Rating: 
Summary: better than expected
Review: As a Southerner, I expected to be somewhat offended by this book, as Northerners generally have very little understanding of Southern ways. But I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that a native New Yorker could give the South as much of a chance as John Berendt did. This book was great for savoring slowly. It's not a fast read, and don't expect a lot of action. For one thing, pretty much nothing happens until about halfway through the book. It's perfect for taking in small bites, and there's plenty to keep you interested, if you can keep a long list of characters straight. I'm curious to see the movie now, although I've heard it's pretty bad. Hollywood still doesn't have a grip on the South, apparently.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific Characterization!
Review: This is one mystery story that doesn't have a surprise ending. Since it is a true story, we already know how it ends. But the real charm of this book is in the characters- and there are some real characters in here! Berendt draws pictures with words that are as compelling and intriguing as any I have read. He makes you want to finish the book just because you care enough about the people involved that it doesn't matter that you know the end. The reader comes to know these people as if we all lived in Savannah with them. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it to everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: good,but not great
Review: The book takes a while to get off the ground, is good enough to read to completion, but is not very memorable a year later. In other words, I have no deire to see the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: If you like characters but don't care about a story line...
Review: I was expecting an exciting murder mystery, but was left yawning. The book has an abundance of characters, but the author never weaves them in with any central theme. Dull story. No plot. I forced myself to finish the book because it was the reading selection for my book club, in which 9 out of 10 of us felt, for the same reasons, that we had wasted our time.
Rating: 
Summary: Start expecting nothing, end with subtle satisfaction
Review: Book was a gift. Took several months and several attempts to get going. That said...could not put the book down with much ease. Was always anticipating the next surprise around the bend as the author wove his way through the streets and lives of Savannah. Great reading. In my opinion the author, John B. is being treated like F. Scott Fitzgerald by the naysayers. Someday someone will do the book justice with their movie adaptation. It will be a classic.
Rating:
Summary: Begs to be read aloud!
Review: This book is is perfect for bringing back the lost art of reading aloud. Chapters aren't too long and niether is the book itself. The characters are so eccentric and developed, the dialogue is nearly authentic that the book speaks to you. Share it with someone else!
Rating:
Summary: The book is barely readable and the cassette is WORSE!
Review: I have to say that I have not enjoyed this book. I listened to the audio tapes while commuting and I thought the narrator was awful. The narrator talks really slow and makes the book extremely boring. I guess he thinks that to sound southern one must talk in long, drawn out monotone. Moreover, it is startling to hear him use some of the degrading, offensive, and racist language that is in the book. Plainly put, this book is useless drivel. Don't waste your money buying this!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book -- Ignore the Movie
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. Although most of the "hype" has said that this book is about a murder, the murder and trial are not really what the book is about; rather, it is about the city of Savannah and the people who Berendt met while there. After seeing the movie, I was disappointed, but I realized that this book really could not be made into a good movie -- there was no central event which was quick enough to resolve in a movie. Also, the characters were extremely interesting to read about, but did not generally relate to each other. This aspect is impossible to capture in a movie. The documentary, however, on A&E was excellent. The book really lends itself more to a documentary rather than a movie. Unfortunately, the funniest scene in the book was not in the documentary -- the scene at the end where Chablis "crashes" the Black Debutante Ball.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This was an excellent, well written book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I think that it is wonderful to see this quality of book read by so many people, especially since I feel books like this are not written anymore. This will surely become a classic.
Rating:
Summary: Now I Know Why the Movie Died at the Box Office
Review: I had just started to read this book when the movie came out. My wife (who had read the book much earlier) made me go see it before I had finished but it turns out that it didn't make much difference in the end (as far as spoiling the ending for me that is). That's because the book doesn't have much of an ending! I think the author just ran out of musings to jot down in his notebook. I wish I had just spent the 10 minutes reading the reviews and saved my time to read something more worthwhile. This guy won't get my money a third time!
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