Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1994)

I'm leaning somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I learned some very interesting things about Savannah through the author's descriptions and the stories about the residents. I got a bit bored with the many trial scenes and wished there had been a bit more of a plot. I very much enjoyed the first half of the book that told of the rich Savannah history and how the old homes were restored. ( )

Who'd have thought a "true crime" novel could be so enjoyable? Strictly speaking, to my mind, although a crime *does* occur and its consequences are documented, this is more akin to a well-linked series of colour pieces on the city of Savannah, Georgia and its eccentric residents, with many chapters having little or nothing to do with the crime.

I'm looking forward to rereading this one day when I don't either have a cold/fever or am dealing with the highly dubious (nay illegal) behaviour of a certain real estate agent. I think it could be a 5 star read in better circumstances. As it was, I was probably a bit too stressed to really let myself completely enjoy this interesting meander. ( )

This was a great book to read for my book club years ago ( )

This book made me realize how much I miss the south. I miss the almost daily afternoon thunderstorms, the humid days and the cool nights, the cicadas and crickets, the ancient trees. I love the fact that a person can get by with just a sweater all winter long.

I really enjoyed the historical references given about Savannah, which happens to be one of my all-time favorite cities. The city and the people in it were described with such clarity that you almost feel as if you know them.

John Berendt's writing style in this book is well-suited for talking about Savannah. It's slow and purposeful, and gives you time to take everything in. The story itself was interesting, but for me, the draw was Savannah. That city isn't just a setting or a background for the story, it's a character itself! ( )

great true crime, reads wonderfully! Much better than the movie ( )