I once vividly recalled the spring/summer of '96. It was a time when I would eagerly run to the bookstore in anticipation of the next installment of The Green Mile. Back then, the internet was not what it is today. In fact, I highly doubt we even had dial-up access at that time. So, the only option was to physically go to the store and search for the book. The first book was remarkably small. It had a title that read “Part 1 – The Serial Thriller Begins”. Inside, King elucidated that he was attempting something novel, inspired by the idea of a friend. It was planned to be released in six parts over six months. According to King, he was writing as he went along, much like Dickens had done. So, in reality, it wasn't such a completely new idea after all.

Just like an old idea being rejuvenated, Paul Edgecomb's story looks back to the past from his present. It delves into the memories of 1932, Death Row, “Old Sparky”, and of John Coffey – a name that is like the drink, yet not spelled the same way. There is something truly captivating about the way King writes through a character's memories of the past. These memories are brought to life by the vulnerabilities within them, both in the present and in the past, as well as by the experiences described that have shaped and changed them.

Back in '96, I would read one volume and then patiently wait for the next. In the meantime, I would share my thoughts and excitement about the books with a friend at work, who had noticed me engrossed in reading one day. It is truly fascinating how the memories of both the books and that summer gently trickled in as I read each of them now. This time around, I had intended to space them out a little bit, but it turns out that it was simply not possible.

I have never seen the movie or read the book before. So, when I picked up this book, it immediately gripped me right away!

Seriously, it is one of the best novels I have ever read. I absolutely loved it. The characters in the book were so intriguing and well developed. Each character had their own unique personality and backstory, which made them feel real and relatable.

The plot was also astounding! It was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I know that the book was originally released in parts, and I cannot even begin to think how long the wait between parts felt for the readers.

I read the complete serial novel and found myself up until after 4 a.m. this morning because I did not want to stop reading. It was that good! This is an incredible book that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good story.

Whenever I mention to people that Stephen King is one of my favorite authors and that they should read more of his work, sometimes I get that "look". So many times he's dismissed into the "genre ghetto" as a popular horror writer and not a gifted writer of "literary" fiction. It frustrates me deeply. Many people have no idea how truly gifted a writer he is and how incredibly versatile. Obviously, these same people have never read his novellas in the collection Different Seasons, or The Dead Zone, or 11/22/63, or Hearts in Atlantis, or this book especially.

The story is set in the 1930s and follows Paul Edgecomb, the head warden on the death row ward of Cold Mountain Penitentiary. His job is to try to make the prisoners' last days and trip to "Old Sparky" as peaceful and humane as possible. One day, a new inmate arrives, John Coffey, a gentle giant black man accused of raping and murdering two white young twin sisters. But John Coffey has a special gift. Soon, once Edgecomb and the other guards learn the truth about Coffey, they will have all of their beliefs challenged and learn the true meaning of sacrifice and redemption.

“Sometimes there is absolutely no difference at all between salvation and damnation.”

I believe that The Green Mile is superb. It is firmly on my list of favorite books and it's quite possibly the best full-length novel Stephen King has written. Although at the moment my favorite King novel is The Stand, I believe that this one is better written. Its mood and tone are pitch perfect, with the air of a fable laced with magical realism. The story truly moved me. When I read it for the first time years ago, I finished with what might have been a couple of tears in my eyes. And that's a big deal, given the fact that I'm such a hardened badass. Stephen King shows a real knack for being able to take what should be a very brutal, depressing subject like death row during the Depression and infuse it with beauty, emotion, and sentiment that never feels forced. This novel is sincerely special and has stuck with me forever. If you've never read Stephen King's work because you don't like horror stories, then read this and it will make you a fan. If you are already a King fan and haven't read this, then do yourself a favor and start this one immediately.

I absolutely fell in love with "The Green Mile". Enchanted actually. So fantastically happy that I even picked up the book.

This is the first book I have read by Stephen King. His fame had made me curious about his work for a long time, but I did not really know where to start. Then I thought that "The Green Mile" would be the most practical to begin with, as I had seen the film adaptation with Tom Hanks when I was little.

I had very vague memories of the film, except that it took place in a prison and a little mouse was involved... that was it. So now I also plan to watch the film again after reading the book.

The book is a pure masterpiece. It engulfs and enchants the reader. I could hardly put the book down. I was so eager to flip to the next page to excitedly find out what happens next.

The characters are incredibly well-developed. Due to Stephen King's strong use of words and sentences, you feel like you are living in the story. Although the book has dark themes and a rather terrifying undertone, I also found it magical, incredibly funny (oh how wonderful the humor was) and very sad. I couldn't stop laughing when I read many scenes, and some may have been inappropriate to laugh at.

I will miss the characters in this book: Guard Chief Paul Edgecomb and his colleagues and friends Brutal Howell, Dean Stanton, Harry Terwilliger, and the little circus mouse Mr. Jingles. Last but not least, the prisoner John Coffey, who was the very miracle of God... his incredible soul made me want to break down. How my heart ached for his incredibly innocent and lonely soul. How I also wish I could have known more about him. I will never forget this story... it will be absolutely impossible to forget.

I have just finished reading the last pages.

I am exhausted. I have given away all my emotions while reading.

Sometimes it was funny, touching and joyful. Sometimes hatred and resentment filled me to the brim. And there were times when I could almost hold back my tears... almost.

This is a very profound work by King. Here he explores human nature, analyzes its essence, feelings, instincts and actions.

He is not afraid of the truth and reality, showing it as it really is, unbiased.

And of course, there is no shortage of the spirit of the body for mortals, its rules and traditions.

The heroes... they are different. But each one evoked emotions in me - both positive and not so positive.

Paul and John are undoubtedly my favorites. And of course, there is no way without Mr. Jingles.

I recommend it to everyone who has not yet read it.

Miracoli a Cold Mountain

"If one were to regret what one has done, could a man return to the happiest time of his past and live there forever?" This profound question lingers as we explore the unforgettable story of Paul Edgecombe and John Coffey. Set in the infamous penitentiary of Cold Mountain in the post-depression years, their tale has not lost its allure even a decade after the first reading.

Surrounded by a persistent atmosphere of indifference and insensitivity, "The Green Mile" forces us to come to terms with the death penalty, with what it means to destroy a life and deny - to both the guilty and the innocent - a second chance. It is shocking to see the indifference of a society permeated with pervasive racism, and the popular will to have a culprit, not necessarily the right one.

Perhaps most of all, it is the desperate search for lost humanity by those who have made mistakes and, unfortunately, cannot go back that strikes us. King's work exalts the beauty of life and demands absolute respect for it.

Bueno, it has been some time since I finished the book, and now I can finally give you my opinion.

This is the first book by King that I have read. Usually, I avoid reading highly acclaimed books or authors to prevent disappointment, which is what I often experience. However, I must admit that King has surprised me. Despite it being a serialized read, I loved his way of storytelling.

It is an enjoyable and entertaining book that never becomes heavy or repetitive. All the characters have their own unique personalities. You get to know how they think, and yet they still surprise you.

As for the story, in my opinion, it is original and complete. It tells exactly what is necessary, without any excesses or flaws. The narrative is attractive and captivating, making it impossible for you to put the book down. Therefore, I appreciate its structure with parts and chapters.

In summary, it is a great read that I recommend to all those who enjoy well-narrated interesting stories.

* 1st Reading of the group: CLUB LITERARIO (https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...)*

Some books are truly worth waiting years for to read, and this one is no exception. I have been patiently awaiting the opportunity to read it for an extremely long time. I must admit that I am not a die-hard Stephan King fan. Horror and science fiction simply don't appeal to me. However, after watching the Green Mile Movie several years ago, I have always had a strong desire to read the book. And recently, when I chanced upon a copy among a stack of books, I knew that there was no better time than the present.

The only issue I faced when reading this book after seeing the iconic movie was that I had difficulty imagining the characters on my own. But setting that aside, what a remarkable read this turned out to be! Now, I am actually envious of those readers who haven't yet read the book because it is such a beautiful, captivating, and brilliant story. I was completely blown away by it.

The Green Mile is a unique and engaging tale about Paul Edgcombe, a prison guard in charge of death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. All the convicted killers are waiting for their turn to walk the Green Mile and face the electric chair. When John Coffey is condemned for a terrifying and heinous crime, Paul Edgecombe is confronted with a terrible and wonderful truth that will change his life forever.

I experienced a wide range of emotions while reading this story. The writing is so vivid and the story so believable that you can feel and experience everything it has to offer. There were actually moments when I could feel the humid heat that was so well-described in the book. The characters are incredibly realistic and believable, and the plot twists and turns kept me eagerly turning the pages. The little touch (just a hint) of magical happenings makes this novel the perfect story that I will remember for a very long time. John Coffey's character brought tears to my eyes on numerous occasions, yet there is a lovely sense of hope in the novel that prevents it from becoming depressing.

I currently only have a small paperback copy of this book, which I really need to replace with a hard copy for my physical bookshelf. If you have this on your To-Be-Read Shelf, do yourself a favor this summer and move it right to the top of the pile. This is a book that you won't regret reading, and only after you have finished should you then watch the movie.

I can now clarify, not only with myself, but with every other King fan, that this particular book gave me rather noticeable palpitations and for a moment or two, it made me feel quite faint. I've seen 'The Green Mile' Tom Hanks film adaptation, and although that was also amazing, and it makes for edge-of-the-seat viewing at times, when all is said and done, it has nothing on this book.

This book is up there with my list I like to call "King mind-fucks". In that group are books like The Shining and Pet Sematary. Right there, just on the outside looking in, is Cujo, who didn't quite make that group, but still, it's a book I consider a 'classic King'.

There are elements of horror within these pages, but it is done in a subtle way. I think King gets more of a result with subtlety, rather than in-your-face blood and gore. It just works better, especially for me, and it admittedly makes my toes curl.

The story is led by Paul Edgecombe, a guard in charge of 'The Green Mile', a block that houses only death row inmates. While Paul was there, his block housed some wild and mostly unforgettable characters. One was John Coffey, a larger-than-life man who was afraid of the dark and had been accused of an absolutely horrific crime. John Coffey changes the lives of the inmates and the guards who work on the mile, and we feel human compassion and emotion at its finest.

The characters are finely drawn with such care. I felt as if I knew some of them personally. I completely loathed the little dick Percy Whetmore. I haven't hated a character as much as I did Percy Whetmore at poor Del's execution. It made for horrendously uncomfortable reading, mainly due to Percy Whetmore. He is a despicable excuse for a human being who literally thrived on watching other people suffer.

I admire the way King writes about how Paul Edgecombe and his men attempt to give the men on death row respect and dignity until the day when they have to sit on the 'Old Sparky'. I think King captures these tender but also powerful moments with ease and with a skilful level that is pretty rare to me.

I finished this book this morning, and I'm still sitting around thinking about it. I can report that my heart is somewhat calmer, but I very much doubt that I'll be able to forget this book for the years ahead of me. But, let's be honest here, why on earth would I want to?

This book - what can I truly say about it? Steve has managed to transcend himself in this work. If I were posed the question of choosing the very best book ever penned by Stephen King, without a doubt, this would be the one.

The horror depicted within these pages is deeply and disturbingly human. The cruelty that humans inflict upon one another, whether it be the lawmakers or the lawbreakers, is vividly presented within the confined space of the death row of a prison. The story is narrated by Paul Edgecombe, the prison warden. Now residing in an old folks' home, he awaits the inevitable arrival of the executioner - The Grim Reaper with his sickle. As Paul delves into the events from a particular period in the death row of Cold Mountain Penitentiary, we are introduced to psychotic murderers, sadistic cops, and both peaceful and gruesome deaths as the condemned make their way to the electric chair along the corridor known as the "Green Mile".

The story centers around the enigmatic figure of John Coffey, who has been sentenced to death for brutally raping and murdering two young girls. However, Coffey possesses a remarkable power - the ability to heal anything through his touch. It is this gift (or perhaps curse) that propels the story forward until we reach its bittersweet conclusion. There is, nonetheless, a hint of quiet despair at the end - indeed, sometimes in life, the Green Mile can seem interminably long.

I can still vividly remember the time when this particular work came out. Back then, I was not financially well-off and could only afford to buy used books or paperbacks. As a result, I never got to read anything immediately upon its release. Instead, I had to patiently wait for a year until the paperback version was published. This work was released in installments, and in some ways, people at that time compared it to Dickens' monthly publications. Each book cost $4, so every month I would eagerly purchase the latest installment and immerse myself in the story. I vividly recall the anticipation and excitement, hardly being able to wait for the next book to arrive. We knew from the very beginning that there would be a total of 6 parts. It created a huge buzz back then.

Coffee is an incredibly fabulous character. The thought of this innocent and gentle giant being on death row for a crime committed by someone else truly made my heart ache. It was极其 unfair.

Eventually, it was adapted into a fantastic movie that is still beloved by people today. The story has real depth and heart, and although there are moments of horror, it doesn't belong to the horror genre. This is a story that showcases the limitless potential of the world to be more than what we expect. The disproving of stereotypes is a favorite theme of mine.

When I relocated from Ann Arbor to Baltimore to pursue a career as an acupuncturist, I donated all my Stephen King books to the library, except for "The Stand," and now I deeply regret that decision. I miss those books and wish I could reread most of them. I had an excellent collection, which was well-loved, and many of the books were in near-new condition, unless I had purchased them used. Giving away so many books was a mistake on my part. Nevertheless, it remains a great story.

Undoubtedly, it is one of the best novels by King. It is a novel that I will not only return to, but also reflect on and think about very often.

It has a subtle learning and is told well enough not to go unnoticed. It shows the good and the bad in our daily lives, racism, and actions that are not justifiable at first but end up justifying themselves.

A fair novel, both in content and in words.

The only thing I can regret is not having read it before.