The Slow Travel Concentric Reading Circle book club selection for the month of April is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, 400 pages (paperback edition).

Meeting date: Friday 27 April, at 5:30pm Pacific, 6:30 Mountain, 7:30 Central, 8:30 Eastern. For Australians, that’s 10.30am on Saturday the 28th of April.

The CRC book club chats take place in the Gold Star Chat Room.

New members are always very welcome. Please take the time to read about the Concentric Reading Circle here. We meet nine times a year, skipping June, August and December. We save the longer books (over 400 pages) for after a break.

Let's see which book you would like for July. Please have a look at the 2007 reading list published here and send me a PM with your choice from the list.Tim Parks seems to be a popular author with ST members. Any takers for any of his books?

If you are interested in becoming a CRC member, or haven’t yet sent in any choices, would you like to send those to me by PM so that I can include them in the list and publish an updated one?

You can click here to buy Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil from Amazon.

There are multiple copies on eBay as well.

I'm looking forward to seeing you at the next meeting!
Leslie.

{ adding slowtrav clickthru }

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pauline,

Have y'all read the book yet? I'm still reading my cozy series by Katherine Page Hall at the moment, but I have the book here, ready to go, in my bookcase by my bed. And I'm doing my research of course.

Right, for those who would like to 'have a look' before buying, I have the first chapter here.

I've heard that tourism in Savannah has greatly increased since this book was published. Apparently, it was on the New York Times best seller list for four years. How interesting!

I read this book when it first came out several years ago..a good read indeed....I also recently completed another book by the same author....The City Of Falling Angels"...the book is takes place in Venice.

This recent countdown post focused on what many Savannah residents now call "The Book" and the movie of the same name. There are several links at the end of the post to articles and resources about Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, including a reading group guide.

Kathy

I read the book years ago, but don't remember much about it. I'll be out of town for the next book chat though so I'm skipping the re-read. I've got too many other books calling my name.

Has there been any out and out favourite of all the books "don" so far? I'd love to join but I'm so far behind in my reading I'd never catch up.

A search at my library's web site shows that there is also the book "Midnight in the Garden of Evel Knievel".

Surely this is a spoof. Has anyone heard of it?

quote:

Midnight in the Garden of Evel Knievel

What a hoot! It's for sale, (paperback, 300 pages 2001) even on Amazon and it's a collection of articles by a columnist for the UK Daily Telegraph on sport and TV.

This Wikipedia Entry might be useful.

Here is an extract

quote:

It is important to note that, while the essence of the book is true, and the events did occur, much of the book's text is highly subjective. Berendt himself makes this clear in the Author's Word, which appears at the end of the book.

Berendt actually came to Savannah a year after the crime occurred and met Jim Williams in prison after Williams' first conviction. This is substantially different from the opening half of the text, in which Berendt presents himself as a central character introduced into the story as it happens. The narrative has Berendt depicting himself as present during conversations that he could never have heard. Many of the incidents and people are indeed based in reality, but much of the book has been restructured or fictionalized for effect.

quote:

Wikipedia Entry

John - I finished the book this afternoon and found the above entry very interesting.

It wasn't at all like I had expected.

Has everyone who is going to Savannah read it yet? I can't wait to hear what all of you have to say about it, epecially the members of the planning committee who requested it.

Well I don't have long, I think it's only 15 1/2 hours until the chat.

Oh and I've bought the next book for May, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. It should arrive in my mail box next week.

Still waiting to hear what book club members would like to have chosen for the July book. I heard some mention of Tim Parkes. Any particular choices there? Which is your favorite Tim Parkes book? I'm very partial to Italian Neighbours or An Italian Education.

Just trying to play catchup after income tax season, and I have only read the first three chapters of the book.

So, guess I will just skip the book chat because I won't have much of any insight into the book.

I do like what I have read so far - it makes me want to be in Savannah next year! Alas, it is my busiest time of year, and I can't be away from work.

Have fun this afternoon!

Nancy

I am going to miss the chat, sorry. I did not read the book and we are on the last day of our trip. This month flew by!!

We'll miss you both.

Chat's on.

What a stirring book! And so vividly written. I can't wait to read through the transcript, even though I was there at the chat.

Leslie,
Do you need me to send you the transcript or can you grab it yourself?

... Sorry I missed the chat; Friday nights are tough for me. But I didn't like the book, so would have been a downer to all who did.

Colleen I'd love to have it sent. I am free this afternoon. I can only ever copy a few lines of a chat a time so I don't have it.

That would be super actually - it was great! And the style was a surprise to me. I suppose I expected a quiet little sleepy murder - but it was quite an eye opener with lots of twists and turns.

You'd never be a downer and I think it takes all sorts of reactions to get a well rounded view.

I was asked to have this one on a Friday, so did. Perhaps the Saturday choice would suit more people better? I'm easy, either suit me.

The file is too big to attach to a PM so I'll send it via email.

I'll miss the May chat (I'll be in ITALY! ), but will look to see what the June/July book is and try to attend that chat. I think it's nice that you can accommodate Friday or Saturday; I'll try to arrange my schedule better next time.

Colleen

Crikey - you're all going to Italy but me! You are a lucky girl!

It's the English book next, (we're a multicultural international Internet book club here) - another murder mystery, and as I read a lot of English murder mysteries, I bet I find the style of this one very familiar.

July is a Tim Parkes - A Season in Verona. I don't have it yet but will look on Amazon using our click throughs (and also ebay in Australia, local postage you know).

Now this was an interesting book! Even if (like me) you found some bits to be an eye opener, the setting and the location is very appropriate. Many people have seen the movie, so will have an idea of what to expect at the big GTG next year.

Right at the end, Brenda voiced a comment out loud that many of us often think. I'd like to add to that - thank God for the Internet that allows me to get so much pleasure in participating in Slow Travel events.

Here's the transcript for those who didn't get to come to the chat.

2007-04-27 17:32
Leslie: Hi. Good to see you all. Today we are discussing a book chosen by our ST GTG Committee, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil as it's the location of our big GTG next year. Would you call it a ‘society novel’? It actually reminded me of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”. - As in, the fall from grace of the society figure... Jay Gatsby in that one. I’m making a comparison to Jim Williams who did the shooting in this one.
Palma: I guess you could say the same.
JohnFromAus: Hadn't thought of that category.
Leslie: It came to me right away.
JohnFromAus: The characters all seemed larger than life.
Palma: It really talked about social life in Savannah, the characters were BIG.
JohnFromAus: I thought, too much to be believable. Must be a comedy. Then surprise. Based on true life.
Palma: I thought of it as more a mystery.
JohnFromAus: But how far from true life was it?
Leslie: Your Wikipedia site was informative John: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_in_the_Garden_of_Good_and_Evil
JohnFromAus: Yes, a mystery. But the first half of the book was introducing the characters.
Palma: I thought the characters were interesting, but I was bored the first half of the book. I wanted to know the outcome of the trial.
Leslie: I particularly liked the beginning.
JohnFromAus: Could there ever be a Chablis?
Leslie: Yes there is one. She starred in the movie didn't she?
JohnFromAus: But like that. Isn't she exaggerated?
Leslie: I have read characters like her before in my youth, like in Harold Robbins novels.
Palma: I'm sure there could be many real people like Chablis.
JohnFromAus: They don't occur in my world. They are always movie characters who are fun but not real.
Leslie: There is a lot of talk about class in society – the terms blue blood, nouveau riche, aristocracy, nobility and royalty are mentioned casually throughout the book. I liked the jokes about the old and the new money - particularly the one pertaining to the embroidery unraveling on the petit point chair.
Palma: yes, old and new money
Leslie: Chablis is in juxtaposition to this at the other end of the spectrum
JohnFromAus: That's Jim is not old money
Leslie:
Palma: our worn out stuff doesn't need to be replaced!
Leslie: I particularly liked the setting. Savannah sounds beautiful. I envy those who are going to be going there.
Palma: I liked hearing about the neighborhoods and the squares (like little parks).
JohnFromAus: Apparently it has done wonders for the tourist trade. I would love to go there to be able to see the places that are mentioned.
Leslie: 21 squares wasn't it?
Palma: Yes, you can see Mercer House. I think so.
JohnFromAus: Will the GTG do a Midnight Savannah tour?
Palma: I think a cemetery tour or ghost tour is in the works. Speaking of ghost tours...!
BGE: Palma...you are insinuating that I'm scary....???
Palma: Brenda, John asked if we're going to the cemetery in Savannah?
JohnFromAus: Maybe you could visit a grave from 11:30pm to 12:30am
Palma: I SLEPT on a grave once during that time... actually all night.
BGE: I'm hoping to arrange a trip to Bonaventure cemetery... and yes, between the hours of good and evil!
JohnFromAus: I don't think a graveyard is all that scary.
Palma: they are kind of peaceful.
BGE: we'll likely all end up in one, in some form or another.
JohnFromAus: But a grave would be hard. Need something to soft to put on it.
Palma: lol More fun when we're alive and with our friends, Brenda!
BGE: yep, I agree.
Palma: Yes, John. We had sleeping bags.
BGE: On top of the ground not under it...
Leslie: I just finished my stone cold cup of tea, is anyone drinking mint juleps??
Palma: Palma is drinking a latte right now
BGE: no, a great Australian white wine, with cheddar cheese omelet, toast and avocado and fresh tomato salad. The wine is...Lindeman's BIN 77...Semillon Chardonnay
JohnFromAus: Back to credibility. How would you like managing agents that did not know Joe was in your place for 6 month rent free?
Palma: what a great scam he had going!
JohnFromAus: Maybe the owners had so much money they didn't care.
Leslie: It was interesting to read about the restoration of Savannah’s historic district starting in the 1950’s. Was this set off by Lady Astor who passed through in 1946 remarking that: “Savannah was like a beautiful woman with a dirty face.”
Palma: I'm sure other cities needed a facelift, but it is sad that their downtown area all became run down except for the very rich
Leslie: Has anyone here been to Savannah and seen any of these big mansions? I’ve only ever seen houses like this in movies. Who wouldn’t want “an Italianate mansion with red brick and tall, arched windows set off by ornate ironwork balconies.” - page 7.
Palma: not yet...
BGE: Nope, that's why I'm so juiced to be going to Savannah in April next year!
Palma: just the mansions in New Orleans.
Leslie: Pauline, how did they look in the movie?
JohnFromAus: Did they use Savannah for the movie? Or another place.
BGE: Both.
Palma: But they look like Tara
BGE: Savannah and a sound studio in L.A.
JohnFromAus: I loved the iron lace in New Orleans. I wondered how much of that is left.
BGE: interiors were filmed in the Mercer house that Jim lived in.
Palma: We can see that if we're in Savannah.
Leslie: I knew about the location in “Gone With the Wind” but I had no idea Savannah was also the setting for some of “Treasure Island”. Savannah must be very scenic
JohnFromAus: Are there still tours, as in the book?
BGE: Ok, I have to tell you that this is one of my all-time favorite movies and ditto for books. It left me weak with desire to go to Savannah, sit in the shade on a bench over someone's grave in Bonaventure cemetery, with a chilled silver container of libations!
Palma: let me check my Savannah guidebook...
BGE: Yes, tours. Although they don't get great reviews...you are told NOT to ask any questions about 'the book' or 'the movie' or Jim or....
Palma: Yes, Mercer House is open for tours.
Pauline: I hardly remember the movie - am also looking forward to Savannah!!
Leslie: What did you think of the writing style. I particularly like this: “An early-morning mist had turned the view of Monterey Square into a soft-focus stage set with pink azaleas billowing beneath a tattered valance of live oaks and Spanish moss.”
BGE: I loved the writing style, that's what made me want to go to Savannah!
JohnFromAus: I liked the writing style. Very descriptive and easy to read. I just found it hard to believe. Is this a truth is stranger than fiction thing?
Leslie: I'd say so. I found the "Kings Cross" atmosphere a bit hard to take in places, by this I mean all the detailed descriptions of the transsexual club.
Palma: I already wanted to go to Savannah, but it made me more excited about the city itself, not JUST the ST GTG aspect of it. We are staying a few extra days.
BGE: Mostly true, some fiction stirred in to keep it 'inneresting'
Leslie: On page 21, when I read about the loaded pistols all over the house, I felt that there was a setting for a murder that was going to happen. What did you think?
Palma: I guess, I knew there was a murder, so I was waiting for it!
JohnFromAus: I thought it was just a collector's hobby.
Palma: I thought it was so bizarre that all those people just came and went!
BGE: I would have loved to be one of the 'in crowd' at Jim Williams' parties! I saw the movie first, then read the book about a month later, so I knew about the murder, or self-defense, if y'all believe that story!
Palma: I mean, I LOVE company, but I like to be awake and aware of my guests!
Leslie: As a teenager, I lived in an unlocked door kind of place, Roma in Western Queensland, so I didn't find the coming and going out of place although it is the antithesis of Canberra in 2007.
JohnFromAus: From the book I wouldn't hazard a guess as to the shooting in real life.
BGE: .My favorite character is Lady Chablis, followed hotly by Jim Williams... I laughed out loud so many times watching Kevin Spacey replicate Jim's mannerisms and pattern of speech
Palma: Is the movie as good as the book?
Leslie: Does anyone have a favorite quote from the book?
BGE: What I ended up with was the feeling that there is a smooth, southern, beauty to the city of Savannah, and a hot, turbid underbelly of the same city that only comes out after dark.
Leslie: Mine would have to be: “You mustn’t be taken in by the moonlight and magnolias. There’s more to Savannah than that. Things can get very murky.” - from page 10.
Palma: Yes, the one where he mentions all the questions you get asked in other cities, but in Savannah you are asked, "What do you drink?"
BGE: The movie only shows 2 trials, and yes, I loved it totally. Just a really amusing, gorgeously filmed picture of the south.
Palma: Ohh, Brenda! "Hot, turbid underbelly"! My favorite quote of this chat!
BGE: If you haven't seen the movie, rent it... there are a number of the real people of Savannah playing themselves or other characters in the movie.
Palma: I will
BGE: So, can I tell you a few interesting people in the movie??? The woman who plays Minerva is fabulous, Clint Eastwood's daughter plays the blonde chick that comes to John Kelso's room for ice and is also engaged, sort of, to Joe Odom...
BGE: Lady Chablis plays herself! Fantastically, I might add!
Palma: Brenda, can Minerva come to the cemetery with us?
BGE: The DA in Savannah plays the judge at the trial.
JohnFromAus: Is that right. Chablis plays Chablis in the film? I picture Minerva as a skinny, desiccated sort of person.
BGE: HA! I wish! AND, this was Jude Law's big break, so to speak...he plays Danny! Viciously! Nope, John...she's a rather plumpish woman, African American and fantastic! Baaaaad ju-ju!
BGE: I had a really difficult time remembering that Chablis is a guy... so believable as the female alter-ego.
Palma: I will definitely rent it. Sounds like a great cast, and real people.
JohnFromAus: Plumpish women always seem to go with voodoo.
BGE: Did anyone wonder what Luther was like? The guy with the flies attached to his clothing and the bottle of mysterious something that he kept threatening to pour in the water supply?
Palma: Creepy but harmless.
BGE: Yep. But hilarious!
JohnFromAus: Do you think Savannah people read the book or saw the Film? Sounds like they would generally ignore it.
Palma: Brad laughed out loud during the whole book. They probably got sick of it.
BGE: There were such great quotes in the book...I also was laughing out loud many times!
BGE: The general opinion seems to be one of 'if we ignore 'the book' it will go away.
Leslie: Has anyone read his second book set in Venice, The City of Fallen Angels?
Palma: Yes. I liked "Midnight" better. We read it for a ST book chat last year. Less woven together plot. More like separate stories about people and situations in Venice.
Palma: Each chapter was a different story, but later some continued, and others didn't.
JohnFromAus: Someone asked about the CRC best book so far. I don't think it would be possible to determine that. What with the changes of people attending.
Leslie: Would you recommend this book to others?
Palma: Maybe we should rate each book on a 1-10 scale and get an average score. Yes. Not my favorite book, though.
JohnFromAus: I don't know if your 5 would mean the same as mine.
Palma: True, it is all subjective
Leslie: I judge all books by my all time favorite, Pride and Prejudice, which I would give a ten out of ten.
JohnFromAus: I would recommend the book. But it is forgettable.
BGE: http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/m/midnight-i...and-evil-script.html here's the link to the complete script of the movie, if you want to browse it. And, here is an interesting page... http://www.salon.com/music/sharps/1997/11/21sharps.html
Leslie: If you were rating this one Palma, how high would you go?
Palma: Maybe a 5 or 6 - better than average, but not OMG
JohnFromAus: I would rate it as "an entertaining read" but a lot of trivia. For when you want to indulge yourself with some light reading.
BGE: "I'm what they call nouveau riche," Williams says of his place in society. "But then, it's the riche that counts." I'd rate it 8.5, because it was entertaining, maybe because I'd already seen the movie.
Sheena: Hi, I haven't read the book - just came by to say hi and see if you guys were chatting about Savannah
Palma: We have been.
BGE: Wish we could shrink our world every week and get together in the same room....

2007-04-27 18:38

Now, have a look at Kaydee's excellent research information, here.