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22nd out of 3,368 books
—
7,791 voters
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
by
John Berendt
Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty,early morning hours of May 2, 1981.Was it murder or self-defense?For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss-hung oaks and shaded squares.John Berendt's sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative reads like a thoroughly engrossing novel,...more
Paperback, 386 pages
Published
June 28th 1999
by Vintage
(first published 1994)
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this book has a lot of fans. that makes some sense. magazines are certainly very popular, and this is magazine writing at its most polished. Berendt knows how to create an atmosphere. he knows how to describe things in a style that is careful, subtle, and enfused with a deadpan but rather mischievious irony. he can certainly describe the way a rich man's house looks - so well that you could then describe it to someone else as if you've been there. characters are sketched with an expert's hand -...more
Apr 25, 2007
Taylor
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone.
Shelves:
non-fiction,
favorites,
own,
recommended,
desert-island-picks,
signed,
real-people,
murders-and-mysteries
I love this book to the point where I don't even really know what to say about it, because nothing I can say about it will be good enough to explain just how incredible this book really is.
After reading this book, I had to restrain myself from booking a flight to Savannah. It makes you want to be there, it makes you want to know the people, it makes you want to pick up and find a place just like it so you can move there. I am a city person through and through, but this book made me want to move...more
After reading this book, I had to restrain myself from booking a flight to Savannah. It makes you want to be there, it makes you want to know the people, it makes you want to pick up and find a place just like it so you can move there. I am a city person through and through, but this book made me want to move...more
May 29, 2007
Adam
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fans of the film
This was a decent book. There was a lot of mood, of which I'm a big fan. The characters all had the potential to be very interesting, but unfortuately, they weren't developed. That's not to say you don't spend a lot of time with them, or find out anything about them, it's just that you don't really give a damn.
The book is written by a magazine journalist who ends up living on and off in Savanah, GA for eight years to investigate and chronicle a murder and it's trials. This book is more or less...more
The book is written by a magazine journalist who ends up living on and off in Savanah, GA for eight years to investigate and chronicle a murder and it's trials. This book is more or less...more
There was a lot of hype around this book a few years back, but in this case I think it is actually deserved. For one, Berendt is a skilled writer who understands how to tease a compelling story out of the material he’s working with. And, oh, what material! The true-crime mystery at the center of the book—whether the social-climbing, closeted gay antiques dealer shot his lover in cold blood or self-defense—is interesting enough, but Berendt decorates that story with outrageous character portraits...more
I chose this book for the title and the fact that I love Savannah. As a former Georgia peach, I think the story works because it is told from the view of an outsider, and because the cast of characters is quite an interesting ensemble.While each new character introduced is appealing enough to catch your eye, he doesn't go into too much detail to detract from the main story or main characters.
The descriptions of the place and the people and even the food are detailed enough to give the reader a...more
The descriptions of the place and the people and even the food are detailed enough to give the reader a...more
I just couldn't put this down. Berendt did a magnificent job in bringing these real life people to the page in a memorable and entertaining way.
One of my favorite scenes includes the cross dresser who works in the hardware store. His employer disapproves of his wearing "makeup" while working, so he only makes up one half of his face, and then spends his working days at the store turning his head, so customers and his employer won't see the "makeup". To think this is a true story. I can't wait...more
One of my favorite scenes includes the cross dresser who works in the hardware store. His employer disapproves of his wearing "makeup" while working, so he only makes up one half of his face, and then spends his working days at the store turning his head, so customers and his employer won't see the "makeup". To think this is a true story. I can't wait...more
Dec 29, 2011
Bettie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Bettie by:
Brazilliant Laura
Shelves:
one-penny-wonder,
true-grime,
published-1994,
spring-2011,
nonfiction,
north-americas,
amusing,
paper-read
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Ova knjiga je jedan od meni najdražih prevoda, i žao mi je što film nije pomogao knjizi... Naime, knjiga obiluje živopisnim likovima, a Klint Istvud je u svom filmu samo načeo te likove, a nijednog nije u potpunosti prikazao... Ono što je posebno interesantno u vezi s ovom knjigom jeste to da je ona potpuno promenila život učmale Savane u Džordžiji... Gradić koji ne voli promene, koji ne voli savremene tekovine, odjednom se našao pod najezdom turista koji su se tu sjatili posle čitanja ove knjig...more
"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" is ostensibly about the macabre truths that lie behind Savannah's gentile facade. As you might expect, these are of a distinctly Gothic nature. Imagine a travel guide written by Tennessee Williams. We are invited to marvel at some familiar grotesques: the homosexual in a smoking jacket, the socialite drunk at noon, the young hustler with a Red Camaro, the outrageous trannie, the witch doctor. All of this is presented with a light touch, even as the parad...more
Filled with amazing characters that inhabit your very heart, and stay with you for such a long time. Realizing that they may never go away is part of the endearing quality of this amazing book. The steamy atmosphere inhabits your skin and warms your insides, as you fall in love with the guilt laden personalities that grace this world.
It makes you want to go and find them just to hear them talk, the rhythm, cadence, and timber of their speech patterns would be enough to lull me to sleep, but not...more
It makes you want to go and find them just to hear them talk, the rhythm, cadence, and timber of their speech patterns would be enough to lull me to sleep, but not...more
Feb 13, 2013
Lisa (Harmonybites)
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Lovers of Creative Non-fiction
Recommended to Lisa (Harmonybites) by:
Ultimate Reading List - True Crime
Shelves:
biography,
crime,
history,
mystery,
memoir,
travel,
ultimate-reading-list,
non-fiction,
fiction,
literary-fiction,
novels
I tried this book because it was recommended in the Ultimate Reading List under the True Crime section, and it was found in the True Crime section of the bookstore and marked as non-fiction on the cover. But it's not non-fiction--there were hints of that not far into the book in fact. This is that bastard hybrid between fiction and non-fiction known as creative non-fiction, or "faction." Had I known that, I wouldn't have invested so much time in the book. I admit I like things tidier. Either cal...more
May 28, 2011
Amanda
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Amanda by:
Chris Brewer
Shelves:
book-club-made-me-do-it
Murder, gullah, drag queens--oh my! (These are a few of my favorite things . . .) There's probably not much I can say about this book that hasn't already been said, but that won't stop me. I saw the movie when it first came out and loved it, but just never got around to reading the book. I thought that the entire book would be about the murder trial of Jim Williams, the prominent Savannah antiques dealer accused of murdering Danny Hansford (with whom it was rumored he was having a sexual relatio...more
Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty, early morning hours of May 2, 1981. Was it murder or self-defense? For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss-hung oaks and shaded squares. John Berendt's sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative reads like a thoroughly engrossing novel, and yet it is a work of nonfiction. Berendt skillfully interweaves a hugely entertaining first-person account of life in...more
Known in Savannah as “The Book”, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is the story of eccentric resident Jim Williams – a collector of art, antiques dealer, lavish party thrower, and the focal point of town gossip. Everyone wants to be his friend, until the night he kills his lover, Danny Hansford, proclaimed as “a good time not yet had by all”. The book centers around the murder trials, but gives us a glimpse into the imaginative world of the Deep South. Full of colorful characters like the...more
As expected the book was greater than the movie which I also thought was very good. The book is in fact non-fiction and is based on actual events and people, many of whom wanted to play themselves in the movie.
Having seen the movie (some years ago) I was glad to be able to draw from the images I recalled of Mercer House and the town of Savannah. I could not help but picture Kevin Spacey in the role of Jim Williams for which I think he was perfectly cast. The film incidentally was directed by Cli...more
Having seen the movie (some years ago) I was glad to be able to draw from the images I recalled of Mercer House and the town of Savannah. I could not help but picture Kevin Spacey in the role of Jim Williams for which I think he was perfectly cast. The film incidentally was directed by Cli...more
I can't say enough about this book. I came into work raving about it and telling everyone that if they haven't read it, pick it up ASAP.
The writing is superb, the characters fresh and fascinating. I'm allready planning my trip to Savannah!
The writing is superb, the characters fresh and fascinating. I'm allready planning my trip to Savannah!
Dec 30, 2011
Laura
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Bettie, Chrissie
Recommended to Laura by:
Dawn
Just arrived from Finland through BM.
What a pity this book ended. I must find a way to visit this beautiful city of Savannah.
The story is about the trial of Jim Williams, a Savannah's socialite and an international antiques dealer, crazy by the famous Faberge eggs, which was accused of the murder of Danny Handsford.
After had discovered that a super-saver fare to Savannah cost the same as an entree in a Manhattan restaurant, the author spent eight years fitting between these two cities. In this...more
What a pity this book ended. I must find a way to visit this beautiful city of Savannah.
The story is about the trial of Jim Williams, a Savannah's socialite and an international antiques dealer, crazy by the famous Faberge eggs, which was accused of the murder of Danny Handsford.
After had discovered that a super-saver fare to Savannah cost the same as an entree in a Manhattan restaurant, the author spent eight years fitting between these two cities. In this...more
If you can read this book and not want to immediately hop a plane to Savannah, Georgia, then I do not know what to say to you. I read this book several years ago (and even remember reading a huge chunk of it in the laundromat and another huge chunk of it outside the same laundromat, which had closed up but I could not stop reading), because it was pretty much surgically attached to my hand the entire time. Berendt brought these eccentrics to life in a way that made the entire culture mesmerizing...more
Having an aunt in New Orleans, the south has always intrigued me. Fantastic architecture aside, the culture and people are truly fascinating; though I'm often content to remain a casual observer, without really pushing myself to learn more.
With little more than an elementary curiosity for Savannah, I was quite thrilled when my mother brought over a box of books she'd been given by a friend and I saw this lying on top.
Through this book I feel as though I'd been given the ultimate opportunity to s...more
With little more than an elementary curiosity for Savannah, I was quite thrilled when my mother brought over a box of books she'd been given by a friend and I saw this lying on top.
Through this book I feel as though I'd been given the ultimate opportunity to s...more
I thought this was a great example of what true crime can be when in the hands of a really good writer.
This book is actually two parts. The first part sets up the scene - the oh-so-southern Savannah, Georgia, and the many characters the author met while living there. This, I thought, was the better half of the book. Berendt does a great job of introducing the residents of Savannah and makes you feel like it's a place you've lived. I had to keep reminding myself it was a non-fiction novel, since...more
This book is actually two parts. The first part sets up the scene - the oh-so-southern Savannah, Georgia, and the many characters the author met while living there. This, I thought, was the better half of the book. Berendt does a great job of introducing the residents of Savannah and makes you feel like it's a place you've lived. I had to keep reminding myself it was a non-fiction novel, since...more
Jan 21, 2008
ann horton
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who likes true crime stories, anyone who likes movie link-ups
Recommended to ann by:
Newspaper review
The date I read this book is a total guess - because I love it so much I've read it almost every year!
I discovered it after reading a review in a Sunday paper, obviously a well-written review as it prompted me to go and buy the book, something never achieved before or since! I sat in a restaurant alone and read, and read, and read until it was closing time. That must say something!
This true story totally captures the hot, sultry mood of Savannah, and goes at that pace - any faster and I do decla...more
I discovered it after reading a review in a Sunday paper, obviously a well-written review as it prompted me to go and buy the book, something never achieved before or since! I sat in a restaurant alone and read, and read, and read until it was closing time. That must say something!
This true story totally captures the hot, sultry mood of Savannah, and goes at that pace - any faster and I do decla...more
This was an impossible book, that just got more charming the more I read it!
Written like a memoir, and based on true facts, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a wonderful description of just one town, with all it's charm, derelicts and traditions.
I love every single word of this book; there was so much satire and in-context humor that made it so hilarious, but at the same time, the story was serious and down-to-earth in a way that you don't find much anymore.
The writing style kept me go...more
Written like a memoir, and based on true facts, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a wonderful description of just one town, with all it's charm, derelicts and traditions.
I love every single word of this book; there was so much satire and in-context humor that made it so hilarious, but at the same time, the story was serious and down-to-earth in a way that you don't find much anymore.
The writing style kept me go...more
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'...more
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'...more
I'm about 14 years behind the crowd on this one, but I can see why "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" caused such a stir. The characters are fascinating, even more so because they are real. Berendt achieves a nice balance of getting close to the people of Savannah -- from the fabulous Lady Chablis and voodoo queen Minerva to antiques collector/murderer Jim Williams and lawyer/pianoman Joe Odom -- and keeping enough distance to maintain his status as an outside observer. In a society so co...more
Excellent observation and storytelling skills; the first half as much more interesting than the second. Highly reminiscent of "The Orchid Thief," yet smoother, less theoretical, more personable. Both are books of non-fiction written by New Yorkers who are drawn to a community in the American South, and over the next few years become a part-time resident. There's almost a suggestion of the "other" in the descriptions of Southern Allure, as though it's not the PLACE the writers are drawn to as muc...more
This is one of my favorite books and inspired my first visit to Savannah. The characters are fantasy come to life and the lush descriptions of the city make you want to experience all this spooky historic city has to offer. The book is losely based on the murder of Danny Hansford by the eccentric self made art dealer Jim Williams. But it is the supporting characters such as The Lady Chablis that make this story what it is. The famous cover of the bird-girl statue taken in Bonaventure Cemetery is...more
I bought this book from the Salvation Army because I had seen the movie, couldn't remember it, but did remember that John Cusack was in it. And if he was in it, it's got to be quality, right?
Anyway, upon reading, it was. A really interesting and fun portrayal of Savannah, I'm sure fact and fiction crossed back and forth with each other, but whatever the case, the writing was poetic when it needed to be, and straight-forward when it needed to be, creating a book that was a pleasure to read and di...more
Anyway, upon reading, it was. A really interesting and fun portrayal of Savannah, I'm sure fact and fiction crossed back and forth with each other, but whatever the case, the writing was poetic when it needed to be, and straight-forward when it needed to be, creating a book that was a pleasure to read and di...more
Although I enjoyed it, I think this book could have been much better. The first half is largely a series of character studies, and the second half is essentially a true-life crime novel. Unfortunately I grew dangerously bored with the first half, and as the mystery unfolds, I grew annoyed that many of the characters introduced in the first half really have little play or impact on the rest of the book. The murder mystery itself is an interesting story but is very anticlimactic. While the book is...more
Berendt introduces those not from the South to a totally different world and a real-life crime. We happened to be in Savannah when Clint Eastwood was doing the film, and also met several of the characters, including a performance by the lady of a thousand songs.
I came across the title of this book as I was researching where to go in the South. First book ever written by John Berendt, the book was a New York Times bestseller for 216 weeks since its release in 1994 and was made into a movie directed by Clint Eastwood in 1997. Set in Savannah, Georgia, this is a non-fiction that narrates a range of events that occurred in the 1980s, including a murder of a local hustler by an art dealer. This story of prolonged murder trial is favored with the various ecc...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodreads All Sorts: Am and Liz: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil | 5 | 14 | 19 hours, 31 min ago | |
| Difficult reading | 4 | 15 | 22 hours, 24 min ago | |
| question | 30 | 196 | 18. April, 18:41 Uhr | |
| Savannah Visit | 6 | 41 | 08. April, 20:47 Uhr | |
| On the Southern L...: Reading Guide | 26 | 48 | 10. März, 07:32 Uhr |
The son of two writers, John Berendt grew up in Syracuse, New York. He earned a B.A. in English from Harvard University, where he worked on the staff of The Harvard Lampoon. After graduating in 1961, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in publishing. He was editor of New York magazine from 1977 to 1979, and wrote a monthly column for Esquire from 1982 to 1994.
Berendt first traveled to Sav...more
More about John Berendt...
Berendt first traveled to Sav...more
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“Rule number one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
—
29 people liked it
“By morning she was dead. She had not died of starvation or committed suicide by any conventional means. She had simply willed herself to die, and being a strong-willed woman, she had succeeded. She had missed dying on her birthday by two days.”
—
17 people liked it
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