Purchase of the Book
I got this book through somewhat coincidence. Indocomtech, one of the Indonesia biggest computer and technology fair, was held in JCC two weeks ago. My company, online game company, participated in the fair and opened two stands – one with speedy and another with PCPlus. I was on duty in PCPlus stand. Cried for the misfortune I have to endure, I reluctant to go, but then I show some enjoyment knowing that in JCC held two kind of fair. The other one was Indonesia Book Fair.
Now I enjoyed looking around in Indocomtech fair, things I did during my breaks. Tech gadgets were so sophisticated and enjoyed having tried them like various headset in ‘Seinhesser’ stand. However the true enjoyment and pleasure were looking around the Book Fair. Various books especially imported books were sold in very low price. Usually hard cover novels range from 200 thousand above in normal bookstore like Times or Kinokunia, but in here you can get it from 50 thousand and less the 100 thousand... what a bargain. Before long I have made up my mind that I need to hunt and buy books.
Then on the first day, I found a book that I have heard about. It is Midnight in Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. It is a hard cover books and sold for only 50 thousand rupiah. I decided to buy it and later found out I had spent 50 thousands and got more value than that.
Story of the Book
The story is about a writer who came to the city of Savannah and was looking for inspiration on writing a novel. There he met with various kinds of people such as: members from several of society club, a funny black drag queen, a fail inventor with deadly poison, a male host/piano playing/con artist, a voodoo priestess, emotional unstable hustler, pride antique dealer etc. He met them, encounter the good in them and also the not so good in the people of Savannah.
The second part of the book tells about the murder trial over the killing of the male hustler by the antique dealer. It tells about the trial and how it affects the Savannah people.
Opinion of the Book
I only read this book once; maybe reread it in the future. When I read it, I felt the obvious pattern, maybe a theme of the Book which is pretense or two sides. Every character in this book seems to have a good side and the bad side. Well maybe not all good and bad side but two side nonetheless. Take Danny Hansford for example. Throughout the book he described as this violent young man. People have low opinion of him and compare to an animal. Readers will also confuse in why Jim Williams what to be accompanied by Danny. But later, during some hoodoo ritual, Jim Williams told something good about Danny and us for the first time able to see the good quality of Danny Hansford.
Another look maybe Lee Adler. How he brag about his contribution in the community, the awards he got and compliment he received. However he was scorned by his own community on his back. Or maybe Luther Diggers. A fail inventor and seems hardly dangerous. However he is known by the community about for his inner demon. He is in possession of lethal poisons and may poison the city water.
There are many things that make this pretense and two side charecter. One of them is sense of pride. And its not only the people but alo the city as a whole. How the city take pride of the old days and ways and refuse the modern ways. Pride about the city past glory and didnt realize the damages in the society.
Last I just want to say that buying this book is a great decision. You can enjoy it as a fun reading, laugh and wonder about uniqnes of the characters. Or take it serious and dig deep in the history of Savannah and learn about the facade in the society. I really recomend this book.
