The Green Mile by Stephen King

I absolutely love the works of Stephen King and plan to read more of his novels this year. So far, I am completely fascinated by The Green Mile, the story of prison guard Paul Edgecombe, set in Depression Era 1932. At Cold Mountain Penitentiary, "Boss Edgecombe" supervises convicted killers until their DOE (date of execution) when he and his fellow guards will take the condemned on their last walk down The Green Mile, a lime green colored path of sorts that leads to 'Old Sparky', the electric chair, where justice awaits. Paul tells of the final days of several convicted killers, including one Eduard Delacroix (who "tamed" a mouse by the name of Mr. Jingles that most on E Block are taken with, and who suffered a horrific death by arrogant, politically connected Percy Wetmore), William Wharton, (an absolutely psychotic youth), and the curious John Coffey, a colossal man with solemn eyes, who was convicted for the rapes and murders of twin girls. Found with their lifeless bodies cradled in his arms, a group of men reported Coffey's continuous screams of "I tried to take it back, but it was too late."
Unexplainable events took place soon after John Coffey's arrival at E Block. The giant of a man seemingly cured a urinary infection that had mercilessly plagued Paul. Another was that John Coffey took the dying Mr. Jingles in his hands and restored life to the odd little mouse after Percy Wetmore had crushed him on the eve of Delacroix's execution. After both these episodes, little black bugs emerged from Coffey's mouth, turned white and disappeared into oblivion. No other word can describe Coffey's actions except a miracle.
Now, being so far into the book and having read of Coffey's unique ability, I wonder. I wonder if Coffey had only been trying to help the two Deterick girls. What if he had been trying restore life to them just as he did the mouse only they were too far gone and were beyond his help? "I tried to take it back, but it was too late." I wonder if Coffey had been trying to take back what the real murderer had done to the twins. I wonder if John Coffey had been wrongly convicted of this heinous crime.

Finished "The Time Tarveler's Wife" last Friday! MORE SPOILERS!!!

It came as no surprise that Henry did indeed pass away. The explanation of his not being able to control this aspect of his life was because it already happened when Clare was thirteen. Apparently, Henry never had any conscious control over his life and excepted his death with good grace at the end. What makes Henry's death sickening is that Clare's own father and brother were the ones to shoot him on a day when the two had decided to go hunting and Henry had, unfortunately, time traveled to that exact instance while being rendered helpless due to his poor physical state resulting from the blizzard he had been trapped in. Of course, with careful observation, one could have predicted Henry's death from the beginning of the story, when thirteen year old Clare awoke to her dying husband's-to-be cries of 'Clare! Clare!' and found her brother and father near a red stained patch of grass with another self of Henry's at the scene. Henry was, no doubt, aware that he had occupied that patch of grass moments before.
The ending to The Time Traveler's Wife was sad, but also happy in a way. Past selves of Henry's continuously visit Alba in the future, and so he is able to spend stolen time with his beloved daughter. On the other hand, Henry never appears to Clare, except for one final time when Clare is 82. Until then, Clare continuously waits for Henry on his word that they will see each other again. It seems that no matter the circumstances, Clare is destined to always wait for Henry, always filled with the anticipation and relief that comes with his reappearances. Unhindered by his death, Clare forever waits for her love.

pg 453 HUGE SPOILER ALERT

Tragedy has struck Clare: she is coping with the anticipated death of her mother and the depression that comes with her numerous miscarriages. It seems that the only thing keeping her together is the word of a future self of Henry's that the couple will indeed have a child. Although, this idea seems hard to hold on to when Henry insists on ending their attempts. Henry and Clare do have child, if not in the most orthodox of ways. (A past self of Henry's has the child with Clare, because the present Henry has had a vasectomy with the hope that Clare will stay healthy.) In the meantime, the DeTamble's consult Dr. Kendrick, a geneticist who will eventually develop the phrase CDP (Chrono-Displaced Person) after studying Henry and finding the gene responsible for his involuntary trips in time. After reading a bit more, its revealed that Alba, Henry and Clare's daughter, time travels as well, with one exception. Unlike her father, Alba can time travel at will in some instances. It is also revealed on one of Henry's travels into the future that he will die before his daughter's sixth birthday. I can't help but wonder if this can be changed, but judging by Henry's previous explanation that he cannot change the past I would say it is highly unlikely. However, seeing as this is not the past that will be changed, but the future and eventually the present, can it be changed? Or is the future really set in stone and mapped out for an individual despite what many believe? I think that if Henry does die, then it suggests that people have no control over their own futures. Or perhaps Henry is just an abnormal exception due to his odd ability?

pg 303

I have just read about Henry and Clare's wedding. I didn't think it was right for Henry's future self to be the one to marry Clare, because his present self will miss out on the experience for nearly a decade. A few months after their marriage, a future self of Henry's appears at the DeTamble's door, bleeding and pierced all over with glass. I'm really interested to know what happened to Henry that left him in this state and wonder if this incident stirs Clare's emotions in any way. For example, maybe this incident will negatively impact her, and she will always be focused on Henry in another time rather than in the present. She could have a perfectly intact Henry with her, but still be worrying about him in another time, missing out on the time she has with him the present. Also, I'm starting to doubt their relationship. I don't understand how it can work out for them when Clare is always stationary and Henry is forever traveling to places she can't follow.

The TIme Traveler's Wife

NEW BOOK! :) Okay, my first impression of The Time Traveler's Wife was that it was VERY confusing. One minute its 1991, and then its 1977, then back again. Its seemed that the dates are all over the place in no particular order. Also, I cannot find any specific plot. All of it is basically stories of how Henry and Clare met and sometimes what they are doing in the present. One thing that i found a little disturbing was the fact that Clare was only twelve and see knew that she was going to marry Henry, keeping in mind he usually appeared when he was over the age of 30. Actually, I'm enjoying the story so far (I'm about 200 pgs in out of like 500), but I feel that I have to be very focused when reading this book because the dates matter. Its also very unpredictable. You can never know what years the story will be taking place in next or what ages the characters will be. I also think its interesting that the "present Henry" has absolutely no recollection of Clare at all yet she knows much about him. I even feel a bit sorry for Clare, because the "present Henry" is not at all the man that she grew up with all those years.
In all honesty, I chose this book because it is a fantasy story as well as romance. Usually, I have no patience for love stories.

Finished CRASHED! :)

After finishing this book I have changed my opinion of Jude, the Mech's fearless leader. In the beginning of the series, he is presented as parental figure of sorts to the confused and frightened new recipients of the download. Now, however, its become clear that he is ruthless and will stop at nothing to carry out his plans, even if it mean that many innocents will die in the process. I admit that I was quite angry when he escaped from the BioMax officials, but also relieved in a way, because he does have information vital to the Mechs' survival. Although, the way in which he carries out his rebellion is not unlike the methods of the Brotherhood of Man; both are convinced that they are better than the other and will not hesitate to commit violent acts for their cause. I can't wait to read the conclusion of this series, although it might be a while. There were many cliffhangers at the end and I am anxious to see where they lead...

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!! pg 385

Oh my God. I never would have guessed that Ani, Lia's new best friend, would betray the other Mechs to the Brotherhood of Man. Ani's character was always happy and spirited, but I guess that when her girlfriend Quinn, (Ani is homosexual) betrayed her trust, Ani just gave up all hopes of happiness her new life. Not that she had to go and drag everyone down with her, but I suppose being told continuously by a religious radical that you are a soulless abomination does take its toll. Despite her betrayal, I have a lot of sympathy for Ani. Her girlfriend betrayed her, Lia deserted her in order to deal with problems of her own, and so she was withdrawn from any and all forms of friendship and compassion until she was deluded into believing in the Brotherhood's opinion of her and the other Mechs while in her weak emotional state. The Brotherhood is now using Ani and other "acquired" Mechs as lab rats in order to find a way to kill Mechs, along with all copies of their memories so that they can't be re-downloaded. However, I'm happy to know that Auden is not a part, and does not even know, of the atrocities being committed by his idol, the "Honored Rai Sovana." Hopefully by the end of this book he will have severed all ties with the murderous group.
UPDATE!!! As it turns out, the 42 victims of the "Skinner Attack" on the corp town are all alive and well. In fact, they are working with the Brotherhood of Man. MEANING the Mechs were set up and made to look like murderers when in reality, they had no part in any act of violence towards the Orgs. NOTE: The Brotherhood of Man is looking less like a religious group and more like a tyrannical/ terrorist group with every turn of a page!