Friday's Five

I am very excited to be involved in my first weekly meme. Friday's Five is a weekly list of five of my favourites, which has been started by the wonderful Steph at Steph's Stacks.

1. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

This is one of my all time favourites, which I actually reviewed in August. It is not often that you pick up a travel book and are dying to know what happens next. It is a fascinating non-fiction novel that combines crime with travel - you get a true story and learn about Savannah at the same time. The fact it spent 216 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list says alot. 

There was alot of talk around this book, which provided the quiet town of Savannah with a sudden burst of tourists. If you visit Savannah today, you will see that the presence of this book everywhere. Its power is similar to that of Twilight and the town of Forks and Harry Potter and England.

2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K Rowling

As a huge fan of the Harry Potter series, I loved the first book. It introduced us to Hogwarts and the world of magic. Harry, Ron and Hermione are so young and it is the first book readers relate to as we, just like Harry didnt know anything about the magical world.... after all we are just muggles. Without hesitation I can admit that J.K Rowling is also an amazing writer. I am sure I could read anything she writes.

3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 

Now this has nothing to do with the movie that has come out, I have always had a soft spot for this book. It is one of those that you never forget. What I admire in this novel is that it was written by a woman in a period where a story such as this was considered feminist; all because it explored a female characters thoughts and feelings.

The plot is exciting and not at all predictable and I love its gothic qualities. Most importantly, any girl can fall for Edward Rochester without trying.

4. Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov

Three Sisters is a great play that I had the pleasure not only to read but performed on stage in London. Watching it in the theatre is probably a hundred times better than on film. It is said that the story is partially inspired by the situation of the Bronte sisters, however there seems to be a list of multiple inspirations, so we might never know.

For those of you who have never heard of it before, it is a play about the upper class in Russia, following the lives and dreams of three sisters, Olga, Masha, Irina and their brother Andrei.

Unfortunately for the characters, dreams are just that... dreams. Even if you are part of the upper class society, life can be a struggle and the sisters get to realise this the hard way.

5. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Also known as The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic is the first in a series of books about Becky Bloomwood and her adventures in life and shopping. Sophie Kinsella, who also writes under her real name Madeleine Wickham describes what the majority of women today want - a great husband and lots and lots of shoes, clothes and handbags! The thing that makes this series entertaining is Becky is all over the place and her shopping antics get her in trouble wherever she goes.

Review: Midnight in The Garden of Good and Evil

Generally it is a good idea to read up on the town you are about to live in for University as you will be spending the next four years there. As I set off for a long flight to Savannah in the US, my mum gave me a copy of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It is not your typical city guide, it is by far the most fascinating non-fiction novel that combines great crime with travel.

"John Berendt's enthralling new book is an exotic cocktail: two hearty measures of travel-book whimsy mixed with a slug of real-life murder, a dollop of old world affluence and a sprinkling of off-centre sex... It's not hard to see why this has sent coachloads of tourists heading for the swampy Georgia coast."

- Robert Winder, Independent

"Berendt - and the reader - are in travel-writer heaven... This is a book which leaves you amused, spooked and introduced to a new piece of America."

- Mark Lawson, Independent on Sunday

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is based on real events from the 1980's in Savannah and is one of the most popular non-fiction releases of all time. It is written by John Berendt and became such a hit that it led to a movie being produced by Clint Eastwood starring Kevin Spacey and John Cucask as the main characters Jim Williams and John Kelso.

The book itseld is based on true stories, primarily focusing on the murder of a local male prostitute named Danny Hansford, by millionaire and well respected antiques dealer Jim Williams. It is told from the point of John Kelso, a New York Journalist who is hired to write a story on Jim Williams annual Christmas party in Savannah. It is extremely unpredictable and entertaining.

While the novel focuses on a murder that occurs, it also introduces readers to life in Savannah and notable residents, past and present; from musician Johnny Mercer to the Lady Chablis; a local drag queen and entertainer. Chablis brings life and light hearted humour to the book and if you visit Savannah today, you can still catch a chance to see Chablis perform.

Background to Savannah:

All of the settings still exist today, however the famous bronze bird girl statue featured on the book cover was relocated to the Telfair Museum in 1997. Like the famous bench in Forrest Gump, the sites became crowded with tourists that they were removed for preservation into one of the many historical museums and galleries in Savannah.

Savannah is a quirky, historical and fascinating town on the coast of Georgia, surrounded by a river, marshes and the ocean. It is built on a unique grid pattern where garden squares become the major points of interest, surrounded by beautiful and grand historical houses from before the Civil War. In my four years studying in Savannah, I discovered this book is every bit as real as promised. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in crime and travel books, however I think it could provide a fascinating read for everyone. \

And if you want to get more into the story and experience the town for yourself, Savannah is the friendliest city in the world that makes every visitor feel welcome. It is a hub for students at the Savannah College of Art and Design, locals and tourists from all corners of the world. With year long events and celebrations, St Patricks Day is one of the highlights as the city turns green and the cobbletoned River Street is open to everyone to enjoy the day.

Rating: 5/5

Release Date: June 1995

Publisher: Vintage (Random House)

Author: John Berendt