncan passed so early but he was the embodiment of the John Coffey character from the book. Literally and figuratively. I loved the relationship between Paul and his wife in the film. Very coy and old world genteel, hiding the sassy parts. I actually reread the book as my husband asked me throughout the movie if it paralleled the book and I had to read it as a refresher. One of my alltime faves - can quote most of it word for word. Has a lot of subtleties you'll notice if you view it more than once. Highly recommended! Watch it and you'll be "pleased several times" just like Paul's wife Jan.

Of course I saw the movie a decade ago. I finally read the novel. I was so pleased that the movie reflected the book, almost exactly. So many of King's novels made into movies, you're like "what" ?! That's not how it was. I never understood that. When you have a winner, why mess with it. Even some of the dialogue was familiar. A must read for Stephen King fans!

I normally associate King with horror ("Christine," "The Shining," "The Dark Half," etc), and I'm sure most people do too. That being said, I can't put this into the "horror" category -- to me, it's almost as if Hitchcock's psychological horror/thriller genre was put on paper. This novel, written as a series of almost-short-stories that tie together with common characters and theme, is an interesting read. If you're expecting the movie in book form, forget it. The characters in the movie were complex, yes, but nothing compared to those that King has created in print form. If you've seen the movie, that's pretty much the synopsis of the novel; however, the novel explains a great deal of the story behind the characters (What was Del's crime? What happened to Percy after he "went mad" and was sent away?). King's work is a great examples of masterful storytelling, with flashbacks merging seamlessly into the present, all the while tying together characters and plot. A great read!

With just the tiniest bit of science fiction, this almost true to life book impacts the reader on a personal and emotional level. If you do not mourn after reading this, you need to read it again! You weren't paying attention! A bittersweet story that every reader needs in their collection to be enjoyed again and again. I'm on my 3rd reading!

The Green Mile is a novel that is hard to put down! The moment it opens up you'll be hooked and you'll soon find the pages won't stop turning. Where has the time gone? you'll wonder. I'll tell you where: immersed in Stephen King's novel, "The Green Mile." The Green Mile opens up with Paul Edgecombe telling his own story about how he was a guard at Cold Mountain. He was in charge of deathrow, what he often called "The Green Mile." In his time he sentenced many people to their death, but no one struck him the way John Coffey did. Coffey is in for raping and murdering two little girls, and the only words he has to say for it is, "I tried to take it back, but it was too late." But Paul doesn't seem to feel John is of any threat, and soon John comes to show there's much more to him than meets the eye. By far this is the most character driven novel I've read in a long time. Paul comes off as an enlightning character who has seen a miracle, while John comes off as a miracle himself. This book is driven by character development and it drives without swerving off the road. The Green Mile also has a shocking, yet thought provoking, revelation about life. If the characters don't make you enjoy this book, that revelation will. The delivery of the book is just as good. Written in first person, King does more than just introduce us to Paul, he befriends us with Paul as he shares his story. The Green Mile is a fun and exciting read, with a climax so suprising and inspiring. This is by far one of the best books King has ever written.

If you've seen the movie, you'll see that the book pretty much matches the storyline you had enjoyed on the big screen, but it's one of these reads that still has you captivated, because it's almost like encountering a different version of the story: almost identical, but different in enough ways to be a completely new adventure. For instance, you'll see that many of the lines that fell to Tom Hanks in the movie version are equitably dispersed amongst the supporting characters in the book, which has always been a Stephen King tradmark. In the movies, as William Goldman once wrote, the star should get all the good lines, because a focused storyline is essential when you only have two hours to deliver novel to the screen, but it's nice to see Brutal offering up his share of wisdom that, in the movie, we attribute to Tom Hanks' Paul. Of particular note, is how perfectly the late great Michael Jeter channeled Delacroix, and the same can be said about Doug Hutchison's Percy -- although Hutchison has become quite the outcast in Hollywood these days, hasn't he? -- the overall point being, you'll be hard pressed NOT to see many, if not all, of the book characters as their actor counterparts in your mind's eye.

John Coffey is convicted of murdering two girls and sent to death row. But is he really a murderer? That is the question which the prison guard Paul Edgecombe and his coworkers must answer and a question that becomes more and more doubtful as the book progresses. Coffey is a big man, and he can easily be categorised as a criminal just by his looks, but his manners show that he may be a different kind of person. The book has many interesting episodes, due mainly to the very characteristic people on the Green Mile. The reader also meets the mouse Mr. Jingles who will play an important part in the story. If you have seen the movie, you will notice when reading the book that it doesn't differ much from the movie, but has the same episodes, and you can easily picture the various situations from the movie. But the story is also told in a different kind of way in the book, and it gives it a special feeling. King published it not as a single book, but as a serial novel in six installments, as told by Ralph Vicinanza in the introduction which is included in the Kindle edition. This was my second time reading the book and can't say I was dissapointed. The best book by Stephen King that I have read.

This story is legendary for all of the right reasons. From the first few pages I was in, immersed entirely and already seeing The Green Mile itself and almost feeling the stifling heat inside of the prison. King will always be a master, and I love that this book, which isn't technically horror, is one of the first ones people think of when they hear his name. I've been a fan since I was in grade school, and I'm glad I've finally had the chance to read this book.

I am not a new reader of Stephen King's novels, but I am a new appreciator of the literary qualities of his non-horror titles, such as

This book was different. I’ve read a lot of King’s work so far. I have to say the first 1/2 maybe 3/4 of this book, I didn’t enjoy. I thought about just quitting but decided to plow through. I did enjoy the last 100 pages or so. It won’t be on my re-read list.

I've a project to read two books by each of the ten novelists who will be lecturing at the Maui Writers Conference this summer. When I finished The Blackstone Chronicles by John Saul, a serial horror novel which the author says he was encouraged to write by King's success with The Green Mile, I took a break to engage in another pending project; to compare the book and video versions of The Green Mile. My stepdaughter is an avid reader and a Stephen King fan. After enjoying the video version of The Green Mile, I asked her if the book was significantly different. She said it was very similar, but varied in some respects. It occurred to me that comparing the two might be helpful in understanding the difference between book and script writing. It was. Both the movie and the book are five-star. Despite their similarities, they have a different feel, and doing both is a worthy endeavor. I recommend you read the book first, but that's not crucial. My review technique was to read about a scene, study its video version and then read some more; I used the rewind button frequently. This method percolates up some interesting trivialities. In the movie, Coffey says, "as lonely as a sparrow in the rain," but in the book he says "as lonely as a robin in the rain." King is an expert writer in every respect, and I'm certain his research is faithfully done. I suspect "robin" was a boo-boo though. Stephen King hangs out in New England, where robins are plentiful. Coffey is a southern boy, and not too bright. He never saw a robin. Another triviality that smacks of a research problem is the year. The events in the book happen in 1932, whereas the movie is set in 1935. Some Hollywood sharpie may have noted that a crucial prop was not available in 1932. I couldn't spot the problem, perhaps because I wasn't born until 1936. Maybe the clip from the Fred Astaire movie shifted the date. Although watching movies in the "Resource Room" at the Georgia Pines home for "wayward droolers" is featured in the book, the tear-jerking dancing scene is not. Congratulations Hollywood, you gave me a real Kleenex moment. I doubt if even a master like Steven King could write that cry, however, or even want to. Hollywood has the advantages of sight and sound to stir our emotions. Movies, after all, are drama; a combination of facial expressions, artful camerawork and musical scoring designed to grab us in the groin. Writing, on the other hand, can suck us into the minds of the characters, and make us think. That is why I say the feel of the two versions, two unlike mediums, is different. This is a story about death. While reading the book, I shuddered on occasion with a sense of mortality, my mortality. King made me droop his book onto my lap as I stared at the willow tree out back, he having reminded me that my time is running out. The video, on the other hand, often had me wiping my eyes, as much from laughter as the pathos, the response to good actors playing out a predicament and making it feel real. Still, even with the facilities of the pause and rewind buttons, the movie is about this scene, then the next one, and moving right along. How often have you walked out of the theater after the show before you could begin to think about it? The acting is excellent. Expressions, pauses, posture and stutters suggest what is going on in the character's head, but they cannot compete with the power of the written word. When Paul and his wife visit Melinda, who is dying from a brain tumor, King writes for Paul: "...my eye happened on the blue hearth rug by the fireplace. It occurred to me that it should have the shade of tired old limes, because now this room was just another version of the Green Mile." Hollywood can't do that. Writers work with protagonists, whereas scriptwriters work with stars. Although the movie dialogue is usually verbatim the book, the best lines from Brutus and Dean, like "What happens on the Mile, stays on the Mile," are given to Tom Hanks. In the book, when Brutus and Paul (Hanks) confront Percy in the room with Old Sparky, Percy drives the end of the scene and forces the handshake. In the movie, Tom Hanks never loses control of the altercation. Hollywood's tendency to sharply distinguish between its villains and heroes sometimes overly exaggerates reality, although it was not offensive in this case. There are some subtle differences for the role of women. In the book, King points out that only two women attended Delacroix's execution; there are several in the movie. In the book, Paul's wife pointedly excuses herself when the men plan their risky mission, whereas in the movie she is an influential participant. Hollywood, I suppose, is more politically sensitive than King. There are only two major differences between the two works. In the book, Paul sleuths the solution to uncertainties about the death of the Detterick twins. The movie accomplishes this with dramatic visualization by making one of King's incrediblenesses more incredible. I prefer King's version; too much hard to believe stuff upsets my stomach. The other significant difference is that the movie version eliminates the sub-story with Brad Dolan, the Georgia Pines orderly. To me, this is an important plot echo, a twist on the theme of mortality. Its omission underscores the difference between the two forms, the visual versus the thoughtful. Similarly, after reading the book, you might remember what John Coffey said about Old Sparky; "They're still in there. I hear them screaming." King put it in Italics; the movie left it out. As an amateur (i.e. unpublished) novelist, I sought to understand the difference between book and script writing. I found my answer just as the credits began scrolling up the tube. "Screenplay written by Frank Darabont, based on a novel by Steven King."

Outstanding Stephen King novel that was the basis for the excellent film. Very, very good. It is surprisingly close to the film version, a little different in the ending but pretty much spot on. Also shows how good the casting was for the movie, all of the main characters (Paul, John Coffey, Percy, Brutus) were good representations of the characters in the novel. I think this is one of King’s best, which says a lot.

This book and Shawshank Redemption are the two best jobs of writing Stephen King has ever done (in my opinion). It proves he has real talent and that it is not necessary to go to extremes to sell a book. I highly recommend this book and "Shawshank". By the time this ends it will have you feeling pretty good. Now how often can you say that about a King book? Great read.

First of all, this book is beautiful. Not a typical tale from Stephen King. Despite the lack of horror, I rank the Green Mile as my second favorite from King. The book is a journey of emotions. It will have you near tears. I cannot recommend this book enough! Also, if you've never seen the film, the adaptation is almost identical to the novel. Both perfect in their own special ways.

I am always amazed whenever I read a book again that I once read years ago. I'm amazed because I see things a little differently the second time around. In this case, I think I see why Percy reacted to both Wild Bill and Delacroix in the way that he did, and it wasn't just because he was a mean spirited little chicken. Also, in reading the Green Mile for the second time, I realized that it reminded me a little of the book, Of Mice and Men. It reminded me of that book because, to me at least, John Coffey ("like the drink, only not spelled the same) is like Lenny. Both are large, dim-witted men who don't have a mean bone in their bodies. Yes, I know that Lenny killed that woman in Of Mice and Men, but he didn't set out to kill her. All-in-all, would I recommend The Green Mile? Absolutely =0)

Paul Edgecomb and his fellow prison guards are profoundly changed when John Coffey, a hulking inmate charged with the murders of two little girls, takes up residence on the Death Row wing where they work and astonishes them all with his extraordinary abilities. Stephen King has written a powerful novel about decent people coping with the pain and existential terror of mortality. Paul may be the most likeable first-person narrator I have ever encountered in a work of fiction, and his basic goodness is appreciated as a filter for the very bleak view of existence presented here. He and his little band counter both the horror they see all around them and the implacability of death with simple kindness. The rambling, expansive style of storytelling King employs presents a fully realized world within a richly detailed Depression-era setting. Highly recommended.

This was always a favorite film of mine. I always watch it when it comes on tv but I had never read the source material. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. It was an easy read, although I do know the story backward and forward so that may have made it go by so quickly. It arrived in great condition as well.

Once again, I was not disappointed by Stephen King. This book was originally published as six "chap-books," about one every month. Except for the first one, they all ended with a nice cliff-hanger and started with a nice re-cap. King, as usual, gets us into the story and really caring about the characters. I think this is what impresses me most about King. It's not that the characters are particularly good or heroic, and they are not necessarily passionate valuers. Perhaps its that they are honest with the reader, and with themselves. Even though the book has a religious theme, I didn't mind even though I'm an atheist. I ended up caring about the characters and their values and the religion was more of a plot device than a theme for me. It seems a lot of the suspense and mystery in King's stories deal with the supernatural. I wonder why.

For anyone who is familiar with the film adaptation, be prepared for the book to be way more disturbing. I had nightmares for months about being electrocuted to death. It is certainly not for the faint if heart, however, it was masterfully written with a ton of amazing and very human moments.

i have seen the movie many times but I wanted to read the book. By mistake I ordered the Serial Novel. WOW! I could not put it down. So many of the conversations in the book were put in the movie and I liked that. I will read this again. Thanks Stephen King.

I don't often read Stephen King's novels as they are too scary. But after watching the movie, I decided to take a chance. It's a flawless story of life inside the Death Row block in a penitentiary. I'm glad I was able to read this book with my eyes wide open. Everyone needs to be brave enough to read it. You'll even find it heartwarming. Highly recommend.

I liked this book. Stephen King writes well, a point that will seem obvious to any one who counts himself a fan. The Green Mile is an absorbing, escapist tale. King's character portraits are strong, particularly the conflicted "good man" Paul Edgecomb, as he wrestles with good and evil in this engrossing tale. The pace is quick and the story is a rich mix of twists and turns and a very interesting morality tale. Set in 1932 at Cold Mountain prison, the story surrounds Edgecomb, the boss of that prison's death row. He has participated in the execution of over seventy men, all poster children for the death penalty. Then giant John Coffey, a simpleton possessed with a special grace arrives on E Block to await his walk down the Green Mile (the linoleum tiled floor leading to Old Sparky). Coffey has secretes and powers that reveal themselves to Edgecomb as this story unfolds. Edgecomb is forced to confront the comforting certainties of his life as Coffey's specialness begins to offer both answers and dilemmas to the block chief. A good book that reads quickly.

I'm not crying, you're crying. Admittedly, I watched the movie first, and I had reservations that book would hit me in the feels quite like the movie. It did. That's really all there is to say.

If I were an English teacher I would make this required reason, along with the Stand, for it's ethical and moral dilemmas. This is a masterpiece of portraiture, and virtuous characters facing dilemmas and the need to conjure up bravery. A good book and movie to read with teens for the conversation.

I bought this, because after my boyfriend having me watch the movie I had to read the book and I'm here to say its a masterpiece, and I'm not even done with it(almost) I love this book so much I absolutely recommend everyone to read this book! Even with the subject matter, I find this story very comforting. Probably weird but true. It feels like a warm blanket on a cold night. At least to me.

Better than the movie and the movie was great. I don’t understand why the movie had the scene of them taking him to the movies! That wasn’t in the book. I recommend it to everyone.

After seeing the movie I decided I wanted to read the book to see what the movie had missed. I was surprised to find that the movie followed the book closely. Although there were some sad spots in the book, it was a wonderful story about faith and hope. I wish the outcome would have been different. I have read a few Stephen King books but am in no way a big fan of his; however, this book and the others I have read are bringing me around to his writing style. I would recommend this book to others whether or not you are a fan of Stephen King. Well-written, wonderful characters, compassionate storyline.

Saw the movie and loved it. Then I read the book. WOW! It is rich in descriptions of people and places, and I could feel the emotions of the characters on death row. I highly recommend Mr. King's book. You won't be sorry.

One of his books turned into a movie, it's main character is a John Koffee who is sentence to death at a prison. It says something loudly about this country death penalty.

Had this in paperback for the longest time and blew through it in this electronic format... it is INCREDIBLY emotional. Get it if you want to cry. A lot.

Most people have seen the movie as I have, but the book goes way beyond the quality of the movie. I never tell the story in my reviews, just how I liked (or disliked) it. This is my favorite SK novel by far that I have read of his many works. It has much more depth than most of his thriller types of books. It was graphic regarding the electric chair, yet very moving emotionally and philosophically. I really enjoyed the whole story and all of the characters.

steven king's serial novel condensed into one book with only a little bit of the overlap from book to book that would have occurred if read in segments. this is a good story about the men who populate death row in a southern prison - the condemned inmates and their keepers and gives an interesting insight into what goes on in the minds of each as well as a look at how prison executions happened in the old days. not much more humane now than they were then, but how humane is it to kill a human being on purpose anyway? interesting characters and situations as the story develops. good read

I love everything Stephen King has written and this is no exception. I've seen the movie a bunch of times before reading this and the book is even more heart wrenching than the movie definitely worth a read if you like the movie

I had seen the movie first so was worried this would be boring to read. It was not. Kept reading late into night and next day started early to finish story.

The Green Mile was my first Stephen King book. i had so far avoided King's books because of the apparent horror angle that he is so well known for. However, i was in for a pleasant surprise with The Green Mile. Before downloading this book on my Kindle, i tried reading its reviews - and i didn't come across a single negative review. That had me intrigued. How can there be a book which everyone likes? That has innumerable positive reviews? And that made me read my first Stephen King. I must confess, the book had me hooked from the very first page. The nights wherein i could not complete the chapters were later full of visions and dreams of what next...something about this book makes you become emotionally involved with the characters and their lives and with Green Mile itself. I later watched the movie as well but the book scores on all counts - in its story line told in the most simple manner and in its characterisation of the people, events and incidents.

Although even better if you haven’t seen the Tom Hanks movie, this is a delightful work, all the more impressive in Kings having witnessed as a serial.

I had seen the film and liked it. The novel is ever so much better! More insight into the main character, and of course SK's voice to keep you company.

I have seen the movie but hadnt got around to reading the book yet... This book made me cry multiple times lol! Such an amazing story and really takes the reader on an emotional journey.

A work of art. Loved the movie forever before becoming a reader but this book still blew my mind. So great. Read this. Great read for any reading preference in my opinion!

I am a King Can of many years. His books are fast-paced and flow from one point to another effortlessly. I have read this many times and recommend it for readers of suspense.

This book was simply amazing. Yes, the movie was as well, as are most of the movies based off of Stephen King novels, but it holds nothing to the book. I was not lucky enough to read it forst, but am so glad I have. This is one book that you can read over and over again, never getting tired of it. The main character is more prevalent in the book, and you get to know him as he tells the story of John Coffey. This alone gives the book a warm place in my heart, giving the reader more depth to the tale, and a more personal connection to the narrator. This is not one of King's more horror-tipped stories; while it does have it's supernatural aspects, and is suspenseful in parts, but ther eis a lighter, more moralistic tone to the book. Again, I highly recomend it to fans and non-fans alike.

Read before many years ago and decided to read again. Better the second time because I wasn't as anxious to know what happens next.

I love King, and believe it or not have never seen this movie. I enjoyed the story and could hardly stop reading once I began. I'm glad I had it all at once rather than having to wait for the next installment!

I haven't seen the movie, but I had an idea of what it's about....WOW this is a great read. King is such an incredible writer. I didn't realize the original book was written as a "serial" series of novellas. The background story, told by King's publisher and by him, gives a great overview of the challenges and reception of the original publications. The story itself is wonderful. I couldn't put it down, and highly recommend it. Watch out for a bit of risque language and situations, but it's done in a way that is so HUMAN, it isn't gratuitous or offensive to me.

I wrapped up my Steven King (non-horror story) binge read with the full 6 part series of the Green Mile. It’s by far my favorite. I loved Big John, hated Percy, and felt bad for a Paul. I’ve seen the movie a few times but like any good book I got engrossed quickly and it took me for an emotional ride. I highly recommend this book. Steven King is a great story teller.

Would it be completely absurb to speculate that Stephen King has paranormal powers of his own?!? In yet another voluminous work that dives into the depths of the psyche of some kind of psychic, SK puts you through a handful of little spiritual deaths. The book is even more heart-wrenching than the movie and offers us a COMPLETELY different Green Mile as there are so many things about John Coffey that could never be picked up by the eye of a lens. This should be in the primary of anyone exploring King's work for the first time.

Stephen King is a gifted storyteller that brings his readers with him into a magical world in the unlikely setting of Death Row. The characters feel so real that I think about them often as I go about my day. The 537 pages flew by and I was sad to finish the last page and sorry to say good by to Paul, Del, Mr. Jingles and John Coffey.

Around the time that Desperation & The Rugulators were floating around for the public to view and decipher, Stephen King decided to take a gamble on a long lost form of publication known as the serial novel. Back in the days of Dickens, people in America used to wait months and months to get Dickens' newest novels one piece at a time. Sounds like torture. Well...it was sort of exciting. Supposedly Steve-O himself didn't know how the whole thing was going to turn out. So we got a longish yarn in six parts. John Coffey is a prisoner on The Green Mile (death row) in for killing two little girls. Soon he's got a date with old Sparky. The story is told through the recollection of ex-prison guard Paul Edgecomb. Coffey is a large, quiet black man who doesn't seem to fit in on The Green Mile. He's so gentle and kind and soft-spoken. You gotta wonder what drove him to kill those two sweet little girls. And he has a special gift. This is King at what he does best, pure story-telling. When he gets into his groove, there's no one better at spinning an enjoyable yarn. After the dry-spell of '92-'96 with some of King's worst novels ever, The Green Mile was a welcome change back in the right direction. Shades of brilliance, King still surprises us Constant Readers after all these years. Dig it!

John Coffey (a black man with limited intelect) is found literaly red handed with two murdered white girls. Everyone believes he is guilty (even his defence lawyer) of the two heinous murders, and is sentenced to death by the Electric Chair. After John Coffey is transferred to the Green Mile (death row), amazing things begin to happen because John Coffey has the power to heal, and know things that will happen before they happen. I will not spoil the story for you; I will only tell you to get the book and prepare to stay up late turning pages. ;-) Many people have asked me (because I am a Reiki master) if what John Coffey did was Reiki. The answer is no. The healing modality performed by John Coffey was none of the healing modalities I have learned. What he did was an empathic healing modality. He had the ability to take the disease away from the person onto himself, then transmute the ailment and dispose of it without suffering the effects. Two Bears

A wonderful novel by Mr King!!i have been waiting for the entire series to be published as a whole book and I was not disappointed! Just as wonderful as the movie, better actually, and I definitely recommend this to everyone!

This is only the 2nd Stephen King book I have read and I am not quite finished with it yet. It is extremely captivating and holds my interest, even with the subject matter of the book. I am able to overlook the occasional cuss words because I know they help shape the character using them. I recently got in on the mid to last part of the movie on tv and I knew then that I had to read the book. I hope the book does not end like the movie though. Stephen King is a very very talented writer and I know he must be one who is well read and researches a lot.

What's not to like? Quite simply, the most enjoyable read. Supreme story telling, poignant moments and great characterization. I came late to King....the last eighteen months...and I've read six to date. All different, all offering the reader a great journey. THIS story is narrated SO well, images cascading as the story unfolds. It has humour, it has sadness. But joy for the reader throughout.

I loved this book. The characters were the best part, they were developed really well. The plot was incredible. The pace was perfect. Every part of this book was tragic and perfect. Guaranteed to leave you feeling horrified and depressed. Just excellent.

It's a storytelling masterpiece. The character development and pacing are superb. And Mr. King's ability to build suspense naturally, not using "tricks", is exceptional. If you've seen the movie you can still enjoy the book, IMO. Book is also a lesson in the wretched excesses and disastrous flaws in the use of the electric chair to put people to death. Ironically, the only plot device, used in the movie and in the book, that I did not buy was Paul's not being attentive enough to catch Percy's devious intent in the one execution.

I bought this for my 27 year old who doesn't love to read and he said he couldn't put it down it was so good!

One of my all-time favorite Stephen King novels. Superbly written; entertaining but with a social message that makes you think. Especially relevant for today.

After seeing this movie several times I decided to read the book. Really glad I did. Although the movie is excellent the book is even better.

All I can say is after seeing the movie, reading the book was just as enjoyable in such a different way ! I'm reading thru Mr Klngs entire collection and I enjoy every word . THANKS

I ordered this book for a penny, plus shipping and handling, very excited, until my friend warned me that the penny books were kind of a gamble. She told me how her cousin once bought one and it turned out to be some sort of scam and she never got her book and never got her money back... Well, I got my book a few days after ordering it. And it was in pretty good condition. I read it in a couple days and none of the pages were missing or anything. I was very pleased with my purchase of The Green Mile from Amazon.

I have watched the movie several times and thought it was excellent. Was pleased to read the rave reviews about the book and that the movie followed the book, plus added things not shown in the movie.

King demonstrating what he does best, creating three dimensional characters who spring to life from the pages of his books. He runs you through an emotional wringer and in the end you are spent having enjoyed every step of the journey he has led you through.

I remember reading this novel when it first came out ... however, we had to wait for Stephen to complete the story in several increments and I remember reading it with such vigor I couldn't wait for the next series to come out ... the story is well written and believable ... when the movie came out as it should have...they found all the right actors to blend together one heck of a movie...so I reread the book keeping the actors in mind...wonderful story....I shed tears every time

My husband just read the book for the first time and enjoyed it much more than the movie!

Excellent book. Draws you in and keeps you there. You want somehow to save Coffey yourself. Only wish he could have told us his story before the green mile.

Absolutely incredible. Gripping. Moving. A nearly perfect book, save a single sentence which I wish had been removed. The fact this was written as a serial just further makes its incredibleness more improbable. It also further cements Stephen King as easily one of the greatest writers of our generation.

I’ve read plenty of books in my lifetime. My mom recommended this book to me years ago, I bought this to have my own copy. As I’m writing this, I’m reading it my third time through. It’s not the usual Stephen King book, this one made me cry. It’s an emotional ride, you follow Paul, as he meets the supposed murder and rapist, John Coffey. Life on the Green Mile is never boring.

Stephen King should stick to writing these sorts of books. Don't get me wrong, I love most of his horror stuff, but it's this sort of subtle supernatural genre that I think really shows his talents as a writer and story-teller since the horror element isn't overshadowing everything else within the novel. The Green Mile is a little long, being comprised of 6 novellas and it is definitely slow-paced. That doesn't mean it isn't exciting, though! The slowness of the story really allowed me to delve into the characters and the story King has created. I felt like I got to know all the characters, especially Paul, whose first-person narrative it is. This made the action parts even better, since I had a connection with the characters and cared about them. I liked how the narrative jumped from Paul as an old man living in a nursing home to Paul as a middle-aged man meeting John Coffey. I think it added a lot to the intrigue, as there were multiple mysteries you were trying to solve at once. The Green Mile has a great message and is a compelling story that will leave you in tears by the end. I saw the movie before reading the book and honestly, if you've seen the movie, the novel won't add all that much for you. The movie is very true to the book and captures the most important events. Naturally, the book has other elements that added to my appreciation of the story. The parallelism between the prison and Paul's nursing home, for example, and a deeper understanding of the characters. There were some things I didn't like -- like I said, the pace sometimes seemed too slow at times. But then again, King's books always seem to drag just a little bit for me. I also didn't like how at times the characters all laughed at something as if it were hilarious, and I didn't think it was funny at all. Besides that, though, it was a good story and I enjoyed the read. I definitely recommend this.

I held off reading The Green Mile since I had already seen the movie with Tom Hanks as well as the rest of a great cast. Still, there is something to be said for the power of the written word when it comes to evoking mental images. In this respect, King is at the top of his game it providing compelling dialog and poetic descriptions. Of the three dozen or so books by him that I have already read, The Green Mile ranks up at the top of the list -- with perhaps Duma Key being the only other title by King that, for me, achieves the same level of pure elegance.

My first reading of a Stephen King novel and I was impressed beyond belief.

This was excellent. I don’t always like King’s writing, but this was a great book.

Great book, love Stephen King. I like that the original 6 mini books were combined into 1 novel.

A classic that I re-read every few years. A gazillion readers have given their beautiful feedback so all ill say is READ T HIS BOOK if you love great stories.

So glad this finally was printed in hardcover. This is one of those books I like to read every couple years and now I have a copy that won't wear out as easily.

Amazing story. Stephen King is an amazing story teller. I decided to read this because I wanted to read exceptional writing and "The Green Mile" did not disappoint. One of the best stories I've ever read. King is by far one of the best and just maybe the best writer of my time. For anyone who have watched and loved the movie, you will love this book. Most of the movie did not stray from the book which is refreshing. I'm glad that I read "The Green Mile."

No matter how many times I read, listen or watch this, it never gets old. Love the characters, especially Mr. Jingles! Top three in my list of Stephen King favorites.

The story itself was incredible, definitely my favorite story Stephen King and almost by any author. the book itself was in fine condition and is little larger than my hand.

Amazon delivers! Turns out, the issues with the book are confined within that one book. Amazon replaced the first book with a second and it's perfect - printing is fine and no pages falling off by itself! Just my luck that I seem to be getting a lot of second-hand/someone's return these days, or products with blemishes/quality issues even though I always purchase new from Amazon. ----- And a page falls off by itself, like an autumn leaf shed mercilessly from its tree. Drop one star. ------ This is a review of the book/publishing and not the story, since most people (I assume) who intend to buy this book are fans of Stephen King's writings and/or have watched the movie starring Tom Hanks, and have made up their mind, more or less. If not, there are plenty of reviews here that cater to the story/writing itself. I am a couple of chapters in when I notice that some of the pages of the book are either printed or cut out of alignment. While I am not expecting a collector item's type of quality, I do expect the basics, such as the alignment of the printing/cutting to be done properly and professionally. At this point, I do not know how prevalent this is, or if any part of the story is truncated by the misalignment. If there is, I will update this review accordingly. Needless to say, the lack of pride taken by the publishing company on its product have put a dent in my enjoyment of the book, and hence this review and its rating given.

I wasn't going to buy this book, because I have seen the movie, bought the movie, and returned the T-shirt! The movie follows the book almost word for word, and the cast of characters were perfect in what you picture in the book - especially Michael Clarke Dunston. I am so glad I bought and read the book because there are subtle differences. I had a terrible time reading the last chapter and half -- crying too hard (the ending is different from the movie.) I knew Stephen King was brilliant, but I didn't know he had such a sensitive nature - the way he put things into words...I'm still in awe!

Love it! Never connected the book to the movie! Great idea, very touching! I really loved the vibe from this book!

The book was even better than the movie!!! It explained more about the characters...

I'm one of the few that watched the movie first and then read the book. It was expertly written, but most of us expect that from Stephen King. After so many of his works were butchered by horrible film adaptations, it was good to learn how faithful the screenplay remained to its source.

I've not read alot of Stephen King's novels as I am not a lover of gore and horrors. I had seen the movie years back and wanted to read the original novel. Amazing is not even a big enough word for this creation! A stand up 20 minute ovation is not even enough! I applaud Stephen King and his incredible talent at bringing the reader in to sit at the desk in the prison. To watch the story unfold before your very eyes and to not want to put the reading on pause but to continue until you are through. Absolutely fantastic read!

I wanted to read this to see if was the same as the movie and it was. That isn't always the case. It did have a little different ending though and I enjoyed that!

I haven't read much Stephen King before but thought I would start with The Green Mile, considering I love the movie. This book is outstanding. If you are considering reading Stephen King, I highly recommend starting with this book. It is more of a thriller than some of his other works which may fall into the horror category.

What a heartbreaking wonderful story. This has to be in his top ten books Stephen King has ever written. Still a moving experience even on its 4th reading....

Have seen the movie, now it's time to read the book!

I have been a Stephen King fan since I was 10 years old,I'm now 28, and somehow I have managed to miss out on this extraordinary piece of literary genius. In my 18 years reading this master of the macabre, starting with the unabridged version of "The Stand", I can say that this was one of his most enthralling works. He has always been able to stir my emotions with each of his writing but this gem managed to make me feel a full range of deep emotions. This gripping story will be on of my favorites for the rest of my life, this I can say with a certainty. Now that I have read it I can finally allow myself to watch the movie, hopefully Mr.Darabont won't disappoint with his retelling of this amazing piece of literary genius, as he had done with the "The Shawshank Redemption". Thank you Mr.King. You keep writing them and I will be sure to continue to be you Constant Reader.

This is one of Stephen King's finest works, where he moves away from the pure horror genre (which he does exceptionally well) and gives us an entirely different type of story. Sure its a story about a horrible subject - a murder, and set in horrible surroundings - a prison, but like "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption", the characters and the story shine through. And like the "Shawshank Redemption", the story has a wonderful ending. This was very enjoyable when released as a 6 part serial - I waited for every book. But this book deserves to be in hardcover in every dedicated reader's library.

This book really is gruesome, particularly the descriptions of the goings on in the death chamber. But, that is Stephen King--very descriptive. I always have a hard time reading about children being hurt. It is an integral part of the story, for sure, but difficult to get through. One time read for me.

So much better than the movie due to so many more details. Delecroix and the mouse was a good part of the story. Of course I’m very imaginative when reading books. I like to make up voices in my head for the characters and there’s so much detail about them that it’s rather easy. You won’t regret it.

This is a great novel. I had seen the movie years ago and thought it was time to read the book. Definitely glad I did. It's a good, yet easy, read. This Stephen King kid, mark my words, he's going to make a name for himself.

Personally never read it, girlfriend has, she loved it. I ordered this for her as a gift. Movie was amazing, so I'm sure the book was even better! Perfect condition, no bends or anything.

I read this book in the 90's when it was published as a 'serial' and came out in six monthly installments. Torture (in a good way!) I could tear through the portion in a day and then you had to wait 29 days to get the next chapter! I bought it recently (as the full book) for my husband to read and loved it just as much this time around!

Great book that is worth the read. Stephen King can write an emotional book that will bring a tear to your eye.

Great book! Arrived quickly and in great condition!

Liked the movie, loved the book. Great read

I cracked this book open and gulped it down in 2 days. Could not tear my eyes from the page. As with most books, it is WAY better than the movie. Mr. King did not disappoint this time, but really, does he ever?

Love this book. Even after I saw the movie. Read it anyway.

Excellent book, would strongly recommend

Awesome book by Stephen King again! I love the way SK writes his novels every time. There is no other like him!

He’s great! Always a good read

Stephen king is always great

Really was expecting the cover that I chose but , it is what it is I guess 🙄

Watched the movie...love the book...book goes into more detail

I am a big SK fan. Love his work !

I found this to be the very best of Stephen Kings works An emotional roller coaster ride Builds a picture in the mind and left me dreaming about it for a few nights Very very enjoyable I recommend it

What a great read. Fun characters, compelling story, and in the great tradition of Shawshank redemption a prison story that is more about the people than the place

The Green Mile is a wonderful novel. Stephen King at his very finest. I enjoyed every page. I read it based on the excellent reviews and was not disappointed in any way. Touching and beautiful. This is NOT a horror story at all, although it does have some paranormal activity. It is mostly concerned with the spirit of mankind and those things beyond our understanding, which hopefully, we glimpse a few times before walking the green mile ourselves.

GREAT BOOK TO READ ON SPARE TIME.

I have read many of Stephen Kings books and think that The Green Mile and The Dead Zone are the best books he has ever written. It intrigues me that a man that is known for his "horror books", can write with such spirit and emotion. John Coffey almost make you beleive that miracles can, and do happen. The other characters in the story, were very beleivable, as well. I read the book, then saw the movie. Book is better, as usual, but happy that they didn't stray too far from storyline. One of the best books I have read this year!

Love Stephen King. I originally read this as a serial many years ago. One of his best.

They did a great job adapting the book to film, because I watched the movie before I read the book and they are very alike, which is rare with films that are contrived from books. The film is a classic, but I enjoyed the books more. The detail that is in the book is just amazing!

This book is written so well, it's my favorite Stephen King book. I love the story telling in the book from Paul's point of view and what he is thinking about everything happening in his life. The movie I think was excellent and the book even better and I was glad to read that the movie was pretty much spot on with the book which you don't see. Read this book!!

King has composed a good novel here, free from the blood and gore of his middle books. For quite some time I passed on his novels because they all began to sound alike and all the characters got whacked in bizarre style. In The Green Mile, King's platform is to tell a compelling story of an extraordinary man on death row who is accused of raping and killing two little girls in the South during the Depression. The main character, Paul Edgecombe, is the supervisor of Cold Mountain Penitentiary and King uses him on three levels. The entire story is a flashback, so there is Paul's voice first as the story-teller, second, as the embedded Paul, the character in the live action of the past, and thirdly, King uses Paul as a voice against capital punishment by illustrating the nature of John Coffey in such a way that even the hardest shelled capital punishment advocate would have sympathy for Coffey's plight. Coffey has healing powers, and as Paul gets to know him and "sees" the past when Coffey touches him, he understands that the man is wrongly on death row. The story reveals the true offender and illustrates a host of different and well-developed characters that will keep you interested in the plot. Even if the text is a bit preachy, the story is excellent.

Good shape

GREAT!!

I don't think I've ever read anything by Stephen King that I didn't like. His writing is colorful and deep. If you've seen and like the movie then definitely read the book. It will add a great deal to something you already enjoy.

Boring

I’m a little late to the party but it’s such a good book.

Loved everything about this book

King again succeeds at creating characters you despise and believable supernatural situations. The flashback story-telling structure is very successful. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Disappointing that a book can't come in a proper sized box. You can tell it was shaken around as the edges are dented and bent. Fortunately it's one of many in a series of books I lost in a flood. 4 stars simply for the product.

Great Read! Well developed and sympathetic characters - the story will keep you captivated.

This was the first Stephen King book I read that felt like a chore to get through for almost all of the first half of the book. It just felt like nothing interesting was really happening in the story. It picked up at the end but I feel like reading this was a waste of time.

Could not put down I adore Stephen king!!!;)

This is a great book. Love to read it one every 5 years.

Some background on me: I know this book was made into a movie, but I never saw it; never read anything by Stephen King before either. This book BLEW MY MIND. This is definitely not a horror novel -- more along the lines of psychological thriller, but perhaps even that is too narrow of a description. This book is a memoir told by a retired prison guard that worked on death row (what they called "the green mile"), and the stories of some of the death row inmates -- namely, the story of John Coffey, a man convicted of raping and murdering two young girls that appears to have supernatural powers. I don't want to give anything away -- every detail in this book is intricately woven into the next -- so I will end my description there. I will just say that this book moved me in a way few other books (or movies) have ever done -- this is a story of not only life and death, but salvation and damnation, forgiveness and mercy, good and evil. The Green Mile is not to be taken lightly. There are some very graphic scenes throughout the book -- and not just physically graphic. There are some truly soul-wrenching passages that will make you want to scream, cry, and hurl the book (or e-reader) across the room, but you won't dare do such a thing because you won't be able to put it down.

Wonderful, rich uplifting.. life love .. the human condition A very enjoyable read. One of my favorite books. Food for the soul.

I loved this movie and did not realize it was a Stephen King book till recently. I am not a fan of horror but after his latest release of

We all know how Sthepen King always write about horror and mistery, actually Sthepen Can Write anything he wants. I like to read the book first and then see the Movie, and The Green Mile is a Most read book, actually better then the movie, you will feel the anger, sadness, and compassion with the Main Character, you will feel hate, love and anxiety. This book will get you to thinks about Death Penalty!. You got to have this, and all King's book, the best witer ever born!!

This is I think the best book that King has written. I love the characters in it, and I love the way that the first person naration is used to tell the story. King could not have picked a better man to read this book. Frank Muller was a great reader of King's books. I am so glad that Amazon finally got new coppies in so I could pick one up. I would highly reccomend this book.

If you enjoy the movie, you definitively want to read the book. One of the best books written by Stephen King

Grabs and holds the reader/listener.

Love the book almost followed the movie I finished it in 3 days could not put it down great book

I don't know if I enjoyed the reading of the book more than the watching of the movie based on the book. Both were moving, entertaining, horrifying in some aspects. Stephen King can take you on an adventure, make you feel like you are just a foot away from the main characters. The Green Mile makes me sad, but I love the book, and hope you will too!

I'm a huge SK fan and this one didn't let me down. Would recommend. My other favorites are Misery and the Shining.

Great

I read this serial novel in parts when it first come out couldn't really believe it was King as it started out.But when you get into the later books it all comes together. It is a tough story to fathom but it is funny , gory, sad, and horrific all at the same time. If you have never read it .Give it a try you will laugh cry and anything else emotion wise you can dream of.

Great

I saw the movie and the book is even better!! Loved it, could not put it down.

This was one of the best books that I have ever read!!

Great book fast shipping arrived in great condition this book is just like the movie one of my favorites from Stephen king

Each character is so well described, I feel like I know each of them personally. An easy read with realistic characters, some of whom I would love to meet personally. A journey filled with a with wonderful twists, laughs, tears (many) and I have encouraged my 12 year old to make this her next read - many valuable life lessons to be learnt. Stephen King, you know how to describe characters that, sometimes when I walk down the street, I think to myself: " I know you from somewhere, but can't remember...." and then I realize, it is a character from one of your books (and I have personally seen the man with the worn-down boots in tight jeans a few times... "THE STAND").

Only book that has left my eyes wet. I enjoy Steven Kings work but this is even above his normal great writing.

A friend of mine from work suggested I read this book and knowing how Stephen King can be a bit bizzare I was skeptical. Boy, was I wrong. This book was great. I couldn't put it down and hated when it ended. I can't wait to see the movie, but I can't possibly see how it could be as good as this book. Some books you can read and forget, this one will stick with you for a long, long time. I would recommend this book to anyone.

I saw the movie long before I read the book, and was surprised how much of the story was left out of the movie.....Reading the book was such a treat as I watched all the different parts of the story fill in. It was like reading an entirely different story. I really enjoyed this book.

good

One of his finest books: only a hint of belief in the supernatural required... it’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry

One of my favorite movies so of course I had to read the book. Of course the book get into more details than the movie, but I LOVED it n couldn't put in down.

As a young man I read Stephen King for the horror, the entertainment. As I got older I read for the artful way Mr. King tells a story; creates three dimensional characters on paper of one dimension. The man is simply a great writer and I treasure his body of work through these many years. The Green Mile is one of his jewels. Read it...you won't be sorry.

Great movie great book

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Stephen King is a master story teller!

While I generally enjoy King's books as easy reads, they don't really ever stir much as far as considering the human condition. I liked this one a lot, and even with seeing the movie before the book (which I hate doing), this story still was written well enough to make the characters come alive and not just be forced to fit into the movie-stereotypes in my mind.

Could not find this set of CDs ANYWHERE locally. My husand loves the movie, but is not a big reader. He was thrilled to be able to listen to it. Appreciated the price (was outrageous at most other online sites) and it came in plenty of time for the holiday. The box that houses the CDs was pretty banged up, but I just tossed it and put them in a decorative box. Worked like a charm. Would definitely use this vendor again.

Books are always better then the movie. There is so much detail in a book that gets missed on the screen. There are parts of the movie now that are much more clear to me. I should have read the book a long time ago. This book was amazing and the movie will still be a favorite of mine also.

This book shook me to my core. It was page-turning and riveting from start to finish. I cried and cried at the end and feel changed by this book. Definitely my favorite Stephen King.

haven't finished reading it but I loved the movie

Fun book. I've read it and got it for my dad and he liked it.