From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

John Berendt

Start date: January 1, 2014

Finish date: January 31, 2014

Discussion: Group Reads Discussions

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By Diane , Armchair Tour Guide · 3 posts · 1370 views

last updated Jan 18, 2013 07:12PM

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What Members Thought

Aug 02, 2007 Kay rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, audiobooks, true-crime

Although I enjoyed the audio version of this book, I didn't fully appreciate what a good job Berendt had done until visiting Savannah this past year. Even a cursory visit reveals that he nailed the ambiance there. As much a portrait of a city as the unravelling of a social scandal and crime, Berendt's growing fascination with the very different world (compared to his native New York City) of Savannah is contagious. Creates a wonderful sense of atmosphere and sketches a memorable cast of quirky b ...more

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Jan 26, 2011 Erin (NY) rated it liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, read-in-2011

Having started this right before I went to Savannah, and finished it right after, I appreciated the descriptions of the city in this book. I enjoyed the historical aspect of it, especially told from a perspective of a New-Yorker, like myself.

I did feel like the first half of the book was a bit too long to get to the main plot. I think it would have been better to scatter that part in the 2nd part (which i think is how it happened in reality anyways).

One word of warning, if you go on a tour of M ...more

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Jul 09, 2017 Colleen Chi-Girl rated it really liked it

Shelves: bios-memoirs, lgbtqia, us-no-amer

Beautiful true crime story about a murder case told by a NY journalist set in beautiful Savannah, Georgia. He lived there for 8 years and it really reads like an exciting novel. All of the things you might think about the South are covered.....the Old South, the Southern belle, racial tension, antiques, humidity :), stereotypes, and voodoo. Read it.

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Feb 05, 2009 Suvi rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: true-crime, _north-america, non-fiction, the-south

The second half was boring because of the court case. I was somewhat disappointed since it is a true crime book but the eccentric characters who actually exist made up for it.

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Mar 01, 2015 Jen rated it really liked it

Shelves: popular-nonfiction, southern-american-lit

This book had a grand and entertaining cast of characters as well as centering on a murder mystery. It opens a world of a Savannah that in many ways was holding on to the old South. It also does a great job of encapsulating life in the 1980s. A really enjoyable book that opened up an unfamiliar world.

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May 28, 2008 Jen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction, murders-mysteries-thrills, true-crime, the-south, lgbtqia, favorites

I read this way back when, but I remember loooving it. The mystery was intriguing, and the slice-of-life aspect was fascinating. As another reviewer mentioned, it was all I could do not to book the next flight out to Savannah!

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