Took awhile, but it got good!

books:


	• Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Modern Library) John Berendt Modern Library, 2005 - 416 pages average customer review:based on 483 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A multiple read

I consider one of the highest compliments for a book is to state that it is worth reading more than once. "Midnight" is one of very few books I have read (probably 4 or 5 out of over 150) in which I would bestow this honor. It is a book I could easily see myself reading once every five years or so, each time gleaming another little treasure or intricacy of the characters or location.

The author, John Berendt journeys to Savannah, Georgia to experience what he calls "bi-urban" living, splitting time with New York City, when he walks into the murder of a young man in the home of a prominent antique collector Jim Williams. The story line is actually quite secondary to the nearly unbelievable cast of characters Berendt meets during his time in Savannah. As the old adage goes, "You just can't make this stuff up."

Others have gone in depth to describe some of the people Benedt encounters. My two personal favorites are Frank "Sonny" Seiler, lawyer and proud owner of the University of Georgia mascots, UGA I - IV; and Joe Odem, Benedt's entertaining neighbor.

But that is what makes this novel so enthralling. Everyone who reads the book will find their own characters that they fall in love with, can't stop laughing with or want to know more about. This is an incredible book that is worth reading at least twice.

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WOW

Hard to believe this is true. I found the book very entertaining. At times, I would have to go back and read a few paragraphs again to make sure I read it right. Makes me want to actually go visit Savannah one day. So many different characters and I mean they are "characters". Now I need to rent the movie.

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Impressions of a city

John Berendt's tale of Savannah and its rather different perspective on what is important is a great example of how well a good writer can capture the actual essence of a city and its inhabitants. Savannah is the star here, its gothic feel and the city's odd ability to care only about its own environs; as one of the residents calls it, the quality of "Looking inward."
The residents themselves only seem to be able to exist only in the vacuum of Savannah:
Joe Odom, whose traveling party moves from house to house all without the annoyance of paying rent,
The "Lady" Chablis, who is truly larger than life and almost explodes off the page, whether on stage or off,
Luther Driggers, a sad man, with a sad life, and a big bottle of poison?
And Jim Williams, antique dealer, whose multiple murder trials and rather unique approach towards Savannah's society is the basis for Berendt's fascination with Savannah
And a variety of other individuals who pop in and out of the book's chapters, making comments on the variety of intriguing events, serving as Berendt's version of the Greek chorus.
They all comprise an amazing array of personalities and they tell tales that will always enthrall. Whether or not Berendt has captured the "truth" about Savannah is not really an issue. He seems to have captured the spirit of a city unlike any other and allowed the reader an amazing view of a world shuttered to outsiders.

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Loved It ....

This was a great book! On my recent trip to Savannah, Georgia I couldn't help but notice that maybe I was the only in the world who had not read "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". There is a book tour, a book and DVD in every shop and even the historic trolley tour points out scenes from "the book" as Savannahians call it. Well, I wasn't disappointed. John Berendt has created a wonderful collection of real, colorful, amazing and eccentric people that he called friends during the eight years that he lived in Savannah. He writes about their eccentricites without judgement and delivers humorous and descriptive passages about each in the first several chapters of the book. He treats the reader to lovely and delicate descriptions of the Savannah landscape and history. It is interesting and beautifully written. The second half of the book centers on a murder and the concurrent trials that take place. It introduces us to voodoo, backstabbing of the highest level, Savannah civilites and the lack thereof. It is really an entertaining well written story that once the reader begins it, hates to put it down.

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Took awhile, but it got good!

I was initially pretty turned off by the start of the book. I found it very difficult to get into and yet I couldn't just 'give up' in the book, about 2/3 of the way through I realized not only was I enjoying the book - I was involved enough in the story to make audible gasps of surprise, horror, shock or disdain.

This book is good for a lazy summer day but don't read if you're looking for something spellbinding.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, page 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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some really good literary fiction.. like, totally.
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