Rating: 
Summary: Which way to Bonaventure Cemetery?
Review: John Berendt dishes up a delightful account of Southern society! His portrayal of fickle Southern approval is devilishly accurate, as is his description of good old Southern rivalry. Berendt's wonderful characterizations definitely make this book a must-read. From the ghoulishly introverted Luther Driggers to the hilarious and irrepressible Lady Chablis, the characters in this book keep you turning page after page until three in the morning, wondering who will show up next!
Rating:
Summary: Great SO FAR!
Review: I have not finished the book yet, but I feel like shaing my enthusiam for it! I love the chaacters, and the author's style! I find it very similar to the movie (which was great). The book delves futher enhancing the story! I hope the book never ends!
Rating: 
Summary: It Should Have Been Steamy
Review: Berendt commits the cardinal sin of writing--the elements for a fine story were there, but his writing wasn't up to the task. It was amateurish and unrevealing. The characters were certainly strange enough to have made an interesting story, so why didn't I care about them? Even the controversy surrounding Hansen's death is a bit perplexing--he was killed in either self-defense or cold blood, depending on which camp you fall into, but neither seems especially controversial to me. On the whole, a rousing disappointment of a book. Incidentally, the documentary special televised on A&E was more interesting than either this book or the film--and it included many of the real people to boot.
Rating:
Summary: SLOW PACED, NO NEED FOR THE PROFANITY, BUT STORY TELLI NG.
Review: Clean it up !!!NO NEED FOR THE PROFANITY, AND I DO'NT KNOW WHY IT'S ON THE BEST SELLER LIST. BUT A NICE STORY TELLING TONE. I have to admit that it puts you in the authors shoes. Not for me- NOTHING THAT I WILL RECOMMEND.- I'M GLAD ITS OVER.
Rating: 
Summary: Highly overrated, not very interesting.
Review: One can only wonder at the reported popularity of this book.Following the presentation of some interesting facts about the city of Savanna in the first few chapters, the book is overly long and pointless.
Rating:
Summary: If John B. doesn't like these sorry folks, why should I?
Review: This book was quite a disappointment to me, because I knew of its tremendous popularity and expected a story to match.. I think the problem was that I found most of its characters repellent, and so I could not get very interested in what happened to any of them. At the trial, I didn't really care whether they convicted this nasty antiques dealer or not. Nor could I get interested in the murder itself, since the young man killed was presented as having virtually no redeeming characteristics (except a possibly-endearing but apparently fully-justified lack of self esteem). Of course, on a high spiritual plane, anyone's death is a tragedy, but the book hardly seemed to be interested in a spiritual plane. The writer's focus was on scandal, his tone was of amused distaste, and in my opinion all the mossy oaks and moonlit magnolias in creation can't make up for a near-total lack of heart and soul. The reading public obviously disagrees with me, so I have to admit I may be missing something, but I don't see what. It's true that certain characters were appealing - who could dislike the unapologetic party animals in the Married Women's Club, for example? But others that most readers seem to have thought were a laugh riot - notably the Lady Chablis - seemed to me to be, well, not. I saw the Lady Chablis on A & E recently; she talked in her interview with much poise and dignity, and her stage act was in-your-face terrific. But John Berendt never seemed to see her as anything more than a drag queen extraordinaire. For instance, her frantic desire to go to the debutante's ball with him, and her subsequent vindictiveness when he refused, are presented simply as an awkward but hilarious embarrassment to him. He doesn't acknowledge that there might be something rather sad and complex about this man who longs to live as a young woman and can only give vent to "her" longing by viciously trashing a young woman who is everything "the Lady" wants to be. The only person in the book who seemed to me to have a single clue about what was going on was the voodoo priestess, who urged an act of forgiveness on a man to whom, unfortunately for him, she might as well have spoken in Mandarin Chinese. Berendt's recognition of this point (from whence, indirectly, the book's title) is one place he temporarily sets aside his chilly persona and seems to see the main characters as something more than southern Gothic sitcom-ics.
But maybe if Berendt had switched from cynical observer to fellow human being more often, the book would not have been as popular. Myself, I really think the reason the book was so popular (and the movie was not), is that an awful lot of people like to read about (but not necessarily observe) two-dimensional characters doing outrageously dastardly deeds and leading flamboyantly wretched sex lives, preferably in a safely exotic location. If that's what you're looking for, well, sweet potato pie and shut my mouth - this book rates a 10.
Rating:
Summary: Sinfully delicious!
Review: This book was a page-turner for me. I've never come across such an eccentric cast of characters in a non-fiction book. I couldn't wait to see how it all turned out. This book is like a box of chocolates, not very good for you, but oh so yummy. Can't wait to see the movie!
Rating:
Summary: Most over rated tome of all time
Review: this is absolutely the most over rated book i've ever read. terribly written, incredibly boring, and lacks even a modicum of suspense. I found myself not really caring whodunnit. it was an absolute struggle to finish...i did only to see if i was missing something given all the hype. i cannot believe the author is an editor...his skills leave me wanting.
Rating:
Summary: Wow! Can I read this book again?
Review: I was captivated from the first paragragh. I love the indepth personalization of each character. I really enjoyed reading 'Midnight". I even went to see the movie. Movie was ok; but the book... FABULOUS!!!!!
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Summary: Sleeper of the Year!!! -- Insomniacs Assoc.
Review: I have just finished this incredibly boring book about people and there lives that I could not care less about. The characters are not well defined and the circumstances and events that surround them are loosely tied together with some exhausting decriptive narrative of useless flowers and colors and streets and surroundings. The first few chapters had me booking a flight, and the rest of the book made me accept the flight cancellation fee. This book is in the running for all-time yawner with "Prince of Tides".
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