The Green Mile opens at a Southern Retirement home where Paul Edgecombe resides. When watching a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' film on TV, it triggers a teary breakdown in him and Paul begins to tell his friend Elaine Connelly things he hasn't spoken about in over 60 years. Paul Edgecombe narrates the story through a series of long flashbacks, as we taken back to when he was Head Guard for E Block commonly known as death row, at Cold Mountain Penitentiary, Louisiana.
Death Row at this penitentiary is unlike any that you would imagine. Paul Edgecombe and Brutus Howell rule it by keeping their prisoners at ease and quiet. In doing so, they take their prisoners' mind off the fact that they will eventually meet 'old sparky'. The prisoners seem to be old friends and there seen to be only four main inmates - John Coffey, Eduard Delacroix, William 'Wild Bill' Wharton and Old Toot Toot.
The story revolves mainly around the arrival of John Coffey, convicted of murdering and raping two nine-year-old girls. It is something Edgecombe is unable to believe, even after reading the notes of Coffey. Maybe it is because he is unlike any of the other inmates with his gentleness, kindness and the fact he's terrified of the dark. Then there is the fact he has a gift that is both mystical and miraculous. The power to heal.
Edgecome becomes aware of Coffey's gift when Coffey cures his bladder infection and shortly after the other prison guards become aware of it too. They are all troubled by it because they can't explain it and they know it will eventually affect their position as prison guards and their consciences.
The name the Green Mile actually refers to the lime green linoleum that covers the floor of E-Block. That and the long walk from the prison cells to the execution chamber and the electric chair. But it could also refer to the greenness of what is meant to be alive, and the power of life and death, which the prison guards and John Coffey all have.
This is a story with characters you can't help but love or hate thanks to the mastery of Stephen Kings storytelling. For instance, you can't help but hate Percy Wetmore. The spoilt nephew of the Governor, he has a sadistic streak and seems to get off on watching the prisoners fry on the electric chair. He's a character you hate right from the beginning and one you can't help but think belongs right in with the prisoners and not as a prison guard either. You really hope he gets everything he deserves.
The other nasty of the book, William 'Wild Bill' Wharton really is the most evil of all characters. He's a mixture of both the devil and Huckleberry Finn, sort of like Peter Pan and Satan. There's a playful element to his character but it is a sadistic and mean playfulness. He seems to hate everybody and just wants to kill them all. Although he is called 'Wild Bill' he seems to compare himself to Billy the Kid, of which he has tattooed on his arm.
The Green Mile is a novel (originally a 6-part novella) which plays on your emotion and like King's other fabulously written novel, "The Shawshank Redemption" it looks at good vs evil and dark vs light with just a twist of revenge and redemption. Other issues King likes to touch on include racism, injustice, death and capital punishment.
This is a book well worth reading and if you're not a huge fan of King novels, you may be after this. If not, check out the movie, which is as exceptionally wonderful.
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