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joe_hh98's review against another edition
5.0
‘The Green Mile,’ is Stephen King at his absolute best. It merges the supernatural horror that he is so renowned for, with a raw, human poignancy that draws the reader in an instant.
The strength of this story is its characterisation. Paul Edgecombe is a solid narrator, who depicts in detail the sheer bleakness of life on Death Row. There is also an array of other fantastic characters. In particular, there is Percy Wetmore, the contemptibly sadistic prison guard. But perhaps the most important character is John Coffey. Coffey is a giant-like prisoner accused of the heinous murder of two young sisters. Upon meeting Coffey, the story introduces an alluring sense of intrigue and the reader is left questioning how such a gentle man could be capable of such an atrocity.
It is of course this mystery that drives the entire narrative. Stephen King balances the ambiguity of this crime with a vivid, unfiltered insight into the unenviable existence of life as a convicted murderer. He does a phenomenal job of humanising the inmates, drawing sympathy from the reader in their final moments, as if they are wholly innocent.
This story works because it attracts the necessary emotions from the reader so effortlessly. Albeit ‘The Green Mile’ is not an easy read, but it stands tall due its strangely poetic depiction of pure hell on earth.
The strength of this story is its characterisation. Paul Edgecombe is a solid narrator, who depicts in detail the sheer bleakness of life on Death Row. There is also an array of other fantastic characters. In particular, there is Percy Wetmore, the contemptibly sadistic prison guard. But perhaps the most important character is John Coffey. Coffey is a giant-like prisoner accused of the heinous murder of two young sisters. Upon meeting Coffey, the story introduces an alluring sense of intrigue and the reader is left questioning how such a gentle man could be capable of such an atrocity.
It is of course this mystery that drives the entire narrative. Stephen King balances the ambiguity of this crime with a vivid, unfiltered insight into the unenviable existence of life as a convicted murderer. He does a phenomenal job of humanising the inmates, drawing sympathy from the reader in their final moments, as if they are wholly innocent.
This story works because it attracts the necessary emotions from the reader so effortlessly. Albeit ‘The Green Mile’ is not an easy read, but it stands tall due its strangely poetic depiction of pure hell on earth.
costi_na's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
miserable_biscuit's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
lj754's review against another edition
5.0
I have so much love for this book. It was the first book I read by King. Such a sad story about John Coffey and Paul Edgecombe. Definitely worth the read.
rkbbii's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
sarahfarrow's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ezekiel_pallando's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0