Rating: 
Summary: Glad I read the book first
Review: This is one situation where I was so happy I read the book before seeing the film. Had I seen the film, I would likely not have been prompted to read it. The book is so full and rich, the film is almost a mockery of a beautifully written non-fiction tale of drama and intrigue with shocking events and equally shocking characters. Berendt's eye for detail draws the reader in before the completion of the first chapter. Each chapter thereafter is a gift to the reader, an introduction to one interesting character after another, not the least of which is the "character" of the city of Savannah, a central figure in herself. I picked the book up on a whim, dog-eared it myself and have lent it out many times over. It's captivating stories and richness were impossible to put down, without wanting to read "just one more chapter, then I'll really get dinner started..." Guaranteed not to disappoint, unlike the movie....
Rating: 
Summary: -
Review: A lovely portrait of Savannah and all its quirks. It ddoes slow down considerably for the latter trial parts though.
Rating: 
Summary: An Amazing and Intoxicating Read
Review: The moment I picked up this book I literally could not stop reading it. Every noun and adjective brought me closer to the town of Savannah. I utterly loved reading about all the interesting characters who populate the town. The reason I did not give it a perfect score was that I did not really care about the murder trial; I would have preferred if the book was solely a collection of stories. If you enjoyed the movie, you will LOVE the book.
Rating:
Summary: A mixed bag
Review: The first half of this book, a guide to Savannah, its history, and its eccentrics, was quite interesting and made me want to visit there again. The second half, a blow by blow discussion of a celebrity murder trial, was dull, dull, dull.
Rating:
Summary: Unconventional Tale of Unconventional City
Review: I have only spent a brief time in Savannah, but Berendt's book has definitely captured the atmosphere of this unusual city. Visiting from Atlanta, one is swept away by the peaceful tranquility of Savannah's streets and squares, but one is also mindful of a rhythm guiding the actions of the locals. As an outsider, you can talk with the Savannahians, share a drink, and have a great time spinning tales, but you get the impression that you are on a different internal schedule. Berendt captured this alternate reality with great skill. He also captured the pivotal role that alcohol plays in Savannah society. The city revolves around the elegant consumption of booze! I no longer live in the South, but whenever I will need to remember the flavor and spirit of my former home, I'll break this book out and give it a spin.
Rating:
Summary: An Awesome Book
Review: This book was great. I was really "wowed" by this book because I always thought Savannah to be a quaint seaside city with it's deep south heritage playing a huge role in the life of the town's people. From Berent's perspective, Savannah's people are anything but quaint. But I really thought this book was very funny and very good. I gave it four stars because I thought some chapters were a tad risque. The chapters in the first part of the book weren't connected very well, but at the end of the book, they pretty much all came together. If a good murder story with a touch of mystery interests you, then read this book, it's great.
Rating:
Summary: Like A Sip of Mint Julep On A Muggy Summer Day
Review: Like a sip of mint julep on a muggy summer day, John Berendt'sslow, sultry Southern style of storytelling is a delight. Thismasterfully written nonfiction work has as many outstanding -- and quirky -- characters as the most vividly conceived fiction. And about as many plot turns! We're taken on a romp through staid and stodgy old Savannah, its historic squares isolated in mystique. As layer by layer is unpeeled, the town's innermost secrets are revealed. From the political intrigue of rival, neighborning restorationists in the silk stocking district to the naughty highjinks of a female impersonator on the wrong side of the tracks, we see it all. We go to incredible parties, visit cemeteries and see all kinds of games that are played. Along the way, we meet the mad scientist who leashes houseflies and introduces glow-in-the-dark goldfish; the party-hearty lawyer/tour operator whose life is a 24-hour Mardi Gras, going on one step ahead of his creditors, in housing he hasn't paid for; the drug-abusing angry young man, a walking streak of sex, whose main talent is making his car airborne a la Dukes of Hazzard; and the Voodoo priestess in purple sunglasses, her shopping bag containing graveyard dirt and chicken parts, employing black magic on the judicial process. Each time you think you know the direction this book is headed, it abruptly changes course... The only disappointment in this book is upon finishing the last page. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is an instant classic. Berendt paints a rich, compelling portrait -- a panoramic view.
Rating:
Summary: amusing and entertaining
Review: Having seen those near-famed cemetary images plastered all over the place when the movie came out, I was curious as to the subject and the storyline, but never bothered to follow up on it. At first just another book picked up in another airport, I found the characters well-developed and amusing, sometimes inspiring in their "whatever" mentality. It wasn't an obvious page-turner, nor did it keep me on the edge of my [airplane] seat. But the detailed imagery, and the flowing storylines definitely provided for an enjoyable (imagined) experience in Savannah. All in all, a good read.
Rating:
Summary: This is nonfiction?
Review: I got this book because I wanted to read it before I saw the movie. The movie, I'm told, was pretty good. The book is excellent! It was hard for me to believe that this book is a work of nonfiction. I do wish Mr. Berendt had explored the African American culture a little more in depth. He touched on some basic nuances, but it would have been nice to see the average African American; not just voodoo priestesses, drag queens and maids. Overall, it was an entertaining book.
Rating:
Summary: Open Minded Generation
Review: Life is what you make it and the citizens of Savanah made it worth living. I truly felt that I was watching the event unfold through John Berendt's eyes. He did a splendid job transfering his experiences to words. In fact I could even taste the air of murder in Savanah. Chablis sets a new mold in the writing world with her attitude and her secret identity of who she really is. A book which sets the tone for an opened minded generation!
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