Gollancz The Green Mile

映画の感動をより深く味わいました。Stephen Kingの小説はどれもいいですね。

I couldn’t finish it……

Livros de Stephen King são excelentes e este é muito bom.

I have just finished The Green Mile by Stephen King and can honestly say it is one of the finest books I have ever read. The last 150 pages flew by in one mega session as I literally had to know what happened in the end. I now intend to watch the film version and will be well pleased and amazed if it’s half the quality of the book. When Negro John Coffy (I only use this term because it is relevant to the story) is found covered with blood carrying two naked young dead white girls he is quickly found guilty and convicted of rape and murder. He is sentenced to death and sent to Cold Mountain’s death row. However head Warder Paul Edgecombe feels there may be more to his story and suspects that the authorities perhaps didn’t look into this “simple open and shut case” with as much enthusiasm and vigour as they should have. Did racial prejudice prevent an open and free investigation, or is he projecting early feelings about his personal role in state authorised murder? When an extraordinary event happens in John’s cell Paul starts to feel something remarkable may be happening, something he can’t explain with the logic he has always applied diligently to his work. His life is slowly turned upside down and he begins to question his role in the execution of prisoners and in particular his latest inmate with a scheduled meeting with the electric chair or old sparky as it’s referred to by inmates and officers alike. Set in 1932, but often told in flashback from a much later date, Kings power to create real flesh and blood characters and totally believable situations is uncanny. His use of jargon, colloquialisms, and relevant popular expressions and to also pepper the narrative with cultural references emphasises and reinforces your belief that you are in 1932 among the walking dead awaiting that last walk along the Green Mile. The richness of the prose is almost intoxicating. Kings regular use of time travel, sometimes an irritation, is well suited to this beautifully told tale which is essentially the journal of a very old man recounting his days as a prison officer when “frying” prisoners was quite normal. His other tricksy habits have been abandoned for a straight forward story (apart from the time travel) except for the occasional doubling up of narrative. New chapters occasionally start with some of the last chapters end pages. I suppose this is because this book was originally issued as 5 or 6 short novelettes and then finally issued as a single volume. I must admit however that in one volume it’s redundant and should have been edited. If I’m missing something let me know. There is no doubt that The Green Mile is a sad tale about, rape, murder, prejudice, execution, cowardice, but it’s also about goodness, bravery, honesty, courage, duty and it’s these themes I took away from a book that I don’t think I’II ever forget.

The Green Mile by Stephen King absolutely floored me—in the most unforgettable and moving way possible. This novel deserves every one of its five stars. From the very first page, I was completely drawn in. It’s a story that shattered my heart and challenged my thoughts on justice, compassion, and the quiet miracles that exist in the darkest corners of life. Told through the voice of Paul Edgecombe, a death row supervisor in the 1930s, the novel introduces us to John Coffey—a gentle, soft-spoken man with an extraordinary gift, convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. The story unfolds gradually, with emotional depth and gripping suspense. Each chapter brought me closer to these characters—their hopes, regrets, and humanity. Stephen King’s character work is astonishing. Paul, with his steady sense of duty and quiet integrity; Percy Wetmore, whose cruelty is unforgettable; and John Coffey, whose kindness and sorrow are portrayed with heartbreaking beauty—all left a lasting impression. The way King slowly reveals the mystery behind Coffey’s gift is masterful, blending emotional realism with a gentle touch of the supernatural. One of the most powerful aspects of the novel is how it questions the justice system and society’s quickness to judge. John Coffey’s treatment reveals how fear and prejudice can lead to devastating consequences. The emotional weight of this theme reminded me of classic literary works—of characters like Prince Myshkin from Dostoevsky’s The Idiot, who, like Coffey, is a pure soul misunderstood by a broken world. It wasn’t until after I finished that I truly reflected on the deeper symbolism—John Coffey’s initials (J.C.), his miraculous healing powers, and his quiet acceptance of a fate he doesn’t deserve. There are clear parallels to spiritual figures who take on the pain of others. The more I thought about it, the more this story stayed with me. This is not just a novel—it’s a meditation on morality, grace, and the human cost of mercy. It’s painful, beautiful, and quietly hopeful in ways I didn’t expect. I’ll absolutely return to it again one day. Stephen King’s storytelling here is as close to perfect as I’ve seen. If you’re looking for a book that will move you deeply, make you think, and stay with you long after you’ve finished, The Green Mile is a must-read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “We each owe a death, there are no exceptions, but sometimes, oh God, the Green Mile is so long.”