2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt.

Pages: 386 pages


Length: 1 Month (March)


Participants: oshizu, Alison, Joan, Lynn, Lorraine


Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!


Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Happy Buddy Reading!

I'm so glad to FINALLY read this one! I can't count the number of years I have owned a copy of this book! And I just keep looking at it and thinking, "I really need to read that!" LOL So here I am!

I am looking forward to it also!! I grew up in ATL but have visited Savannah several times! I was in college at UGA in 1981 so of course didn't hear about this crime...it will be fun to read about it!! I have to book and can start when everyone else is ready :)

I am waiting for the library copy. Should get it in the next 2 weeks but if everyone wants to start, go ahead. I’ll follow as soon as possible.

I'm sure I posted a comment on this thread, but I must have forgotten to hit "Post" because I don't see one.
Like Lynn, I've owned a Kindle edition of this book for years so I'm delighted that we'll be reading it together.

I plan to start reading it the 2nd week of March, which is not many days before Lorraine gets her hands on a copy.

Btw, did ya'll see the 1997 film adaptation of the book with John Cusack and Kevin Spacey? I remember liking the film but I no longer remember anything about the plot.

@oshizu....No, I have never seen the movie and have no idea what crime this book is about even though I grew up in ATL and lived in Ga (at college) at the time of the crime! Talk about rose-tinted glasses...or having blinders on! :)
I will start this book the 2nd week in March also...

I have this one to listen to on audio. I'll be starting it on Tuesday on my commute to work. This one has been on my list to read for awhile also.

I haven’t seen the movie either.

Ha! I had no clue there WAS a movie! So, yeah, I've not seen it! I will probably try to watch it after reading the book. I've no idea exactly what this is about and I prefer not knowing much about a book before reading it. I'll probably not start it until March 8 or later, in that second week as well!

@oshizu Do you think anything will be "rippling" in this book! *waggling eyebrows* LOL 😂

Lynn wrote: "Ha! I had no clue there WAS a movie! So, yeah, I've not seen it! I will probably try to watch it after reading the book. I've no idea exactly what this is about and I prefer not knowing much about
It's a 1997 film. Back then, I went through a period of watching John Cusack film available on Netflix. I didn't see them all (skipped the military ones) but I still fondly remember the delightful romcom "Must Love Dogs" from 2005.

@oshizu Do you think anything will be "rippling" in this book! *waggling eyebrows* LOL 😂"
Lynn, if this book doesn't have rippling, we'll have to seek out another book that does. Right?

oshizu wrote: "Lynn wrote: "@oshizu Do you think anything will be "rippling" in this book! *waggling eyebrows* LOL 😂"
Lynn, if this book doesn't have rippling, we'll have to seek out another book that does. Right?"
There are always our "creative imaginations" at play, so who knows what treasures we might discover! LOL

Hi, I'm not part of the buddy read but I hope you don't mind me saying that I read this book 2-3 years ago and really enjoyed it, mostly due to the colorful characters and the setting of Savannah, GA. I hope you all enjoy the book as well.

I started listening to this on audio. I'm not sure it's the best format for this book. Chapter 1 went ok but then I kind of zoned out in Chapter 2. I'm also going to order the physical copy from the library so I can go back and see what I zoned out on. I like the narrator though.

I am at 30% of the book. For now, we are still being introduced to characters and the night of May 2nd has not happened yet. I like it so far even though I found this introduction a bit long.

I started this afternoon and I am only about 60 pages in but I do have to say the author is really placing you inside Savannah! I can see the old homes (red brick with iron fencing on the windows/surrounding the house or the big white homes with large columns out front), the squares of Savannah, the way the city is off by itself (the description of the tall bridge going into the city over the river and the marsh lands around it is spot on), the tall oaks with the Spanish Moss lining some of the drives, etc!
I have visited Savannah a few times..I ate the best reuben sandwich I have ever had there AND had the worst encounter with fire ants (I unknowingly stood in a nest that was under a tree and they were very unhappy with me 😉)! The opening chapters are making me nostalgic…

I still have no idea what crime this story is about but I am certainly enjoying reading so far! 😊

I haven't started this book yet.
My only "familiarity" (if you can even call it that) with Georgia is having read 8 books of the Magical Bakery Mystery series, a cozy mystery about a hedge witch who runs a bakery with her hedge witch aunt....okay, I'm totally off topic.

An additional note: This book won the 1995 Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Mystery.
I'll be starting this book in another day or so.

Alison wrote: "I started this afternoon and I am only about 60 pages in but I do have to say the author is really placing you inside Savannah! I can see the old homes (red brick with iron fencing on the windows/s..."

I understand your nostalgia 😁 I have never visited Savannah, but has you say, this book is really placing you inside it. There are many websites about those homes. I found one where you even have a photography of the real Jim Williams. I found myself dreaming of visiting Savannah…

I got the book from the library. On listening to the audio I pretty much zoned out on Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5. Chapter 7 and 8 definitely got my attention while listening to it. I'm going to go back over the ones that I zoned out on. At least it is starting to get more interesting now. I'm on Chapter 9.

I am reading the book and can understand zoning out on listening to the audiobook, Joan! I am on Chapter 10 and the previous chapters have involved introductions to colorful characters that the narrator (does he ever give his name….I am assuming it is the author?) has met in Savannah.

I think this is all introducing people who will be involved in the crime?? 🤷‍♀️
Savannah is full of quirky people, apparently 😊

I just read the first few pages last night. Interesting beginning. I plan to tackle this one and Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee this coming weekend!

oshizu wrote: "I haven't started this book yet.
My only "familiarity" (if you can even call it that) with Georgia is having read 8 books of the Magical Bakery Mystery series, a cozy mystery about a hedge witch wh..."

Oohhh...Added that series to my 'very limited' scrawny TBR listing! LOL

On page 56 in the hardcover version, several pages into Chapter 4. I am blown away by all the historical and sometimes very trivial, yet seemingly pertinent, facts. Pure enjoyment thus far for me! I admit to being totally enthralled by the mystery of the (view spoiler)[black man, dog, white woman, and the leash! (hide spoiler)] LOL

I finished this book this morning and here are some of my thoughts:

(view spoiler)[ Major Question: How was the author privy to all the confidences/conversations he had with the various quirky people of Savannah? I am really trying to understand this due to the fact that he is an "outsider/northerner" who just made the move to Savannah from NY City? It seems to me that the people of Savannah who have been there for generations would not just "open up" to him the way they are portrayed as doing in the book?! There is a friendliness in the South but also a "protectiveness/aloofness", you could say, of the Southerners with "outsiders" coming in. I was raised in Atlanta (my parents moved there in the late 60's)...I was a "northerner" who transplanted there so I am a bit familiar with "Southern" ways ;)
Was the transparency with the author because he was a reporter? I did notice that when he attended parties, he did "listen in" on some conversations ;) I can not just imagine Jim Williams (as high and mighty as he was) opening up so much to the author/taking him up to Beaufort for his visit with the voodoo lady, telling his his process of keeping his antique dealing going while he was in Jail (didn't he want his phone calls to seem like they were coming from Mercer House and not Chatham County Jail?) etc.
Maybe I am overthinking this and should just go with the story...;)

So many wonderful characters are portrayed in this book!! I enjoyed all of their stories! I am not going to review all of them but I scratch my head at the life of Jim Odom...how can one person be so carefree and un-responsible with money/residences, relationships, etc and not break down in a nervous sweat when the banks are closing in/the owner of the house he was squatting in was coming home, etc??

Sonny Seiler...I never knew he was the owner of UGA ('uh-gah")!! I went to Univ. of Ga in the early 1980's (yes, I am that old :) and was there when we won the Championship with Herschel Walker winning the Heisman!! I can testify that GA football (and SEC football in general) is HUGE in the South!! I can visualize getting updates on the games during the trial!! LOL

BTW, I am going to use this book to fill the Popsugar 2022 prompt #36 "a book you know nothing about" because I was completely oblivious to this crime/trial going on while I was in college AND I had no idea what this book was about when I started reading it ;)

OK...major question...do you think Jim Williams is guilty of the murder of Danny Hansford? I feel that he did actually commit murder even though Danny Hansford was an unstable character!!

As for the movie, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", I have never watched it but had to look it up. I had no idea that it was one of Clint Eastwoods early directorial works! Here are some interesting facts: some real life characters from the book appear in the movie: Lady Chablis is one and Sonny Seiler plays a Judge, not himself. The movie was filmed entirely in Savannah and Mercer House was included in the filming.
Also interesting is the fact that the author of the book, John Berendt, is quoted as saying "Kevin Spacey played Jim Williams badly...he didn't even come close!" I think I am going to have to watch this movie!!
(hide spoiler)]

Lynn wrote: "On page 56 in the hardcover version, several pages into Chapter 4. I am blown away by all the historical and sometimes very trivial, yet seemingly pertinent, facts. Pure enjoyment thus far for me! ..."

Lynn...I loved this side story from the author's walks around the city! Great explanation about this story in the book!! Lots of interesting stories of people and personalities that live in Savannah... :)

I'm at page 186, almost done with Chapter 13. I admit that I assumed the relationship between (view spoiler)[Danny and Jim involved sex. I try not to make assumptions, but it seemed rather obvious to me... Though I admit the conundrum with Adler's basically getting Lawton elected as prosecutor makes for a much more dramatic suspense regarding the outcome of these (IMO) very harsh charges. And, although I know little about criminal law, I think that means he couldn't then be found guilty of lesser charges, like self-defense or manslaughter? (hide spoiler)] Anyway, I love her Berendt has provided all the backstory so the reader can get a glimpse of the various complexities and complications in the aftermath of the shooting.

Alison wrote: "Lynn wrote: "On page 56 in the hardcover version, several pages into Chapter 4. I am blown away by all the historical and sometimes very trivial, yet seemingly pertinent, facts. Pure enjoyment thus...

Lynn...I loved this side story from the author's walks around the city! Great explanation about this story in the book!! Lots of interesting stories of people and personalities that live in Savannah... :)"
As I kept reading about these eccentric personalities throughout the first half of the book I kept thinking, surely this is fiction!! Or else this is when reality is stranger than fiction!!

I started this book later than I'd expected but read the first 20 chapters last night and today (70%)
I'm really enjoying the book. I don't remember the film at all, but two of the cast are Kevin Spacey & John Cusack. I'm wondering if Spacey was cast as Jim Williams and Cusack as Danny Hansford?

My impressions on the first 20 chapters (view spoiler)[
*Pacing: I didn't mind at all how long the story took before introducing the murder. I briefly wondered a few times but was enjoying the book so much that it didn't much matter.
*Characters: What a quirky cast of characters! I loved how each character was so unique and so heavily invested in the local gossip. I loved Chablis.
*Savannah: So much detail given to the history, architecture, culture, and social customs/traditions of this city. I've never visited "The South" (does Texas count?) but this narrative really takes us there.
*Jim Odom: What a character! I laughed every time he commented on how the film adaptation of the author's future book about Savannah would improve Jim's quality of life.
*The mystery; The murder only occurred at the end of Part 1 and I couldn't resist reading two more chapters today. It's been mostly about trial proceedings with a hefty (but very boring to me) digression about the new defense lawyer's football mascot dog, Uga. (hide spoiler)]

Part of what makes this narrative so special is that the author has the kind of personality that seems to encourage people he encounters to open up to him.
Can't wait to find out how the book ends. Also, I'm waiting until I finish to read Alison's spoilers! :D

oshizu wrote: "I started this book later than I'd expected but read the first 20 chapters last night and today (70%)
I'm really enjoying the book. I don't remember the film at all, but two of the cast are Kevin S...

My impressions on the first 20 chapters (view spoiler)

Part of what makes this narrative so special is that the author has the kind of personality that seems to encourage people he encounters to open up to him.
Can't wait to find out how the book ends. Also, I'm waiting until I finish to read Alison's spoilers! :D
"
I would definitely agree that Berendt indeed seems to be a person to whom others just open up. I doubt that would have happened if he hadn't been living there, however... And you'll see just how much others open up to him later! Unbelievable!

I'm a Chablis fan myself! 😁 (view spoiler)[Though I thought she went a bit 'too far' later in the book... (hide spoiler)]

I've not spent any time in Georgia at all other than driving through. I have spent some time in Florida. I loved how Berendt made me feel as if I was there! Right in Savannah.

Odom is one (view spoiler)[crazy SOB, isn't he?!? I can't believe how he just keeps scammin'! And everyone! (hide spoiler)]

I personally thought the book was great! I never got bored and loved all the preamble of getting to know the various characters throughout the first half! Excellently done, IMO!

Anxious to see what you think at the end, oshizu!

Alison wrote: "I finished this book this morning and here are some of my thoughts:"
(view spoiler)[I agree with oshizu's feeling that Berendt must be someone other people open up to easily and readily. Perhaps I can say that since I have had conversations with people who reveal really personal stuff to me and have literally stopped midway through, looked at me and said, "I don't know why I'm telling YOU all this stuff..." I just shrug and say, "Maybe because you realize I'll not betray your confidence and trust in me... I can and do keep secrets."

And, Alison, I was in college in the mid-70s! I have a few years on you, m'dear! LOL

In a different book I"m reading a character refers to football as "man smashing"! I thought of that with all the talk of the bulldog mascot, etc.!

I had never heard of this either, though during this time period I was giving birth to and raising 3 children! I didn't know much about what was happening in the world, especially since this was well before 'the internet', cell phones, etc!

Yes, Jim did murder Danny! He admitted it outright to Berendt! Then when Sonny came up with the new evidence regarding bagging Danny's hands, he just went with the new defense and decided not to tell Sonny! But he was going to tell him! Jim admitted Danny never shot at him at all. He just put three bullets into Danny and then shot into/at his desk to make it look like Danny had shot at him. Then Berendt went to Odom to ask about whether he could be considered an accessory after the fact with this knowledge. Though he stated it was a 'hypothetical' situation, to which Odom immediately replied with a comment about Jim Williams...though Berendt tried to deny it. Then Minerva admitted to Berendt that Jim didn't have to tell her he murdered Danny, 'cause she just knew it. She could tell.

Thanks for the info about the movie. I may have to watch it after all just to see Chablis if nothing else!!

I did appreciate Berendt's emphasis on the fact that "money" is what the US "justice" system is all about. If you have enough money, you can typically buy your way out. I know that is usually how it goes most places in the US. (hide spoiler)]

I'm about halfway through listening to it and about a quarter of the way through reading what I zoned out on. I do like the way the pages flow when I read it. I just don't think it's a good book to listen to. I normally listen to non-fiction when I'm commuting. I don't like to listen to fiction and this book reads like fiction instead of non-fiction.

oshizu wrote: "I started this book later than I'd expected but read the first 20 chapters last night and today (70%)
I'm really enjoying the book. I don't remember the film at all, but two of the cast are Kevin S..."

oshizu...Ohhh, the pain to my heart that you find UGA ("uh-guh") boring...LOL
He is really very cute (actually, I think the Univ. of Ga is on the tenth "version" of UGA - this version's real name is "Que")...all descendants of the original UGA! He wears his own football jersey and spiked collar and the TV cameras catch him falling asleep at the games :) All the UGS's have been owned by Sonny Seiler. Here is a link to info on UGA and a picture ;)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uga_(ma...

As for the movie, I gave information in my spoilers that I looked up (I don't think the info is really a spoiler but just happened to include it in my spoilers). Kevin Spacey played Jim Williams (badly, according to Berendt) and Jude Law played Danny Hanson...

Joan wrote: "I'm about halfway through listening to it and about a quarter of the way through reading what I zoned out on. I do like the way the pages flow when I read it. I just don't think it's a good book to..."

Joan...I am sorry you are having trouble listening to this book and am glad you find reading the book interesting!
I hate it when I get confused/zone out while listening to an audio book! Maybe there are too many characters in this book to keep track of?!

Lynn wrote: "Alison wrote: "I finished this book this morning and here are some of my thoughts:"
I agree with oshizu's feeling that Berendt must be someone other people open up to easily and readily. Perhaps I ..."

(view spoiler)[ I thought Jim murdered Danny all along! I just wasn't understanding that Jim actually actually admitted that! I thought that Berendt was writing "hypothetically"! I must have zoned out while reading this section...I do remember finishing the book late at night so maybe I was sleepy ;)
(hide spoiler)]

Yes, I definitely think there are too many characters for an audio. I'm on Chapter 15 now listening to it and this chapter has been interesting.

Joan wrote: "I'm about halfway through listening to it and about a quarter of the way through reading what I zoned out on. I do like the way the pages flow when I read it. I just don't think it's a good book to listen to. I normally listen to non-fiction when I'm commuting. I don't like to listen to fiction and this book reads like fiction instead of non-fiction."
I am not a huge audiobook fan anyway, but I can see that this would be confusing for me to keep everyone straight. I agree that it does read much more like fiction!

Alison wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Alison wrote: "I finished this book this morning and here are some of my thoughts:"
I agree with oshizu's feeling that Berendt must be someone other people open up to easily and readil..."
A good reason for buddy reading and group discussion! LOL 😁

What did you-all think of the discussion of gentrification and rehabilitating old dilapidated and decrepit ready-for demolition housing? (view spoiler)[I found the discussion of Alder's (I think that was his name.) actions quite engaging and the speculation that he simply did it for the attention more than anything. Especially with regard to the facts that his rehabbed housing looked pretty shoddy and needed further repair after just 2-3 years.

When I was working as a mental health advocate many/most of my clients were housed in subsidized housing. Overall, those places typically were in need of extensive repairs. "Slumlord" is definitely thing...unfortunately! (hide spoiler)]

Alison
I'm a profound softie when it comes to dogs. When my dog had pancreatic cancer, I held him in my arms as the vet gave him a lethal injection then stayed with him for a long time even after he passed. That was 5 years ago and I still have a photo of a more youthful Benkei (his name) romping in a stream. *sniffle, sniffle
My thing with UGA is that I don't like football, lol.

I know I should write my thoughts on our BR book, but I can get the film Glory out of my mind. Lynn, you based your "I'm Your Biggest Fan" challenge on Denzel washington. I've had this image in my head of a shirtless Denzel Washington being whipped ever since the film was mentioned in our book. Do you remember this scene?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD5DV...

Okay, I'll try to make some coherent comments on our book (view spoiler)[
*This was such a well-written book! It reads like fiction and the characters are depicted so vividly. I was surprised that Minerva invited him along on her midnight journey to the graveyard, or was that part "artistic license"?
*Chablis: I ended up not like her after the Debutants' Ball. Okay, so the event made her feel inferior and left out, but she was petty and vindictive in the way she pursued the escorts and treated the author.
*Minerva: my new favorite, haha.
*Jim's death: kind of shocking that Jim not long after 2 years in prison and more years of trials (and attorney fees). what a weird coincidence that he died where he did. (hide spoiler)]

Huh, Jude Law as the victim. I can't picture him as the gay hustler type at all. I checked the film cast just now and read that Sonny Seiler (Jim's attorney & UGA's "dad") was initially hired as a juror but asked by Clint Eastwood (director/producer) to play the judge.

Enjoyed this discussion with you, my friends!

oshizu wrote: "Alison
I'm a profound softie when it comes to dogs. When my dog had pancreatic cancer, I held him in my arms as the vet gave him a lethal injection then stayed with him for a long time even after he passed. That was 5 years ago and I still have a photo of a more youthful Benkei (his name) romping in a stream. *sniffle, sniffle
My thing with UGA is that I don't like football, lol."
Doggies = AMAZING! Football = what?
All sports could disappear and it wouldn't bother me... Though I admit the only thing I miss about not having TV in my house for 25+ years is figure skating. The only thing... 😁

"I know I should write my thoughts on our BR book, but I can get the film Glory out of my mind. Lynn, you based your "I'm Your Biggest Fan" challenge on Denzel washington. I've had this image in my head of a shirtless Denzel Washington being whipped ever since the film was mentioned in our book. Do you remember this scene?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD5DV..."
Never watched it. I'm not big into movies... OMG! That was in 1989! They were all so...YOUNG! Denzel. Oh, my...what an actor! I mean, watch his face, especially his eyes! And...whew! Someone mentioned Denzel Washington in a staff meeting today and I inadvertently went "Whew! Denzel...and licked my lips..." Most of the other 6 people were amused. LOL

Don't know if I'll ever watch the movie adaptation of this book or not. #1-I just do not like Clint Eastwood at all. I do not know why, but I do not... #2-It was supposedly a flop. I would rather read, if given a choice!

"Okay, I'll try to make some coherent comments on our book (view spoiler)"
(view spoiler)[I thought he claimed the "artistic license" he employed was mainly in the "sequencing" of events. But who knows? I thought it was cool! Creepy. But cool!

Agreed about Chablis. That crossed a line, IMO! But since I'm not in her shoes, so to speak, who knows? I might have acted even worse!

I admit to not feeling much sympathy for Jim's demise so soon after legal resolution of the charges, etc. After all, he did murderDanny! He may or may not have planned it, but it's not as if Danny had actually shot at him. Admittedly, Danny was out of control and probably suffering from severe mental illness let alone addiction(s), but to just shoot the man... I don't know. I might feel the same if I had to deal with him. Though Jim could have sent him away. I'm guessing Danny threatened to expose and/or blackmail him if he ever tried to ditch him though. (hide spoiler)]

"Huh, Jude Law as the victim. I can't picture him as the gay hustler type at all. I checked the film cast just now and read that Sonny Seiler (Jim's attorney & UGA's "dad") was initially hired as a juror but asked by Clint Eastwood (director/producer) to play the judge."
Crazy!

"Enjoyed this discussion with you, my friends!"
Ditto, oshizu!

Well I finished listening to it on audio. And with the ending I was more interested with it than I was in the beginning. I still have the book to go through and I have gone through some of it but I don't know if I'll continue. I really wish I would have read this one and not listened to it.

Minerva was definitely a favorite character of mine.

I do want to see the movie. I think I have seen parts of it before.