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Summary: a lesson in differences between fiction and nonfiction
Review: I had an interesting experience with this book: I somehow did not realize until about halfway through it that it was nonfiction. It was fascinating to see how my expectations for it shifted.What is the difference between fiction and nonfiction? Clearly, it extends past fact and fantasy. If this were fiction, it would feel sloppy; characters' storylines don't draw together like they're supposed to, there's no exciting twist near the end, and we don't ever find out what "really happened" that fateful night. As nonfiction, all the characters don't have to come together by
the end. Lady Chablis and Joe Odom, two of the three primary characters in the first half of the book, don't have to have anything to do with each other or the third main character, Jim Williams, and his four murder trials. The four murder trials don't have to be markedly different; they are spectacular enough in that they actually happened at all. Another difference. Early on in the book, the narrator introduces an intriguing enigma: Williams possesses a Nazi flag and several german pistols. If this were fiction, that would eventually, even inevitably, lead to some revelation of dark and bizaare Nazi history. As nonfiction, it simply stays enigma, and that's okay: the world is weird, and little things don't always lead to big things. People like to say that truth is stranger than fiction, and I would imagine that some would cite the bizaare story in this book as evidence. However, what I'm learning is that we have very different expectationsof truth and fiction -- what makes a wonderful nonfiction account of truly bizaare people and events would, in all honesty, make pretty tepid and sloppy fiction.
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Summary: Southern Life
Review: I remember being captured by the cover of this book back in h.s, as i was bored with some assigned novel, reading through i felt like i was living in a dark gray afternoon aftertime i picked it up. No black and white here!
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Summary: Savannahian tensions run high through this amazing tale
Review: Am I the last person in America to read John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"? Sometimes it feels like it. Berendt's recollection of his experiences as a northern writer in the southern city of Savannah seems to have been on every bestseller's list since Dickens first put pen to paper. And there is certainly an essence of Dickens' work about Berendt's masterpiece. Like many of Dickens' novels, "Midnight's" appeal is born out of a fascinating collection of eccentrics and oddballs from both the underworld and the highest echelons of Savannah society. Berendt carefully and without overplaying his own role in this real-life murder mystery, let's the narrative flow out of the likes of Joe Odom, a cunning yet charming rogue; Lady Chablis, a cross-dressing, nightclub entertainer; and Minerva, a voodoo princess who wears the purple-tinted spectacles of her deceased lover in a vain attempt to inherit his mystical powers. Berendt also exploits the architecture and infrastructure of the city of Savannah in the same way that Dickens used the sights and sounds of London to support his wealth of characters. Just as tour guides thread their way through the narrow streets around Southwick Cathedral and St. Barts hospital in London today, so too are native Savannahians leading the ever-expanding trail of "Midnight" enthusiasts around the squares and houses depicted in Berendt's tale. "Midnight's" greatest appeal however, is the fact that all its odd characters, scenarios and events are, to a certain extent, true. The book's magnificence is founded in Berendt's wonderful ability to document the political, social, sexual, historic and specifically Savannahian tensions that run throughout this amazing tale.
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Summary: READ THIS BOOK!
Review: 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' is the absolute most wonderful book on shelves today. Full of gossip, humor, snobbery, and supsense, it is sure to keep you turning the pages. The characters are so lovable, and the stories that they tell are so memorable. Berendt's style of discriptive writing gives me a perfect mental image of Savannah, GA...and I have never even been there. What strikes me the most is that every character is a real person. This is one of those rare nonfiction books with the aire of an elaborately written novel. Give it a shot. You'll love it!
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Summary: The Best Book I Have Ever Read!!!
Review: In this book, you get onto a roller-coster that you would never want to get off. I first got the movie and I found out that it was the top of the line in my movie stack. I bought both DVD and VHS. The movie had me in a daze. So I decided to get the book to add to my collection, and this is a book that I can read over-and-over again. The way the really describe the town and the setting of things are amazing. If there was any chance to meet the cast from the movie and the writer of the book, I would take it to the heart. Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil-
-A book worth buying.- Adam Harrison
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Summary: Excellent Reader
Review: Since all the other reviews dealt with the written word. I'll just talk about the reader. Jeff Woodman does a terrific job on this book. His voices for the characters are well done. Sometimes men have a problem doing women's voices and visa versa, not this time!! Excellent listen, good story, and so much better than the movie.
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Summary: Fabulous!
Review: I read this book during a weekend at the beach. It was a quick, interesting, satisfying read. I simply couldn't put it down. The descriptions of Savannah and the characters were wonderful and colorful, to say the least. As a Californian who has been living in the South for the last few years, I appreciated all the colorful characters, as I've met a few of these here myself. I can't understand the negative reviews at all--all I can think is that they were expecting fiction rather than a non-fiction travel-writing book or that they just didn't get the point. I highly recommend this book!!
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Summary: A nonfiction book that doesn't feel like one.
Review: This book (which feels like a novel but isn't one) spends its first half setting the scene, through descriptions of Savannah and tales of its residents; its second half describes four murder trials. All in all, this was a phenomenal read -- I stumbled upon it through the movie (which I have almost forgotten now, it was so overshadowed by Berendt's writing) and am glad I took the time to read it. It is beautifully written and paints a picture of a community so foreign to me, I had to keep pinching myself to remember that this was based on a true story -- which makes this book all the more incredible.
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Summary: Three Stars
Review: Takes a while to get into the book but then the book is good. Has a lot of history and tells a lot about Savannah
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Summary: Engrossing whodunit delight!
Review: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is just that. A snap shot into the lives of the wealthy and privileged of the South captured by the skilled author, John Berendt. I hated to see this book conclude. I was enamored with Savannah - such an interesting place - and the wild, wacky and wonderful people enriched me from cover to cover. The words and historical references enthralled me. This is the story of wealthy, eccentric and lavish socialite Jim Williams. Jim is the toast of Savannah, to the dismay and envy of the residents. During one of his wild parties, the reader gets a glimpse into the underbelly of Jim's extravagant world. Then a shot is fired. Was it an accident or was it a murder? And how do certain quirky people - a transvestite, a vodoo priestess and UGA - fit into the picture? The twists and turns are riveting. I am not a regular reader of this sort whodunit mystery, but Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is an entertaining, engrossing read. I haven't seen the film based on this novel, but I hope that it does this wonderful work justice.
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