Stephen King's book "The Green Mile": reviews of grateful readers and opinions of critics

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The Green Mile is a book loved by readers around the world, a heartfelt story about ordinary people and life's vicissitudes with a non-trivial plot and a very touching denouement. The Green Mile novel, which has been flattering for over a decade, is not entirely typical of Stephen King's style, because it has a minimum of mysticism and not so much from the horror genre. Everyone must read The Green Mile, because it is like a philosophical treatise, where there is a lot of meaning. In 1999, this book was made into a feature film, which is simply adored by millions to this day. The author of the book, Stephen King, took part in the creation of the film.

Green Mile Summary

The story is told from the perspective of a former prison guard named Paul. He once worked at Cold Mountain Prison in Louisiana. At the time you read the book, he is already very old and lives in a nursing home. He decides to tell onefrom the stories of his life, which actually happened many years ago, to his friend Elaine.

It takes place in 1932, just at that time Paul worked in block "E", where they kept the most dangerous criminals who were sentenced to death by electric chair. In this institution, everyone calls this terrible block the "Green Mile" because of the bright green color of the linoleum, along which the prisoners will have to go on their last journey.

Paul's duty is the most terrible thing - carrying out executions. The other guards try to take it easy, they just do their job, just like Paul. Only the behavior of the warden named Percy is unusual, he is young and impetuous, he has obvious sadistic inclinations, this man loves to mock prisoners, but at the same time he is essentially a coward. Surprisingly, he causes even more negativity in Paul than criminals. But Percy does not care, he is a relative of the governor, and therefore feels absolute impunity. Stephen King very subtly conveys the emotions of a person. The Green Mile, a brief summary of which is in front of you, is a deep psychological work.

Meet the characters

At the time Paul talks about, there were only two inmates in this section of the prison. One of them was a Cherokee Indian who was sentenced for killing a man in a drunken showdown. And the second stayed in the "Green Mile" for a very short time. He is transferred to another block, and the Indian is executed. And that's when the other two appear in block "E"character. The first is the Frenchman Delacroix, he did a lot of bad things in his life. Sentenced to death for raping girls and killing people. And the second is John Coffey, this is a tall and strong African American with a calm disposition, according to the documents, Paul learns that he was sentenced to death for the rape and murder of two twin girls.

It's strange, or maybe not, but in the prison it is in the "Green Mile" that a little mouse suddenly appears, he suddenly goes out to people, then disappears. Percy immediately takes a dislike to the animal, he wants to catch and kill the mouse. But Delacroix tamed the baby, he asked permission to keep him, and then taught him a few simple tricks. The mouse becomes the favorite of the entire prison, and only Percy still hates him.

And then the third person gets on the death row, this is Wharton, he is only nineteen, but he is very dangerous, his cruelty simply knows no bounds, he is a real maniac who cannot stand people, he deliberately robbed and killed several man, for which he went to jail.

And then something strange happens in the book. Paul is very friendly with the head of the prison, he is in great grief, his beloved wife is ill with an incurable form of cancer and is fading away right before his eyes. The boss tells everything to Paul, who perfectly understands his grief, because Paul himself is very sick, he has an inflammation of the bladder, which causes him severe pain. And then one day John Coffey does something incredible, he felt how bad Paul was, with a simple touch, he completely coped with inflammation, stretchinglike a little haze from Paul's body, and then he blew it out of his mouth like a swarm of locusts. Paul couldn't believe his eyes, he couldn't understand how this bully who talks like he's mentally retarded could do something like this. Now it becomes strange to Paul that a person endowed with such a gift could do bad things.

Story development

At this time, many unpleasant events take place in the Green Mile. Warton quarrels with Percy, Delacroix sees the quarrel and cannot help laughing at the cowardice of the second. Deciding to take revenge, Percy kills the mouse. But only John Coffey saves the situation again and brings the mouse back to life. It turns out that he can do just that.

This was the last straw, the rest of the guards are no longer going to endure the antics of the spoiled Percy and demand his resignation, Paul is one of them. Percy himself wanted to go to a more prestigious place, only he sets a condition: he must be allowed to lead the execution of the Frenchman. Colleagues agree, as they believe that he cannot do worse. But this is not so, he arranges everything so that Delacroix literally burned alive.

At this time, the warden's wife is getting worse, Paul realizes that John could help her with his gift, but only a couple of days remain before his execution. Paul takes a very risky step: he, along with his colleagues, neutralizes Percy, who could inform on them, takes a car and takes John to a friend's house, where a woman dies. John saved her, only now the disease did not want to leave his body, as it was before. Forces began to leave him before his eyes, in his carbeing taken back to the prison walls.

Decoupling

When Percy was able to free himself from the bonds, he began to threaten everyone and everyone in the Green Mile that he would inform them and everyone would be punished. He comes very close to John's cell, suddenly Coffey grabs Percy and exhales a hidden illness right in his face. From this, Percy instantly loses his mind and shoots Wharton six times, who at that moment was just sleeping.

Confused guards do not understand what is happening at all, but John Coffey explains that he did not commit a crime, and Warton killed the girls, thus the punishment of the Lord overtook the real killer. Paul realizes that his premonitions did not deceive him and that John is indeed innocent. Then Paul offers Coffey an escape, but John refuses, he himself wants to leave this world, because he does not understand a lot: cruelty, anger, pettiness, low passions that many people are obsessed with. John very well feels the pain that absolutely everyone experiences. And he can't take it anymore.

Paul has to lead John down the green corridor to the electric chair. Paul himself understands that he can no longer do this. John is dying. An investigation into the death of a prisoner from bullet wounds showed that one of the guards, who had lost his mind, was guilty. Percy is institutionalized.

Epilogue

At this point, Paul stops the story. Elaine has long been neighbors in the almshouse with Paul, she asks about his age. And it turns out that he is already over a hundred years old, andthe little mouse who is still with Paul is over sixty. John rewarded them both with the gift of longevity, but Paul is not at all happy about this, because the agony for killing an innocent person has haunted him all these years. And besides, all his relatives had already died, he was left alone. The last words of the former warden in this novel are the legendary phrase: "Sometimes the green mile is so long …"

Book reviews

Almost everyone in the world is familiar with the name "The Green Mile", reviews of this book are almost all positive. Some first saw the movie and then read the novel. But this story just turned the way many people think about our world.

If you are looking for a book with a heartfelt plot and non-trivial characters, then choose the novel written by Stephen King - "The Green Mile". Reviews of the book are very flattering.

The film based on the work is simply amazing. Drama, touching, great tension - you experience all this range of emotions at the same time. Breaking away from the storyline is simply impossible. The film makes a completely right impression, and the book is beyond praise. Many say that the book is not much stronger than the film, as often happens. The motion picture is so good that it doesn't differ too much from the novel. Everything in it is harmonious and conveyed exactly as the author intended.

The Green Mile is a book with varying but mostly positive reviews.

Most readers agree that the book is simplyingenious. Although it has a very oppressive atmosphere, it tells about murderers, racism, the death pen alty and life's injustice, but it is almost impossible to stop reading. This is a very touching book. This is a work for all time, and reading King's style is a pleasure.

And what turns and phrases does Stephen King use in the novel! The Green Mile, quotes from which have spread throughout the world, is full of aphorisms about life and about man. Here are some of them:

"Romance never dies even for those over eighty."

"At any age, fright and loneliness are not a joy, but in old age they are especially terrible."

"Better to jump right away before you lose your temper and want to give up."

"Better ridiculous love than none at all."

Many readers consider The Green Mile to be the finest work ever written by Stephen King. The novel is very easy to read. The plot is gripping from the first page. Reading, you get used to the atmosphere of the work, you experience, rejoice and live the story along with the characters. And if you watch the movie after reading it, you will be able to better imagine the situation described in the book.

"Green Mile", reviews of which are numerous, just can not help but like it. And there are a lot of rave reviews. Compassion, sympathy, love, true friendship and so on are not alien to any person. When you read The Green Mile, you experience completely different and very strong emotions, you experience the lives of the characters, you think about very serious things.philosophical problems. This novel is not only worth reading, but simply must be read, it can truly be considered a classic of world literature. The Green Mile is a book whose reviews are quite true.

Reviews

If you want to read something worthwhile, then you will not be disappointed by Stephen King. The Green Mile, which we're reviewing from critics, has become a cult book for a reason.

Written a lot of great reviews on this masterpiece. Their content is not as clear as in the reviews of ordinary readers, but even strict critics really like the novel.

The Green Mile book received reviews and reviews from the most influential publications in its time. Below is one of the reviews.

This is one of Stephen King's best books, if not the best. Here, fans of the writer's work will not see horror, but will find a dramatic story that is amazing in its complexity and life-like realism. This is the story of a very kind person, born to help others, having the gift to heal and give people life. But in the modern world, such a person did not find a place at all. He was imprisoned for crimes he did not commit and condemned to death. And even in these terrible circumstances, a person remains humble, kind to all who deserve it, and selfless, ready to give his life for the sake of another. This character tried to make the life of his cellmates and guards a little better, realizing that he lives in this world his lastdays. A certain mysticism is still found several times in the book, it is hidden in the unusual gift of John Coffey, but there is very little of it in the book, which is not typical for Stephen King novels. This is perfectly appropriate here, it only adds some spice to the plot and does not spoil the realism that the content is full of. Each phrase in the novel is very figurative and vivid, the reader perfectly understands the main characters, their actions, thoughts and emotions. The characters in the novel seem to be alive. Dear minutes spent reading this novel, sometimes you want to close your eyes, imagining what is happening on its pages, sometimes - to scream, unable to restrain surprise, and sometimes - just burst into tears. This book brings tears to even adult and courageous readers. It hurts because everything happens only in the book, that you cannot change anything and help the main characters. Empathy for the characters here is simply guaranteed. The Green Mile is an amazing book, designed to give you the opportunity to look at life with all its injustice and cruelty without closing your eyes. Everyone should read this book to understand what life is.”

Stephen King "The Green Mile" wanted to say that humanity, with all its vices, is not yet ready for the coming of salvation.

A screen adaptation of the novel written by Stephen King

The Green Mile is not only a wonderful book, but also a wonderful film, which has already been mentioned earlier. This is a cult mystical drama from the creator of horror stories - Stephen King. The film premiered in December 1999. Film awardedfour Oscar nominations, three Saturn awards and many other awards and nominations. Directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan.

The film "The Green Mile", reviews of which are as flattering as the book, have been loved for many years by people of all ages. The audience is completely delighted with the picture to this day, although the film can be attributed to the classics of world cinema. The picture is not new, very many people got acquainted with it, but it is simply impossible not to understand it or not to be imbued with it.

Those who watched this movie are divided into two camps. The former watch the film again and again, wanting to refresh past emotions. The second, having watched it once, no longer want to repeat it, as the film is filled with injustice and pain, which is full of human life.

Very serious social issues touched upon in his work "The Green Mile" King. Reviews of the work, even from sophisticated readers, are filled with delight and emotions. By the way, Stephen King himself believes that this film is the best adaptation of his novel. For sure, for the actors and the director of the picture, this was the best praise, because they were able to fully realize the author's idea. And it doesn't happen that often.

Interesting facts

Tom Hanks wanted to personally play his character named Paul in his old age, but the make-up looked very unconvincing on him, he did not add age, because these shots were played by another actor - Debbs Greer. Unfortunately, this role was the last for him in his life.

NeiIt's no secret that Stephen King is an extraordinary and unpredictable personality. He personally visited the set. And he was most attracted by the model of the electric chair, on which, according to the plot, the criminals were executed. Of course, the writer wished to sit on it himself, because the model turned out to be very realistic, it was created according to real models of the mid-twentieth century. To the surprise of the film crew, King admitted that he was very comfortable and even pleased to sit on this device. He then suggested that Tom Hanks try this experiment on himself, but he politely refused, without losing his role, saying that he was the warden here, and not sentenced to death.

Only it's worth knowing that the presence of an electric chair in this book is a historical inaccuracy. Indeed, at the time when events unfold in the novel, especially dangerous criminals were executed in the state of Louisiana in a different way, by hanging. Only the electric chair looked better in both the book and the movie.

Result

King touched upon very serious philosophical problems in his work The Green Mile. Reviews of the novel are flattering both among Russian readers and among the world community as a whole.

If you haven't read this novel by the great master of mystical stories yet, you should do it soon. In any electronic library there is a work created by Stephen King - "The Green Mile". Reviews are usually included.

Just get ready for the fact that the book will squeeze all the emotions out of you, to the drop, make you worry, hope, be afraid, and in the end,perhaps uncontrollably sobbing over what he read. But it's worth it.

Read this even if you're not a fan of King's genre. The Green Mile is a book to read no matter what country you live in, no matter how old you are.