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Summary: a captivating story
Review: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is one of the best. The first half really pulled me in with his detailed descriptions of the people he met. And by the end of the second half I was really pulling for Williams as if he was on of my own friends. John Berendt has written a masterpiece.
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Summary: Outstanding
Review: I read this book years ago and I remember thinking at the time what an exceptional style Berendt managed to create. I was overwhelmed with the fact that it was non-fiction and the grace and ease that cover so much tumult and wrong. My only complaint was that it had to finish.
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Summary: What a title!!!
Review: If "Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil" isn't the best novel title of the '90's then shut my mouth. My tastes run more to books like "Flight of the Intruder" or "The Triumph and the Glory", action-based novels on an epic scale appeal more to my interests. BUT, a book with a title this good must have something going for it so I gave it a read. Midnight possesses everything one could ask of a fine work of fiction. Lyrical language. Riveting suspense. Great characters. Tension and conflict. Intrigue. Beautiful settings. A GREAT TITLE. John Berendt has given us a down home look at Southern culture in the form of a peerless murder mystery and I am grateful to him.
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Summary: a modern day classic novel
Review: John Berendt has written a masterpeice. This book has the makeing to become a literary classic, they way he descibes the city of Savanah you could almost see the squares and smell the flowers. This is a haunting tale of murder, friendship, and fun. When i read the book i would have to put it down to laugh at times. not many books are capable of pulling that kind of emotion from its reader's
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Summary: I couldn't put this book down once I began reading!
Review: This is a wonderful book that keeps the reader on the edge of his/her seat! I couldn't wait to turn the page to find out what was going to happen next! The author does a magnificent job at capturing a Southern town's many eccentric characters and situations. I visited Savannah last summer before I read the book, and now I'm looking forward to a trip back to find the places mentioned in the book.
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Summary: Beautifully worded descriptions combined with vulgarity
Review: I was looking for a mystery novel on the order of John Grishom's--too much to hope for. I didn't need to know how transvestites hide their masculinity nor read tirades of cursing. Aside from occasional beautiful descriptive text, I found the book boring and vulgar. I put it down after forcing myself to read about 1/2. I kept hoping it would get better.
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Summary: It's Savannah that should get the credit!
Review: I was fortunate enough to visit the great city (I am almost tempted to call it a village) of Savannah a couple of weeks back. It was recommended to me to read Midnight before going. I didn't quite make that (although I read part), but I have finished it now upon my return.It is a nice enough book, ofcourse, but I would like to stress that it owes its charm mainly to the city it describes. In fact: as I got further and further into the book I became more and more troubled by the position of the author, John Berendt. There is no getting around it: he is somewhat of a voyeur, who always remains at the outside and doesn't let himself get involved. From this comfortable position he presents us all these delightful characters and this great city. It would seem that he gets this all reached out to him on a silver platter. Okay, I hear you say, but doesn't that show what a great writer he is, that he is able to make it all appear to be so matter-of-fact? I have my doubts there. And frankly, I am somewhat bothered by the fact that he gets all the credit for writing this book. Mr. Berendt goes at great length in making sure we understand that his is a true story. Okay, I say, so let's put the credit where it is due: with the charming city of Savannah and its colorful inhabitants.
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Summary: Truth is Stranger than Fiction
Review: Recently we vacationed in Hilton Head and decided to take a day trip to Savannah. Since out time was short in Savannah we opted to take a bus tour of the historic district. Our tour guide was well versed in John Berendt's book, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" and much of the tour focused on the infamous Mercer house and other places portrayed in the book. Not knowing the story other than a sensational murder had taken place there; I immediately ordered the book from Amazon upon our return home. Well, I just finished the book and I am adding John Berendt to my list of favorite authors. Berendt seems to have captured the very essence of Savannah and its inhabitants in this book. Even though the work is a murder mystery the book leads you to its conclusion like a tour through the squares of the historic district. Berendt 's seemingly honest portrayal of each eccentric character almost makes it hard to believe that he didn't make this stuff up - truth is stranger than fiction. Needless to say visiting Savannah prior to reading the book made this non-fiction book even more enjoyable for me. However, you don't have to visit Savannah to experience it. Just read Midnight in the Garden.
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Summary: Captivating!
Review: A spellbinding tale of intrigue in the high society of Savannah, Georgia, John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" makes for an incredible recreational read. Berendt paints such a vivid picture of his characters and the world in which they live that, upon later recollection, one forgets that one gleaned this picture from text rather than from a beloved film. Few other books from the present day can claim such fine description. That is not to say, however, that this book is wordy; in fact, the opposite is true as the prose remains concise throughout the body of the work. Bottom line: Don't allow yourself to pass this one by!
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Summary: Interesting Book
Review: I buy this book because it is a bestsellar in US(I know it from this website). Quite an interesting book. But i think it will be even interesting if the book is a "fiction". The chapters inside the book sometimes doesn't related to the core story(which in my opinion is Jim William) . Some chapters i feel really bored, but some is really interesting. I like the chapter of the An evening in Mercer House, the character of Chablis, Midnight in the....,etc. The way John characterise a person is so fascinating. It's a good book.
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