Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Green Mile by Stephen King

10 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This might be my favorite Stephen King to-date. Holly has been one of my favorite characters of his, but John Coffey is a close second. What I like most about them is the duality of their extreme vulnerability and great inner strength. I think the people who meet them, befriend them, love them, that these people are forever changed for having known them. That's the kind of legacy I would want to leave, and so I love these characters. I'm only sorry Coffey had to die in this one (not a spoiler - it's a story taking place on death row!).

There was one moment that made me laugh with amusement. I forget where it was in the book, but Paul reflects how it was 81 degrees in October and still so hot and whether to take it as an indication of end times. The book was written in 1996 and chronicles his life events from 1932 to 1996. I wonder what Paul would think of the weather today. It's the end of October, and in Houston, the weather is 87 degrees. LOL.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

kemrick19's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

joshkiba13's review against another edition

mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

A pretty interesting concept to be explored, narrated by the head guard on the execution block of a prison in the 30s. It was really interesting to see what moral qualms such an occupation would give you. I wish there had been more story with John Coffey, the prisoner that the whole story revolves around. Still, it was well told and the reader did a great job with the audiobook. It would have been cool to have read this as a serial novel in the 90s, but alas I was still a few years away from conception.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Gore, and Rape

Minor: Chronic illness and Racial slurs

megbroache's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Murder

rat_leoo's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I first read The Green Mile about 20 years ago, and I adored it then. But reading it again having explored a lot more of King's catalogue was an even better experience. It's reminded me that this is truly one of my favourite of his books.

The other stark reminder in this book is how incredibly well King can write about grief and regret, with minimal horrific content (though of course there's some pretty grim stuff too). The emotional heft in this story is so brilliantly done. As expected I was a blubbering mess at the end (as I am every time I watch the film).

The characters are what make this wonderful book. Paul, Brutal, Harry and Dean are so much fun to read, and John Coffey remains one of my favourite literary characters of all time. Oh, and of course Mr Jingles!

The nature of good and evil is inherent throughout and the book is steeped in sadness. But there's humour and joy too, and it's the kind of book that really gets under your skin.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Rape and Violence

mduffy18's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of the greatest books ever written. This and the movie never fail to make me cry. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Gore, Racial slurs, and Racism

jackbifrost's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

finn_vibing's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

booksthatgotmeshook's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, and Kidnapping

Minor: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, and Grief