Just finished reading "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil" by John Berendt. I have to admit, it was a hard book for me to get through. I don't mean this language-wise, it's just that I don't typically enjoy non-fiction, but I was determined to read this one. (I'm on this kick where I am willing myself to read literary classics and best-sellers... you know, the ones I should have read in high school but didn't because my high school's focus was more on football than actual academics).

Honestly, I'm glad I struggled through it. I was actually an amazing book. I spoiled the ending for myself by looking up Jim Williams on Wikipedia, so don't do this if you're planning on reading it. I do recommend it. I have not seen the movie yet. I'll update when I do.

It begins as a novel about the society of Savannah, Georgia in the early 1980's, and the history of how it became that way. On this journey, we are guided by the author, a man visiting Savannah who ends up staying for almost a decade. We become familiar with Savannah's quirks - the socialites, the hard-headed and sassy drag queen, the ever-calm and gregarious house-squatting and check-bouncing lawyer, the poor and disgruntled voodoo princess, and wealthy antique buyer/seller who quickly becomes the main character, Jim Williams. The story follows Jim Williams' four separate murder trials after he shoots the volatile, manic-depressive young man who performed miscellaneous chores for Jim.

It really is a classic worth reading, though I must say, I'm glad I don't live in Savannah. I don't think I could breathe in air that is so dense with pride.

I give it a 7/10.

Labels: books, Evil, Garden, Georgia, Good, Jim Williams, John Berendt, Midnight, ratings, Savannah, the south, United States