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John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil has been heralded as a "lyrical work of nonfiction," and the book's extremely graceful prose depictions of some of Savannah, Georgia's most colorful eccentrics--remarkable characters who could have once prospered in a William Faulkner novel or Eudora Welty short story--were certainly a critical factor in its tremendous success. (One resident into whose orbit Berendt fell, the Lady Chablis, went on to become a minor celebrity in her own right.) But equally important was Berendt's depiction of Savannah socialite Jim Williams as he stands trial for the murder of Danny Hansford, a moody, violence-prone hustler--and sometime companion to Williams--characterized by locals as a "walking streak of sex." So feel free to call it a "true crime classic" without a trace of shame.
Book Description
Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty,early morning hours of May 2, 1981. Was it murder or self-defense? For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss-hung oaks and shaded squares. John Berendt's sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative reads like a thoroughly engrossing novel, and yet it is a work of nonfiction. Berendt skillfully interweaves a hugely entertaining first-person account of life in this isolated remnant of the Old South with the unpredictable twists and turns of a landmark murder case.
It is a spellbinding story peopled by a gallery of remarkable characters: the well-bred society ladies of the Married Woman's Card Club; the turbulent young redneck gigolo; the hapless recluse who owns a bottle of poison so powerful it could kill every man, woman, and child in Savannah; the aging and profane Southern belle who is the "soul of pampered self-absorption"; the uproariously funny black drag queen; the acerbic and arrogant antiques dealer; the sweet-talking, piano-playing con artist; young blacks dancing the minuet at the black debutante ball; and Minerva, the voodoo priestess who works her magic in the graveyard at midnight. These and other Savannahians act as a Greek chorus, with Berendt revealing the alliances, hostilities, and intrigues that thrive in a town where everyone knows everyone else.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a sublime and seductive reading experience. Brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, this enormously engaging portrait of a most beguiling Southern city has become a modern classic.
Customer Reviews:
oustanding read.......2007-09-21
This was a very well written and funny historical book. Inspired my recent trip to Savannah Georiga, to actualy visit some of the places described in the book.
Hello Savannah!.......2007-09-18
One of my favorite books. I am one of the few that actually liked the movie as well as the book. The book goes into great detail much more then the movie. The characters are so crazy I actually considered moving to Savannah...seriouly! An excellent read, highly recommended!
Nothing special.......2007-09-03
First, the characters are somewhat interesting in the way that many alcoholic, affluent types are, but the storyline never weaves them together in a way that makes the book itself intersting. Second, the author is trying to strike a balance between 1. historic integrity and theme, 2. his first account experiences, and 3. what might make for an interesting read. I think he relies heavily on his first account experinces at the expense of history and an interesting story. My real motivation for finishing the book was to see if I knew any of the characters - I grew up not far from Savannah.
Non Fiction.......2007-09-03
Truth is stranger than fiction.
The bizarre cast of characters in Savannah, Geporgia, or thereabouts has to be seen to be believed. This is probably why it makes a decent book, as any novelist would have been happy to come up with stuff as whacky as guys walking invisible dogs, and other oddities, as well as having an interesting murder mystery in the middle of it.
Plenty of Evil, but "Good?".......2007-09-03
So, having survived my 10 and 11 year old daughters' recent Girl Scvout trip to Savannah for the pilgrimage to visit the Juliette Low birthplace, the troop leader(one of my best friends)and I decided to revisit the book we read a few years ago for our book group. I didn't really like it much the first time. I enjoy nonfiction, but I've come to since learn this book isn't all "non fiction" anyway. Lots of artistic license taken here!
Savannah is a beautiful old city, very historic and charming. I usually first think of Ellen O'Hara when I think of Savannah, being a big GWTW fan. BUt while on my first trip to Savannah, the Mercer name and Jim Williams' name as well is mentioned over and over on various tours of the city and local cemetaries. You can't help but be reminded of the book, especially if you've read it before your visit. It had been a few years though, so not all the locations/squares of the various famous homes mentioned in the book were very fresh in my mind.
The book itself is a montage of "Life in Savannah." Jim Williams, the "Lady" Chablis, Danny Hansford, Lee Adler, Minerva, Jim Odom and Mandy, Luther Driggers and Serrena Dawes, The Married Ladies' Club and Sonny Seiler are interesting enough characters. My problem with the whole story was really that I didn't like or feel any sympathy with any of these characters. Except maybe Uga. I'm partial to English Bulldogs. But really, there was no plot, except for the killing of Hansford and the subsequent trials of Jim Williams. I found little to laugh at concerning Chablis; in fact I was not a little repulsed by her behavior. I can handle a drag queen, but so ill mannered and ill behaved! I wouldn't want to be aquainted with anyone like that! I didn't really like John Berendt's "character" either. I guess the voyeuristic tone was supposed to be engaging, but I really had a difficult time getting through this book for a second time without falling asleep.
Every city has its characters and intrigues, even small historical ones, like Savannah. If you go, visit Bonaventure Cemetary--it truly is a beautiful and haunting place. Forget about Williams and Hansford and the "Lady" Chablis, though. Don't let their spirits ruin your visit to a lovely historical city. The intrigues that went on in the founding and growth of the city (i.e. the ban on liquor, lawyers and Catholics, the pirates, the Gordon and Low families, literary greats Flannery O'Conner and Conrad Aiken, [who did get cursory mention in the book] the Civil War history as the gift the city became to save itself, etc.) are much more interesting than the Peyton Place soap opera presented in this rather sullying book. Not bad writing, but a little dull, if you ask me. I just wasn't all that interested in these folks and their problems. They seemed to be dedicated to creating them.
Book Description
While traveling alone from Richmond, Virginia, to New York City, Poe disappeared for nearly a week. When seen again he was terribly drunk and nearly dead in Baltimore. In the hospital, four days later, after periods of raving delirium, he died. The immediate cause of death given was "congestion of the brain." At first no one seriously doubted that Poe died from drunken debauchery. However, Poe adherents suggested many theories of a physical nature about precipitating causes but no one has seroiusly probed the mystery of the missing week . . . until now.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting Book But Not Convincing.......2007-08-23
While certainly an enjoyble read and very well researched,John Evangelist Walsh's book 'Midnight Dreary' does not present an utterly convincing case as to the cause of Edgar Allan Poe's death.
I really did enjoy reading this book and it does present a nice picture of Poe's final days.The real problem is that Walsh's theory is really to dependant on a certain amount of speculation,and as another reviewer noted Walsh seems to bend the facts to make it fit his theory rather then the other way round,like assuming Poe's visit to John Sartain was in fact in October instead of July of 1849 as Sartain said.Well its obvious a certain amount of speculation is needed to come up with any idea as to how Poe died as there are simply not enough established facts as to what occured during those 5 days that Poe was missing and the events surrounding it to say for certain what occured then.That being said the speculation in this book does go a bit over board and is based it seems on mainly cicrumstancial evidence.As for Walsh suggesting certain people in those times where in fact mistaken or lied about the dates that things happened,well thats just unacceptable.
If you want a decent account of Poe's final days and another theory as to how the man died this book is worth reading however if what you seek is a book to put forth a truly convincing theory on Poe's death this book will be a bit of a disapointment
Another theory on Poe's demise.Follow the tale of Poe's moustache.was it there or wasn't it?.......2007-08-21
An interesting Poe murder theory.true Poe did make alot of enemies and even if it is gossip it can still hurt a persons reputation,especially if the gossipers themselves are socially prominent,"In my opinion of course Mr.Poe is a(gold digging,womanizing,drunkard-personally i respect the mans' works but can't stand him as a person)"The book spends some time going over alot of these rumours that even if untrue do seem to stick.Silverman in his book suggested that Poe may have been impotent,but this work turns him into a probable lecher(all rumour however)I am convinced that he was engaged to Elmira Shelton(a wealthy widow and childhood sweetheart of Poe) at the time of his Baltimore/Richmond/ Philly mishaps.Poe's ego would make him feel justified in such a high stake game for after all as poe would remind one,"I wrote "The Raven" .The book strongly suggests that Ms. Shelton"s 3 brothers were anything but impressed with Mr. Poe and may have engineered his unfortunate mishaps resulting in his demise.The Shelton brothers and both of Elmira Sheltons'adult children wanted nothing to do with Poe and may have seen his engagement as an attempt by Poe to "land a cash cow" for his pet projects.It's all speculation but it could fit as logically as the bunk about the election day "cooping" which the author proves false to at least my satisfaction.the pictures in the book all relate to this detective story. Is the stern face of Elmira Shelton the result of a stern Puritanic faith or is she hiding a terrible secret?Kissinger always said "even the true paranoic has real enemies",and Poe would definitely have made headlines for todays tabloids.Remember he married his 13 year old first cousin and then the rumours of alcohol and opiates not to mention the harsh criticisms of other writers that could be studied by those wishing to give "the perfect insult"..I always theorized that maybe Poe had a diabetic episode in Baltimore that left him at the mercy of urban predators who stole his clothes,then beat and robbed him.It never entered my mind before reading this book that maybe someone was hired for the job and Poe became only too aware of it.DT's have little to nothing to do with this book.It is a detective story that Poe himself would have been proud to write.
An odd theory in book form.......2007-04-23
What kills John E. Walsh's book is that he spends the first half of his book debunking others for their half-cooked theories on Poe's death and their basis on speculation rather than evidence. The second half of the book is Walsh's own half-cooked theory on Poe's death based on speculation rather than evidence.
And to the "doc" who posted: many doctors have considered this case over the past 150 years and each has come up with a different final answer. His alcoholism is not a fact and is in wide dispute, and he may have been sober for at least a year before his death. Case closed...?
D.T.'s KILLED HIM........2006-03-09
An interesting book, but tell a physician the following scenario: alcoholic is found in tavern, dressed in tattered clothes (probably sold his original suit to buy more booze),
placed in a hospital where he has no further access to alcohol,
then dies raving three or four days later - and he will tell you that the patient died of delerium tremens (DT's). This is the withdrawal syndrome from ethanol and three to four days is just about right for it to kick in. It has a mortality rate of 15% if not treated with IV's and medication (none of this in mid-nineteenth century). Ironically, if his friend had kept Mr. Poe drinking, he would have survived - at least temporarily. You do not need a convoluted thesis of homicide here, folks.
Interesting and Compelling.......2003-11-24
Those who take issue with John Evangelist Walsh's "Midnight Dreary" are, I think, missing the point. Certainly, there is truth to the suggestion that this is two books, one, a detailed recreation of the last days of Poe and two, the author's attempt to make sense of the random data and form a reasonable explanation.
In the first instance, Walsh succeeds beyond one's expectations. I ahve read dozens of biographies of Poe and have not come across a good deal of this material. Letters, journal entries, recollections of personal interviews - Walsh succeeds in bringing extant material to light.
In the second endeavor, Walsh has not been as successful. In my opinion, he falls into every theorists greatest trap - attempting to bend the facts to fit his hypothesis. In several cases, Walsh accuses his subjects of faulty memory and/or outright embellishment. "Such and such can not have occurred on this date, but if we assume that the wrier was incorrect and it actually occurred on blah-blah date, then it all makes sense." No. No and no. As observers of history, we do not have the luxury of assuming those who lived it were forgetful liars.
Nonetheless, this IS an interesting book and it is a treasure trove of data for those interested in Poe's death. Additionally, it is written in an interesting, conversational style that I found quite readable. I enjoyed this book, as a reader and as an historian.
Customer Reviews:
EASY NIGHTIME READING .......2005-10-12
EVEN THOUGH THIS STORY WAS "LIGHT" READING, I ALWAYS FIND ELLIOT ROOSEVELT'S WRITING ENTERTAINING WITH ENOUGH INTRIGUE TO MAKE THE BEDTIME RITUAL OF READING PLEASANT. THE TOUCHES OF HISTORY MAKE IT ALL THE MORE FUN.
Murder of a Scoundrel.......2001-07-23
In 1933, Franklin Roosevelt, new President of the United States, brought a "Brain Trust" of eminent people to Washington to find ways to end the Great Depression that was destroying the nation. Judge Horace Carter, a member of the Brain Trust, is murdered in the White House. Police arrest a maid, but Eleanor Roosevelt doubts her guilt. Investigation reveals that Judge Blackwell was a sexual sadist, with many people wishing him dead. But using the discarded Bertillon method of identification, Eleanor Roosevelt finds the murderer. It is a racier and faster-moving tale than many in this series, but it still gives us a window to view that long-ago time and its people. If you would like a fascinating mystery that gives you a thoroughly enjoyable insight into the early 1930's, this is the book for you.
An old, dear and familiar friend.......1997-05-18
In 1933, Judge Horace Blackwell, friend and personal advisor to the
president, is found murdered in the White House. Police make a quick arrest
since the evidence points towards a black housekeeper Sara Carter, who swears
she is innocent. The First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, believes that Sara is
telling the truth and decides to investigate.
...... Eleanor quickly learns that Horace was not the squeaky clean judge that
his image portrayed. Instead, he was a vicious womanizer. Several people
surface who had legitimate gripes and grudges with the Judge. However,
things turns nasty when a second murder occurs, making everyone wonder how
safe is Franklin in the White House? Eleanor plans to insure her spouse's
safety by uncovering the identity of the killer even if it places her won
life at risk.
...... The entire Eleanor Roosevelt mystery novels (sixteen in all) are a lot of
fun to read. Though the who-done-its are well designed, it is the presence
of famous historical figures including such notables as Gertrude Stein, James
Thurber, and Babe Ruth, etc. that brings the Depression Era DC into a lively
perspective. Elliott Roosevelt, who died several years ago, has written a
fabulous mystery that posthumously should garner him new fans.
......Harriet Klausner
Average customer rating:
- OH ALICE WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!?!
- Not for me
- Huge Disappointment
- Laymon's 'Secret' Message is in this book......
- 2 AND 1/2 STARS
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After Midnight
Richard Laymon
Manufacturer: Leisure Books
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 084395180X |
Customer Reviews:
OH ALICE WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!?!.......2007-08-12
The shock value in laymons After midnight is very high due to the behavior of it's main character....It's the story of a paranoid girl in her twentys named alice whos enjoying a friends house while there on vacation.......The whole story is being told as alice is writeing it but her real name isn't alice and she has alot more surprises for you too...Theres a situation at the house and alice ends up accidentally killing someone, but it wouldn't be the first time....This is a pretty complex story so it's a bit hard to try and tell you some of whats going on here, but it's definately worth picking up and finding out...I loved after midnight because it's just to wacky to be true. Laymon scores again!
Not for me.......2007-02-13
I tend to be amused by Laymon's female characters - I don't know any woman who acts or thinks the way these do, which makes for some entertaining reading. However, this one was over the top. I never made it past page 10 or so. I tried skipping ahead, but mostly I got frustrated with the main character and wanted to bop her over the head & tell her to shut up. The 1st person POV didn't help any. This is one I wish would just go away quietly.
Huge Disappointment.......2007-01-29
It's hard to explain exactly how horrible I think the female heroine was written in this book. I can not believe any female would ever act as she had in her position. This heroine had no brain in her head. She got turned on by a trespasser rubbing himself up against a window naked yet thinking about how he was such a disgusting pervert. Understanding that this girl only has a quarter of a brain in her head but to not call the police even though she thought about it was idiotic and that includes her thinking she was safer with her carrying the sword and then blaming someone else for her killing a person. This heroine had a mentality of a 12 year old. I'm normally a fan of Richard Laymon's books but this is one I definitely could have done with out. The two books I have read where he has female heroines have just been horrible.
Laymon's 'Secret' Message is in this book.............2006-12-13
The English language editions of this book (published by Leisure in the US and Headline in the UK) contain a secret message which is refered to in the body of the book. To discover the secret message, you simply need to read the first letter from each chapter (including the introduction chapter) to unearth 'Alice's message. So, to get the ball rolling from the Intro, the first letter is H, the 1st chapter = I, 2nd = M, 3rd = Y, 4th = N, 5th = A, 6th = M, 7th = E.... etc
so from the intro chapter and chapters 1-7 it reads HI MY NAME .... the rest of the message... I guess you'll have to read the book, but its a nice little extra that Laymon incorporated into this book, and this book alone! Its not his best novel, Alice, acts in a way which very few people would but its a fair read and definitely worthy of any Laymonite's attention. Grab a copy today!
2 AND 1/2 STARS.......2006-11-28
For me, this is Richard Laymon's weakest book. The unlikable main character, Alice, makes the reader not care about her dangerous situations. After a few chapters, you keep wondering how this much bad luck can happen to one person over the course of a couple days. It's too implausible. With all that being said, this book probably has more sex than any of his previous works, so it's definitely not for kids. Give IN THE DARK, ISLAND, or THE TRAVELING VAMPIRE SHOW a read first.
Average customer rating:
- Not the usual Dallas fare
- Sorry, not for me
- My new favorite Sandra Dallas book!!
- Power of women friendship
- The reason Southern men are fascinated by Northern Women
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Buster Midnight's Cafe
Sandra Dallas
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Book Description
May Anna Kovacks was discovered on the dustry streets of Butte, Montana and went on to become a Hollywood star. War, fame, marriage, love, and heartbreak came and went. What never changed was the bond she shared with her two best friends, Effa Commander and Whippy Bird. When scandal, murder, and betrayal made a legend of May Anna, only Effa and Whippy Bird could set the record straight.
Customer Reviews:
Not the usual Dallas fare.......2006-02-18
I liked this book, but I didn't pass it on to my reading buddies. I felt the characters were less convincing than most created by Dallas, and I didn't feel a real affinity for any of them. I don't regret reading it, but a quick read and a shrug at the end is all it was worth to me.
Sorry, not for me.......2005-03-05
This is our reading group's March selection--otherwise, I'd not have stayed with it. It simply seemed too contrived, from the names (Whippy Bird, Effa Commander--always use the whole name!, Bumbo, Moon, and so forth), to the oh-so-tragic ending of movie star Marion Street. I felt manipulated, after having read nearly 3/4 of the book, to finally encounter the crime and scandal, only to see it brushed over in a very few pages. And then we never exactly find out the true story--who ends up protecting whom in the scandal? For a story purporting to tell the "real story," this one falls short.
My new favorite Sandra Dallas book!!.......2004-07-31
I have now read all of Sandra Dallas' books, and this one was by far my favorite. I loved reading about Effa Commander, Whippy Bird, May Anna and the rest of the gang. They're such a fun bunch.
This book is about Effa Commander and Whippy Bird getting out the true story about the lives of their two best friends Marion Street (May Anna) and Buster Midnight. May Anna grew up to be a famous Hollywood starlet and Buster a champion boxer. This is mainly their tale, but we also get to learn about Effa and Whippy.
Hollywood has tarnished the reputation of Buster Midnight after a grissly murder involving he and May Anna, and Effa and Whippy Bird are tired of it. So they've decided to 'set the record straight' and let everyone know the real Marion Street and Buster Midnight. How they grew up, what they we're like and the relationship between all of them. And it's quite a story!
This is a really hard book to put down. If your a fan of Ms. Dallas you'll LOVE this story. I was very sad to see it end. I really recommend this book, and only hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
Power of women friendship.......2004-05-28
Sandra Dallas likes to write about woman companionship, the famous "sisterhood" described by other writers who like to use fancier terms. Dallas describes the "force" of this companionship in many of her books as what seems to give women power to move on in spite life hardships. One can bear a lot, as long as you have a friend to share it with.
This is the story of Effa Commander from Butte, Montana who decided together with Whippy Bird, her life long friend (anyone who really knows her will never call her just Whippy) to set the record straight and tell the truth about May Anna Kovaks and Buster Midnight, their third best friend, a famous movie star and her high school sweet heart, a boxing champ.
Sandra Dallas draws a tale who takes a while getting into, but once inside you get hooked. We accompany the "unholy three" along the important stages of their lives where they remain faithful, caring and non-judgmental towards each other.
Sandra Dallas is an expert in capturing and transforming characters - tones of speech, expressions, voices and places. The real pleasure however is not really the story of May Anna and her success but the "simple" life story of the long friendship between Effa Commander and Whippy Bird. There is something very reassuring and comforting about the story of this friendship and the ability to see it stable and unchanging through the years. I believe that this and Dallas bitter - sweet writing ability are really what makes the charm of this book.
The reason Southern men are fascinated by Northern Women.......2003-05-08
This is not one of those southern novels that are written to be sold one after the other.(Adrianna and Fannie etc. etc.) Those looking for that kind of drivel may be dissapointed as this is a real book about real people...Think was first fiction written by author published in 1990. Stories like this may not need to be set up- just written the way they happened so can be believed except for the last page when the 70 year old author decked another author who dared to write as if he knew what had really happend.Gotta admit even I found that a stretch of the imagination
Book Description
"Many people who have been harmed or wronged often feel that to respond with non-violence and forgiveness is to be weak. As Katy Hutchison reveals here, to forgive and seek reconciliation not only requires even more strength than a resort to force or retaliation, but also ensures deeper, more far-reaching beneficial consequences for all concerned. I am sure her remarkable story will serve as an inspiration to others by beset by grief and loss as she was." -The Dalai Lama
On New Year's Eve, 1997, Bob McIntosh left his family and friends at the dinner table to check on a disturbance at a neighbor's house. He never came home. Savagely beaten by an unknown assailant, McIntosh died that night at a local hospital, leaving behind his wife and twin four-year olds.
While authorities searched for McIntosh's killer, his wife, author Katy Hutchison, began the slow process of rebuilding a life for her children and herself. Refusing to be defined by her husband's murder, she moved to a different town, pursued a new career, and eventually remarried-but, with questions about her husband's death still unanswered, the healing Hutchison longed for was slow in coming.
In the spring of 2002, authorities arrested a young man named Ryan Aldrigde for the murder of Bob McIntosh. On hearing the news, Hutchison startled investigators by asking to meet the man who had killed her husband. She didn't take satisfaction in seeing Aldridge in custody, nor did she want to rail against him for the harm he had inflicted on her and her family. Instead, she wanted to learn from him why he had attacked McIntosh and what she could do to help stop incidents like it from happening again. In a letter she sent to Aldridge after his arrest, Hutchison offered this remarkable sentiment:
"All I want for you is what you took from Bob-a happy and productive life."
Walking After Midnight tells a story at turns devastating and triumphant, a unique exploration of one woman's courageous response to tragedy that challenges our expectations about grief and loss. It's an inspiring account of the power of forgiveness, compassion, and a different kind of justice.
"An excellent primer for handling loss with intelligence and dignity…an antidote to the endless cycles of violence that consume too many lives and too many countries." -Frederic Luskin, Ph.D., author of Forgive for Good and director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects
"A remarkable story of tragedy and transcendence. Not everyone who walks this road will make the choices Hutchison did, but all will recognize the intersections and obstacles she encounters along the way. And no one who reads this story can dismiss the authenticity and passion with which it is told." -Howard Zehr, founding theorist of restorative justice, professor of restorative justice at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding of Eastern Mennonite University and author of Changing Lenses
Customer Reviews:
A popular pick for any public lending library........2007-03-12
On New Year's Eve in 1997 a father left his dinner table to check on a disturbance at a neighbor's house - and never came back. He was killed by an unknown assailant and left behind his wife - author Katy Hutchison - and twin four-year-olds. Katy moved to a different town, made a life for herself, remarried - but always lived with questions about her husband's murder, until in 2002 police arrested a suspect. Her decision to meet with the man who had killed her husband led to new revelations and makes WALKING AFTER MIDNIGHT a powerful autobiography of true crime and redemption that will be a popular pick for any public lending library.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Walking after Midnight.......2007-01-08
Katy shares her poignant story about the murder of her husband and the reconciliation with Ryan, the young adult responsible for her husbands' death. Together, Katy and Ryan now speak to international audiences about the positive affect reconciliation and forgiveness has on their lives and those around them; and the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse. Katy's work introduces and supports victim/perpetrator reconciliation programs in prisons.
The book underscores one of the most important messages to humans today: that the power found in forgiveness and reconciliation removes emotional turmoil and the pain of hurt from our lives and is a guiding path to personal growth. Katy also shows us how responsible ownership for behavior releases us from self-guilt, giving freedom to embrace every day.
Without a doubt, the book illuminates how forgiveness from within can and does have the power to change our attitude and impact those around us.
A Powerful Story but the Writing Could be Better.......2006-12-03
In a world where an "eye for an eye," and a "tooth for a tooth" is often the law of the land, it is a welcomed relief to read a book about forgiveness and reconciliation, especially after a horrendous act of murder. A young man who was drunk at the time brutally and senselessly murdered Katy Hutchinson's first husband, Bob, on New Year's Eve in 1997. No one could have faulted the author had she called for the full force of the law to come down on the killer and send him away to prison for life. Instead, she reaches out to him and through numerous personal contacts seeks to understand what led him to kill her husband, helps him to come to grips with his past, make amends, and begin his life anew in a productive manner. Her basic philosophy is that it is senseless to destroy another life over this incident; there has already been enough hurt on the part of her husband, her, and her children. Mrs. Hutchinson shows that forgiveness while not easy is possible after tragic and painful events, and that it is possible for a young man who killed to begin reconstructing his life in a positive way. It is worth the time to read the book to realize that the way to end violence is not with more violence, but with redemptive love.
My criticisms of the book lie not with Mrs. Hutchinson's experience or motivations but with the way in which it was written. The great Russian writer, Franz Kafka, said that if you are going to put a gun on the mantle piece in the beginning of your story, someone has got to use the gun before the end of the story. He was referring to the fact that you don't introduce ideas or characters and then not deal with them. "Walking After Midnight" introduces many situations that never are fully dealt with or resolved. As a reader who does not know the author, I am left wondering why she said some of the things she did.
For example, shortly after her husband's murder she moves from Squamish, British Columbia to Vancouver Island with her children. Her first husband's law partner recommends an attorney, Michael Hutchison, in Vancouver to handle her legal matters. In the course of their meetings, they fall love and are married nine months after her husband is killed. The author indicates that some of her friends and her mother feel uneasy over her relationship with and subsequent marriage to Michael. She says on page 103, "...those who know me well will assuage their fears by reflecting on my history of good decision making. The rest of the world will not see it that way. I don't care..." What she is doing here is bringing to the reader's attention that the people who know her the best are not embracing this relationship. However, she does not show the reader how that reaction is affecting her. Does it make her angry or does it create doubts in her own mind about her impending wedding? How does she resolve this lack of enthusiasm? She says that her friends should trust her knowing her good decision making in the past and for the rest of us, she doesn't care. That does not resolve the issue. Good decision making in the past is no guarantee of future good decisions, and it tells the reader to mind his or her own business, which I find to be disrespectful of the reader.
The other issue this raises is why bring Michael into the memoir at all. The memoir is really about her husband's murder, her grief, her need to take care of her five-year old twins, and the reconciliation with Ryan Aldridge, the young man who killed her husband. Why not just stay with that story? A memoir does not have to tell the whole story. I'm sure she wanted to bring Michael in because of the love they have for each other and she wanted to honor him. However, from a purely literary point of view, it gets in the way of the real story and raises too many questions that act as a distraction to the main story. Her relationship with Michael could be another memoir.
Lastly, I never quite understand why restorative justice is so important to the author. She mentions that her father before he left a room would look around to see if anything needed doing. She says that that behavior instilled in her a sense of responsibility to clean up after herself and those around her. She then transfers that learning to cleaning up after her husband's murder, which involves the reconciliation with Ryan. But is that all there is to it? Why is cleaning up so important? Why does she have clean up other peoples' messes? Can't they take care of themselves? In her own life and work did she see the awful affects that hate can have on people? Perhaps she was a victim of that hate herself, which made her determined never to hate another person. Or maybe she was the recipient of love and forgiveness for something that she had done wrong and wanted others to experience the same. In other words, what in her life led her to value restorative justice? Was it just her father picking up things in a room? That sounds simplistic for a complex and counterintuitive idea such as restorative justice. I think that if we knew more about how this attitude developed in her, it could be used to help develop it in others.
In spite of my critique (and please remember I am only dealing with the method and style of writing), I think it is a powerful story, and my only wish for the author, her family, and Ryan Aldridge is for peace, happiness, and fulfillment in life.
Book Description
Her family's cottage on the New Jersey shore was a place of freedom and innocence for Julie Bauer--until tragedy struck when her seventeen-year-old sister, Isabel, was murdered.
It's been more than forty years since that August night, but Julie's memories of her sister's death still color her world, causing turmoil in her relationships with her teenage daughter, Shannon, and her mother, Maria.
Now an unexpected phone call from someone in her past raises questions about what really happened that night. Questions about Julie's own complicity, about a devastating secret her mother kept from them all. Questions about the man who went to prison for Izzy's murder--and about the man who didn't.
Now Julie must harness the courage to revisit her past and untangle the shattering emotions that led to one unspeakable act of violence on the bay at midnight.
With her flawless ability to craft unforgettably real characters, Diane Chamberlain gives readers a simmering, evocative novel about the secrets that families keep. . .and the haunting legacies they leave behind.
Customer Reviews:
A Definite Keeper!!.......2007-09-14
Up all night!! What an amazing writer! This is my 3rd book by this author and they just keep getting better. Definitely not a one dimentional book, you are put inside the mind of every character. I love the way they each look back and uncover their involvement in Isabel's death. The family emotions, the personal struggles, and how our past actions in life always circle back around. Highly recommended!!
Not sure what book everyone else read...........2007-08-29
I generally love Diane Chamberlain, and own all of her books (and have re-read them multiple times). This book just did not hit the mark with me. I got about a quarter of the way through it and realized I just did not care AT ALL about these characters, about the mystery and about the book. Stopped reading immediately because I realized that my time was better spent elsewhere.
ANOTHER WINNER.......2007-01-26
This book will make you laugh and cry. Storyline and characters are believable. Ms Chamberlain at her best. A page turner!!!
Life comes full circle-sometimes.......2006-10-15
Not only does C. Chamberlain give us a love story, a mystery, etc., she reminds us of what it was like "way back when"...also...a story that comes full circle. She has done it again, and I can't write enough about her books. This one is one of my favorites...who would have thought that after SO many years, a mystery would be solved???
Still disturbing.......2006-01-04
I am still disturbed several days after I've finished this book, even after reading another. I don't know what bothers me the most. The cavalier way the characters dismiss the racism inherent (and I'm not giving away the mystery) in the conviction and death of a falsely accused black teen-aged boy -- or the cavalier way the author uses it as a plot device, only tied up by the most cursory scene.
The book's mystery is rewarding, the author's use of the first person is not.
Book Description
In 1900, Margaret Hossack, the wife of a prominent Iowa farmer, was arrested for bludgeoning her husband to death with an ax while their children slept upstairs. The community was outraged: How could a woman commit such an act of violence? Firsthand accounts describe the victim, John Hossack, as a cruel and unstable man. Perhaps Margaret Hossack was acting out of fear. Or perhaps the story she told was true—that an intruder broke into the house, killed her husband while she slept soundly beside him, and was still on the loose. Newspapers across the country carried the story, and community sentiment was divided over her guilt. At trial, Margaret was convicted of murder, but later was released on appeal. Ultimately, neither her innocence nor her guilt was ever proved.
Patricia Bryan and Thomas Wolf examine the harsh realities of farm life at the turn of the century and look at the plight of women—legally, socially, and politically—during that period. What also emerges is the story of early feminist Susan Glaspell, who covered the Hossack case as a young reporter and later used it as the basis for her acclaimed work “ A Jury of Her Peers.”
Midnight Assassin expertly renders the American character and experience: our obsession with crime, how justice is achieved, and the powerful influence of the media.
Customer Reviews:
Great Read!.......2007-05-17
I bought this book because of my love of true crime. What I came away with was much more than a story of an ax murder in 1900 Iowa. The author's paint a vivid picture of the dismal life and the hardships of the wive's of farmers during this era, and the farmer's themselves, as they weave their story with true accounts of the actual investigation and trial.
Midnight Assassin is an easy read and real page turner. What I wasn't expecting was the portrait of desperation, fear and isolation that made this book so much more than a true crime story. "Little House on the Praire" this was not and is a must read!
One of the best books I've read in a long time!.......2006-11-10
This book was of extreme interest from beginning to end. I love true crime stories, so the legal and moral aspects were the reason I purchased this book, but I found a secondary reason as soon as I started reading it. I am also interested in genealogy and my ancestors came to Iowa the same time as the Hossacks and they lived less than 45 miles apart. The authors' descriptions and stories of their lives and the everyday living of the farmers of the area were amazing. I felt like I was there, experiencing their lives, and their trials. Whenever a book can make me feel as if I am actually there, while it is happening, it is well worth the read.
Midnight Assasin.......2006-07-19
Excellent story told here, with a mix of history of farming life in the midwest in early 1900s, law, civil rights and the mystery of the murder. It keeps your interest with the who-done-it story line and the tease of incomplete information coming from crime scene research and from the witnesses at the trial. I recommend it.
The Dark Side of Little House on the Prairie.......2006-05-24
This is a well-written book that casts the reader back into the lives of prairie farmers at the beginning of the 20th century. It shows the dark side of Little House on the Prairie.
It is especially good at introducing the reader to the plight of many farm wives in that era. Through the trial of Margaret Hossack for the ax murder of her husband, we get a feel for the isolation and desperation of these women. The man a woman married was her whole lot in life. It was strictly the luck of the draw for her. If a husband turned out to be cold and abusive, as it seems Mr. Hossack was, his wife had little recourse but to suffer through it to the end. Although Margaret may not have suffered in complete silence, since there was ample evidence of how often she had rushed to her neighbors to complain of her husband's foul, dangerous moods - there was little anyone else could or would do to help. As this book keenly points out, the code of being a good housewife and a "lady" constrained women to their places and prevented others from interceding too effectively. The book poses the question - Did Mrs. Hossack ultimately engage in self help?
The book's other purpose is to juxtapose the lives of two women situated very differently in 1900. On the one hand, there is Mrs. Hossack, confined to her meager, loveless life on the prairie. On the other hand, there is Susan Glaspell, the liberated young reporter who covered Mrs. Hossack's first trial. I would have liked to have read more details about Glaspell's early career as a crime reporter in a man's world. But perhaps that would have been spreading the content of this book too thin. The author does circle back at the end of Midnight Assassin to provide a follow-up on Glaspell's writing career. Trifles, the play Glaspell eventually wrote, based loosely on the Hawkin's trial, has a heart-wrenching conclusion. It's worthwhile reading this book for that dramatic take on the caged lives of these farm women alone.
No pics :-(.......2005-10-31
It is a Cardinal Rule for this longtime reader and reviewer of "true crime" books (See my List - True Crime 101) that books of this genre *Must Have Pictures* - of the participants, the "scene," etc., for the reader to understand whither thou goest and wherefore. Although authors Bryan and Wolf have obviously and thoroughly researched time and place, the reader may not be as familiar, hence photos are essential and their absence gets this book docked one star. Tintypes were prevalently hawked by city street vendors and chroniclers of the battlefields by the American Civil War and the technology continued to improve. This case was an Iowa OJ of its day. So there were pictures. Yet all the reader of this fin de 19th siecle saga is provided is one paltry diagram of the house on the frontispiece. Nonetheless, the authors attempt to impart appropriate prose pictures of the not-so-bucolic life, death, and legacy of a domestically battered farm family in rural Iowa. Oh they had trouble! Right there past rivered cities! (See also *Lillian's Legacy: Marriage and Murder in Rural Iowa* by Carroll R. McKibbin, where, at least, the reader is provided a picture of Lillian on the cover.)
This sometimes engaging and engrossing true crime/sociological/historical retrospective often bogs down in extensive direct quotes of bad and archaic American English which the reader must take pains to interpret - impeding the flow. Then there is the authors' proclivity for wending off-stream to ponder Lizzie Borden and other contemporaneous women/defendants whose fates were determined by a jury of her victims' (not her own - as females were not allowed to serve as jurors at the time) peers.
All that considered, I'd rate this a 3 ½ - if we were allowed half points here. /TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer
Average customer rating:
- The Dead of Midnight
- Nearly right !
- Book Clubs, Coffee and Murders
- interesting, but somewhat strange mystery
|
The Dead of Midnight: A Mystery
Catherine Hunter
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0312308388 |
Book Description
Members of the Mystery au Lait Café book club can't get enough of the Midnight Mystery Series-until the books' terrifying crimes begin to happen for real in the quiet town where the club meets. Someone is imitating the Midnight Mystery murders and killing off the book club, one member at a time. Meanwhile, sales of the series skyrocket as attention is drawn to the books and to the club where the craze began.
When both the ex-wife and current girlfriend of local musician Peter Petursson are terrorized, many conclude that Peter's is the cruel hand behind the reenactments. But there are still leads to follow and evidence to be gathered . . .
Perhaps one of the book club members has a twisted side that just hasn't
shown itself over coffee and cookies at the meetings. Maybe the café owner is willing to lose a few loyal customers in exchange for a flurry of new ones. Or maybe the publisher simply knows good publicity when he sees it.
Customer Reviews:
The Dead of Midnight.......2004-08-22
Im a 14-year-old that lives in New York and this 360 page thrill ride caught from the very first sentence. It is a very interesting plot with the copy-cat murders. Yet the reveiling of the murderer caught me off guard, the most unexpected character in the story. I love how the descriptions were accurately executed enough to get you inside the reader's mind. This book takes a grip on the reader and does not let go. I recommend this book to anyone who likes crime investigations and a good mystery.
Nearly right !.......2003-11-26
A group of mystery story fans meets regularly to review the latest thrillers but when the plots of a particular author begin to play out in real life, and some of the book club members are murdered in the same style as those in the latest book, people really start to look over their shoulders.It's an interesting premise and though I believe that the author threw in too many unnecessary characters as red herrings, perhaps her style will improve with more experience.
Book Clubs, Coffee and Murders.......2002-12-27
Members of a book club hungrily read each installment of the Midnight Mystery Novels. The discussions are held at the local coffee book club and draw a big crowd. In this tightknit accidents and murders start to occur with similarities to the plot of each book. Sarah Peterson is the first victim and why recovers from her injuries she receives a call from the family lawyer. It seems her mother bequeath her journals and writings to her and she is to take delivery of them on her twenty fifth birthday. Soon after receiving them they are stolen and more accidents happen. Everyone has a motive or reason to cause
these acts to happen but who is copycatting the plots of the book. Hunter started out with a great plot idea, use a book club as a backdrop for murder. After that she has a hard time holding the plot together so she adds more characters and actions to move it along. This weighs the book down and makes it hard to accept the ending. As a debut novel she has good ideas and hopefully her next editor will have her write a tighter plot.
interesting, but somewhat strange mystery.......2002-09-14
The members of Winnipeg's Mystery Au Lait Cafe book club cannot get enough of the Midnight Mystery novels. However, the excitement that the series has brought turns to terror when someone decides life imitates art by killing off club members using scenes from the novels. The police look for the author Walter White without much success.
Accountant Sarah Petursson finds that someone steals recently found journals written by her mother. Still Sarah continues her search for her father's identity. Meanwhile reporter Cady Brown begins to close in on the agent of the mysterious White. Someone harasses Cady and Sarah with the only link between them being the latter's ex husband Peter who is the journalist's boyfriend. As the murder mystery and Sarah's personal search link, a ghost tries to guide her. Sales for the mystery novels explode and rumors abound that a new sixth book is being released. Everyone seeks clues inside the tales as no one wants to become the next victim.
THE DEAD OF MIDNIGHT is an interesting, but somewhat strange mystery tale that has a lot going for it, especially suspense, but contains too many red herrings that leave the audience somewhat confused at times. Still, Sarah is a wonderful protagonist and the club members are an intriguing group who start off as friends, but quickly suspect one another. Loaded with incredible layers of suspense, readers will find this is an engaging novel as Catherine Hunter hooks audience into wanting to know who is the killer, what happened to the journals, and does the sixth book, if it exists, contain clues to the next murder?
Harriet Klausner
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