The Green Mile [Mass Market Paperback]

Stephen King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1999

Read this history-making serial novel -- from cliffhanger to cliffhanger -- in its entirety.

When it first appeared, one volume per month, Stephen King's The Green Mile was an unprecedented publishing triumph: all six volumes ended up on the New York Times bestseller list -- simultaneously -- and delighted millions of fans the world over.

Welcome to Cold Mountain Penitentiary, home to the Depression-worn men of E Block. Convicted killers all, each awaits his turn to walk the Green Mile, keeping a date with "Old Sparky," Cold Mountain's electric chair. Prison guard Paul Edgecombe has seen his share of oddities in his years working the Mile. But he's never seen anyone like John Coffey, a man with the body of a giant and the mind of a child, condemned for a crime terrifying in its violence and shocking in its depravity. In this place of ultimate retribution, Edgecombe is about to discover the terrible, wondrous truth about Coffey, a truth that will challenge his most cherished beliefs...and yours.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This novel taps into what Stephen King does best: character-driven storytelling. The setting is the small "death house" of a Southern prison in 1932. The charming narrator is an old man looking back on the events, decades later. Maybe it's a little too cute, maybe the pathos is laid on a little thick, but it's hard to resist the colorful personalities and simple wonders of this supernatural tale. As Time magazine put it, "Like the best popular art, The Green Mile has the courage of its cornier convictions ... the palpable sense of King's sheer, unwavering belief in his tale is what makes the novel work as well as it finally does." And it's not a bad choice for giving to someone who doesn't understand the appeal of Stephen King, because the one scene that is out-and-out gruesome can be easily skipped by the squeamish. The Green Mile was nominated for a 1997 Bram Stoker Award. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Entertainment Weekly A literary event.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671041789
• ISBN-13: 978-0671041786
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (839 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #176,993 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #44 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Occult
  • #98 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Authors, A-Z

More About the Author

Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. Among his most recent are the Dark Tower novels, Cell, From a Buick 8, Everything's Eventual, Hearts in Atlantis, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and Bag of Bones. His acclaimed nonfiction book, On Writing, was also a bestseller. He is the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One terrific movie, one awesome book, June 21, 2000

By 

Leah Jesse "Giggling Archaeologist" (Victoria, B.C., Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Green Mile (Mass Market Paperback)

I have to admit that I watched the movie before I read the book. I was very pleased after finishing the book to realize that the movie did not deviate too far from the book at all.

This is the first Stephen King novel I've ever read. I don't care for horror and supernatural stories, but this particular story I felt needed to be read, not for the supernatural tale, but for the human experience.

In the 6 sections of the serial novel that comprises the paperback, King develops the story of John Coffey, who is sent to death row, which is also called "The Green Mile", for the rape and murders of twin girls. However, Paul Edgecombe, security guard, doesn't believe that this man, who's afraid of the dark, could have committed such a terrible crime. Intertwined within this story are subplots that include, Percy Wetmore, Eduard Delacroix, and William 'Billy The Kid' Wharton, and of course Mr. Jingles.

The movie is approximately 3 hours long, and it was worth every minute. I read the book in 2 days, and that's a record for me, and it was also worth every minute.

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SIMPLY SUPERB!, December 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel (Paperback)

This book is an old man's (Paul Edgecomb - the head prison guard at Cell Block E), recollection of events that occurred in 1932 at the Cold Mountain State Penitentiary. In particular, it focuses on John Coffey, a convicted murderer and rapist of two small girls, convicted murder and psychopath William (Billy the Kid) Wharton and convicted murder Delacroix. And a mouse by the name of "Mr. Jingles". It is the story of a special gift which one of these prisoners possesses, one that none of us would probably want.

King has produced a profoundly moving story and I assure you, the last fifty pages of this book will be read through tear-filled eyes.

The characters and story are memorable; the lessons and messages are clear.

I absolutely loved this book...I think you will too! (Let's all hope Hollywood does a good job with it) Most highly recommended!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One would be hardpressed to find a book as enjoyable as this, December 3, 1999

By 

Eric (CT, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Green Mile (Mass Market Paperback)

The movie "The Shawshank Redemption" has one of the most compelling stories of all time. Great characters, gripping plot, a heartfelt emotion make it an experience like no other. Now, there is another king (no pun intended) in town. The Green Mile, with its cast of well-fleshed and intriguing characters (John Coffey, Delacroix, and even Mr. Jingles the mouse) and emotion thicker than pea soup make this a great book already. But where this book truly shines is its plot; engaging, well-crafted, intriguing, thought-provoking, riveting, you name it, this plot has it. Considering that Stephen King didn't know how it would end when he began writing it, this an astonishing feat. This is the best book I have ever read, and I recommend it to anyone.