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Desayuno en Tiffany's
This is a previously-published edition of ISBN 8433920170.
La protagonista de esta novela es quizás el más seductor personaje creado por ese maestro de la seducción que fue Capote. Atractiva sin ser guapa, después de rechazar una carrera de actriz, Holly se convierte en estrella del Nueva York más sofisticado. Mezcla de picardía e inocencia, de astucia y autenticidad, Holly vive en la provisionalidad permanente, sin pasado, no queriendo pertenecer a nada ni a nadie y vive soñando en ese paraíso que para ella es Tiffany's la famosa joyería neoyorquina. Esta extraordinaria novela corta bastaría para consagrar a un autor.
158 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
892 people are currently reading
19983 people want to read
About the author
Truman Capote
345 books7,249 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Truman Capote was an American writer whose non-fiction, stories, novels and plays are recognised literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and In Cold Blood (1965), which he labeled a "non-fiction novel." At least 20 films and TV dramas have been produced from Capote novels, stories and screenplays.
He was born as Truman Streckfus Persons to a salesman Archulus Persons and young Lillie Mae. His parents divorced when he was four and he went to live with his mother's relatives in Monroeville, Alabama. He was a lonely child who learned to read and write by himself before entering school. In 1933, he moved to New York City to live with his mother and her new husband, Joseph Capote, a Cuban-born businessman. Mr. Capote adopted Truman, legally changing his last name to Capote and enrolling him in private school. After graduating from high school in 1942, Truman Capote began his regular job as a copy boy at The New Yorker. During this time, he also began his career as a writer, publishing many short stories which introduced him into a circle of literary critics. His first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms, published in 1948, stayed on The New York Times bestseller list for nine weeks and became controversial because of the photograph of Capote used to promote the novel, posing seductively and gazing into the camera.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Capote remained prolific producing both fiction and non-fiction. His masterpiece, In Cold Blood, a story about the murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, was published in 1966 in book form by Random House, became a worldwide success and brought Capote much praise from the literary community. After this success he published rarely and suffered from alcohol addiction. He died in 1984 at age 59.
Truman Capote was an American writer whose non-fiction, stories, novels and plays are recognised literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and In Cold Blood (1965), which he labeled a "non-fiction novel." At least 20 films and TV dramas have been produced from Capote novels, stories and screenplays.
He was born as Truman Streckfus Persons to a salesman Archulus Persons and young Lillie Mae. His parents divorced when he was four and he went to live with his mother's relatives in Monroeville, Alabama. He was a lonely child who learned to read and write by himself before entering school. In 1933, he moved to New York City to live with his mother and her new husband, Joseph Capote, a Cuban-born businessman. Mr. Capote adopted Truman, legally changing his last name to Capote and enrolling him in private school. After graduating from high school in 1942, Truman Capote began his regular job as a copy boy at The New Yorker. During this time, he also began his career as a writer, publishing many short stories which introduced him into a circle of literary critics. His first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms, published in 1948, stayed on The New York Times bestseller list for nine weeks and became controversial because of the photograph of Capote used to promote the novel, posing seductively and gazing into the camera.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Capote remained prolific producing both fiction and non-fiction. His masterpiece, In Cold Blood, a story about the murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, was published in 1966 in book form by Random House, became a worldwide success and brought Capote much praise from the literary community. After this success he published rarely and suffered from alcohol addiction. He died in 1984 at age 59.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,166 reviews
August 15, 2017
3 delicious hours of audio read by Mr. Michael C. Hall aka Dexter!!! What a wonderful performance of Truman Capote's novella! I saw the movie years ago but I've never read the book! I'm so happy to have listened to this edition of the audio!
5+++++Stars for the narrator!
5 Stars for the story!
Highly highly recommended!!!
5+++++Stars for the narrator!
5 Stars for the story!
Highly highly recommended!!!
May 4, 2021
“Oh darling, this is the most perfect little story, my idea of the absolute finito! Not a comma out of place, not a iota of clumsiness blurring the flawless tone. The most proper words pushing all the right buttons, stirring up emotions one didn’t even know were there.
And quel dialogue; not un peu bit phony. Or perhaps it is so, but it is real phony and that makes it genuine. Same as everyone inhabiting this story. Bless you, darling, for having done such a marvellous job with the whole merde of an affair; you managed to make it shine, positively glow. Not that those other people in Hollywood didn’t, by God, it had the most spectacular sugarcoating, their film did, très charming, they even changed the time from the early 1940s to the 1960s so that they could have Mr Givenchy’s divine gowns, them being infinitely more chic than those war-time frocks. But quel rat that they had to add the romance and the happy end and take out all the hard edges. Oh well, it did turn out beautifully, no complaints, but still…
…this is the real thing, and yes, I got what you did, even though, I’m no ‘serious’ reader, my reading consisting of tabloids and travel folders and astrological charts, not that this ever stopped you from sharing your stories with me. But I must simply insist that those know-it-all book lovers give it a try, if only to get an idea of what the mean reds were really all about, why I’d rather have cancer than a dishonest heart and why it’s better to look at the sky than live there. Such an empty place; so vague.
I can’t haul myself to Tiffany’s these days, but your heavenly little story serves as that kind of place I want to lose myself in. The place where nothing very bad could happen. Not while those perfectly constructed sentences unfold, anyway.
I’m very scared, Buster. Yes, at last. Because it could go on forever. Not knowing what’s yours until you’ve thrown it away. Happy endings are for the screen. Books afford to show that it’s the everlasting journey that matters…
Lulamae Barnes, aka Holly Golightly, (still) Travelling."
Fourth reading. All in one sitting. Getting even better with time.
And quel dialogue; not un peu bit phony. Or perhaps it is so, but it is real phony and that makes it genuine. Same as everyone inhabiting this story. Bless you, darling, for having done such a marvellous job with the whole merde of an affair; you managed to make it shine, positively glow. Not that those other people in Hollywood didn’t, by God, it had the most spectacular sugarcoating, their film did, très charming, they even changed the time from the early 1940s to the 1960s so that they could have Mr Givenchy’s divine gowns, them being infinitely more chic than those war-time frocks. But quel rat that they had to add the romance and the happy end and take out all the hard edges. Oh well, it did turn out beautifully, no complaints, but still…
…this is the real thing, and yes, I got what you did, even though, I’m no ‘serious’ reader, my reading consisting of tabloids and travel folders and astrological charts, not that this ever stopped you from sharing your stories with me. But I must simply insist that those know-it-all book lovers give it a try, if only to get an idea of what the mean reds were really all about, why I’d rather have cancer than a dishonest heart and why it’s better to look at the sky than live there. Such an empty place; so vague.
I can’t haul myself to Tiffany’s these days, but your heavenly little story serves as that kind of place I want to lose myself in. The place where nothing very bad could happen. Not while those perfectly constructed sentences unfold, anyway.
I’m very scared, Buster. Yes, at last. Because it could go on forever. Not knowing what’s yours until you’ve thrown it away. Happy endings are for the screen. Books afford to show that it’s the everlasting journey that matters…
Lulamae Barnes, aka Holly Golightly, (still) Travelling."
Fourth reading. All in one sitting. Getting even better with time.
December 18, 2024
Am citit atîtea povestiri nereușite despre fete nebunatice, nesăbuite, zăpăcite, rele, răutăcioase, meschine etc., încît am deschis cartea lui Capote fără să-mi fac nici o iluzie. Am urmărit acțiunea (cîtă este!) cu mult scepticism. Am fost vigilent la fiecare f(r)ază a povestirii, am măsurat gesturile lui Holly Golightly (adevăratul ei nume e, în realitate, Lulamae Barnes) cu asprimea unui judecător de moravuri, am încercat s-o privesc nu prin ochii naratorului fascinat de exuberanta femeie, ci prin ochii mei neîncrezători, exigenți, acri, răi...
Povestirea (că doar n-o fi roman...) m-a constrîns să las la o parte scepticismul. Mi-a plăcut. O fată, un soi de „gheișă americană” (zice Capote), îi zăpăcește pe bărbați și, în urma unui incident bizar (e acuzată de legături cu mafia drogurilor), ia avionul spre Rio și dispare în neant. Așa, pur și simplu. Peste 15 ani, neconsolatul narator anonim și Joe Bell, proprietarul unei crîșme de pe Lexington Avenue, își amintesc de Holly și de fulgerătoarea ei prezență în New York-ul anilor 40. Aș îndrăzni să spun că Holly e o perfectă întrupare a tîrfei neprihănite. Și mai are și umor...
P. S. Am văzut filmul cu Audrey Hepburn cu prea mult timp în urmă și nu mai păstrez nici o amintire legată de el.
Povestirea (că doar n-o fi roman...) m-a constrîns să las la o parte scepticismul. Mi-a plăcut. O fată, un soi de „gheișă americană” (zice Capote), îi zăpăcește pe bărbați și, în urma unui incident bizar (e acuzată de legături cu mafia drogurilor), ia avionul spre Rio și dispare în neant. Așa, pur și simplu. Peste 15 ani, neconsolatul narator anonim și Joe Bell, proprietarul unei crîșme de pe Lexington Avenue, își amintesc de Holly și de fulgerătoarea ei prezență în New York-ul anilor 40. Aș îndrăzni să spun că Holly e o perfectă întrupare a tîrfei neprihănite. Și mai are și umor...
P. S. Am văzut filmul cu Audrey Hepburn cu prea mult timp în urmă și nu mai păstrez nici o amintire legată de el.
April 3, 2025
It may be normal, darling; but I’d rather be natural.
کدبانو، خانوادهدار، محترم، وابسته، معمولی، بدون آرزوهای بزرگ
این تصویر زن ایدهآل دههی چهل آمریکاست. تصویری که هالی گولایتلی در اون نمی گنجه
هالی جذاب، رها، دیوانه و رام نشدنیه و در یک سفر همیشگی زندگی می کنه. متعلق به هیچکس نیست و هیچکس و هیچ چیز هم متعلق به او نیست. حتی گربهی بیاسمش. آپارتمانش جوریه که انگار ساکنش هر لحظه در حال رفتنه، چون هالی هنوز خونهش رو پیدا نکرده
این بخش جالب این کاراکتر فراموش نشدنیه، همون بخشی که هالیوود رو شیفته کرد و توسط آدری هپبورن زیبا به تصویر در اومد
ولی هالی در کتاب ترومن کاپوتی فقط این نیست. بسیار سیاهتره. دختری که در چهارده سالگی به خاطر یتیم بودن ازدواج کرده، دختری که هویت و اسمش رو عوض کرده و با اینکه به طور مستقیم گفته نمیشه فاحشهست، واضحه که از رفت و آمد با مردان گذران زندگی میکنه. هالی دورههای افسردگی شدید داره و با اینکه در ظاهر زندگی شلوغ و جذابی داره، در واقع تنهاست. در توهم استقلال زندگی میکنه ولی شاید حتی از زنان دیگه به مردان وابسته تره. معلوم نیست که گاهی خودش رو به حماقت می زنه یا واقعا انقدر سادست که توسط رئیس مافیا به بازی گرفته بشه
ترومن کاپوتی رو از کتاب معروفش "در کمال خونسردی" میشناختم. قلمش با وجود جذابیت مخصوص به خودش و آمریکایی بودن، سردی خاصی داره. این سردی اینجا در نگاه راوی داستان حس میشه. یک جور بیتفاوتی در عین توجه زیاد. راویای که اول داستان احتمال مردن یا بستری بودن هالی در یک بیمارستان روانی رو مثل یک حقیقت خیلی معمولی میگه ولی همون فرد ساعتها دنبال گربهی هالی میگرده
برای خوانندهی قرن بیست و یک مزهپرانیهای نژادپرستانه و دید تحقیر آمیز نسبت به هم جنسگرایان به شدت توی چشم میزنه و نمیتونم فکر نکنم که شاید گاهی از قصد این کار رو میکنه. با توجه به اینکه خود کاپوتی آشکارا همجنسگرا بوده، در مورد گرایش جنسی راوی داستان که نویسنده هم هست، حدث و گمان و تحلیل زیاده
هالی گولایتلی تشابهات زیادی با الههی هالیوود مرلین مونرو داره و اگر بدونید که کاپوتی و مونرو دوستان نزدیکی بودند دلیلش رو میفهمید.[کاپوتی حتی یک داستان دربارهی پرسه زدنهاش در نیویورک با مونرو نوشته] هر دو زن، گمشده، تحسینشده و تنها هستند و دنیا تصمیم گرفته فقط بخشی از وجودشون رو ببینه. با دونستن این قضیه شاید بهتر بشه داینامیک عجیب بین هالی و همسایهی نویسندهاش رو درک کرد. شیفتگیای که جنسی نیست، و بیشتر تمایل به بودن در کنارشه، نه باهاش. چیزی شبیه به رابطهی کاپوتی و مونرو.
و در نهایت این جمله، که همهی "هالی"ها رو خلاصه می کنه
Never love a wild thing … you can’t give your heart to a wild thing; the more you do, the stronger they get. Until they’re strong enough to run into the woods. Or fly into a tree. Then a taller tree. Then the sky.
کتاب و صوتیش رو میتونید از اینجا دانلود کنید
Maede's Books
۱۳۹۹/۴/۸
July 18, 2023
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote is an American Classic!
Did you know that Capote's 'Holiday Golightly' is somewhat different from Hollywood's 'Holly Golightly'? In fact, everything about Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's is truer, more realistic, and life-like than the elegant, gentile, and filtered version depicted on the Silver Screen.
What stands out to me the most in this novella is the author's writing style. Truman Capote can write.
Capote held my attention with enlightening spurts of dialogue and the wandering, yet contemplative thoughts of the nameless narrator. In case you don't already know, this story is about the relationship between Holly and her neighbor, who is our nameless narrator.
Told from the narrator's perspective, it's quite an adventure he takes on as he enters into the 'whirlwind of excitement" in the form of nineteen-year-old Holly. This young woman is fiercely social and although she has at least one female friends we know about, it's men Holly chooses to be surrounded by. Lots and lots of wealthy men who provide her with gifts and such...
Listening to the '2 hour 50 minute' audiobook narrated by Michael C. Hall isn't a half-bad way to spend an afternoon. His gender voicing, especially for Holly, is particularly entertaining. I'm usually a little put-off when a male narrator does female voicing but this is "Dexter", after all, and somehow it works. The voice he uses for the nameless narrator sounds unbelievably similar to George Peppard's voice, who plays this character in the movie, and I enjoyed that special nod to the past.
There's a lot to love here. When someone speaks of Breakfast at Tiffany's it seems to strike a pleasant memory and feeling by the look on their face and the smile in their eyes. It's the movie, I think, but the true credit of this common reaction needs to go where it all began, with Capote.
Breakfast at Tiffany's is an American Classic that was first published in the November 1958 issue of Esquire Magazine, almost 65 years ago. This is Truman Capote's story, his characters, it all began with him and I highly recommend this novella!
5⭐
Did you know that Capote's 'Holiday Golightly' is somewhat different from Hollywood's 'Holly Golightly'? In fact, everything about Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's is truer, more realistic, and life-like than the elegant, gentile, and filtered version depicted on the Silver Screen.
What stands out to me the most in this novella is the author's writing style. Truman Capote can write.
Capote held my attention with enlightening spurts of dialogue and the wandering, yet contemplative thoughts of the nameless narrator. In case you don't already know, this story is about the relationship between Holly and her neighbor, who is our nameless narrator.
Told from the narrator's perspective, it's quite an adventure he takes on as he enters into the 'whirlwind of excitement" in the form of nineteen-year-old Holly. This young woman is fiercely social and although she has at least one female friends we know about, it's men Holly chooses to be surrounded by. Lots and lots of wealthy men who provide her with gifts and such...
Listening to the '2 hour 50 minute' audiobook narrated by Michael C. Hall isn't a half-bad way to spend an afternoon. His gender voicing, especially for Holly, is particularly entertaining. I'm usually a little put-off when a male narrator does female voicing but this is "Dexter", after all, and somehow it works. The voice he uses for the nameless narrator sounds unbelievably similar to George Peppard's voice, who plays this character in the movie, and I enjoyed that special nod to the past.
There's a lot to love here. When someone speaks of Breakfast at Tiffany's it seems to strike a pleasant memory and feeling by the look on their face and the smile in their eyes. It's the movie, I think, but the true credit of this common reaction needs to go where it all began, with Capote.
Breakfast at Tiffany's is an American Classic that was first published in the November 1958 issue of Esquire Magazine, almost 65 years ago. This is Truman Capote's story, his characters, it all began with him and I highly recommend this novella!
5⭐
January 24, 2021
I’m probably one of the few people on this site who has never seen the film version of this book. I had formed an impression of the film from stills of Audrey Hepburn as she appears in it. My impression turns out to have been largely erroneous, at least as far as the book is concerned. I listened to the audiobook version, superbly narrated by Michael C. Hall.
For those unfamiliar with the story, as I was a week ago, an unnamed narrator relates his fascination with Holly Golightly, his downstairs neighbour in a 1940s NYC brownstone. Apart from Holly, the novel contains several characters with names that are almost Dickensian in their eccentricity. Some of the others include Rusty Trawler, Mag Wildwood and Sally Tomato.
The novel though, is really all about Holly. At the outset of the story she is 18, younger than I expected from seeing the movie stills, and is physically beautiful if somewhat waif-like. She is manipulative, although, in one strand of the plot, is herself manipulated. The only person she genuinely cares for is her brother Fred, who doesn’t directly make an appearance in the story. Despite her rather calculating nature, I can see how her enigmatic personality would reel men in, particularly if they were either a naïve young man or an old fool. The narrator’s own attraction to Holly is primarily non-sexual, since it is strongly implied in the book that he is gay, or predominantly so at least.
This is the first book I’ve read by Truman Capote and I understand why he is so highly regarded as a writer. I shared the narrator’s fascination with Holly and enjoyed how more of her was gradually revealed as the novel progressed. She is a memorable creation.
I suppose I had better watch the film at some point.
For those unfamiliar with the story, as I was a week ago, an unnamed narrator relates his fascination with Holly Golightly, his downstairs neighbour in a 1940s NYC brownstone. Apart from Holly, the novel contains several characters with names that are almost Dickensian in their eccentricity. Some of the others include Rusty Trawler, Mag Wildwood and Sally Tomato.
The novel though, is really all about Holly. At the outset of the story she is 18, younger than I expected from seeing the movie stills, and is physically beautiful if somewhat waif-like. She is manipulative, although, in one strand of the plot, is herself manipulated. The only person she genuinely cares for is her brother Fred, who doesn’t directly make an appearance in the story. Despite her rather calculating nature, I can see how her enigmatic personality would reel men in, particularly if they were either a naïve young man or an old fool. The narrator’s own attraction to Holly is primarily non-sexual, since it is strongly implied in the book that he is gay, or predominantly so at least.
This is the first book I’ve read by Truman Capote and I understand why he is so highly regarded as a writer. I shared the narrator’s fascination with Holly and enjoyed how more of her was gradually revealed as the novel progressed. She is a memorable creation.
I suppose I had better watch the film at some point.
February 28, 2016
"Buono? Non un'onestà di tipo legale - io non ci penserei due volte a profanare una tomba e a rubare gli occhi di un morto se pensassi che può contribuire al mio divertimento quotidiano - ma un'onestà nei confronti di se stessi. Sii quello che vuoi ma non un vigliacco, un fanfarone, un ladro di emozioni, una sgualdrina; preferirei avere il cancro piuttosto che un cuore disonesto. Il che non significa essere pii. Semplicemente pratici. Il cancro può stenderti, ma quell'altra cosa ti stende di sicuro. Oh, ma al diavolo...".
Leggere tutto Truman Capote.
Leggere tutto Truman Capote.
December 13, 2025
First Capote that I read and have absolutely no regrets about, the author brilliantly paints the complexity of feelings and the quest for freedom in youth. I loved this reading, which presents an impossible, passionate love and how Capote depicts the New York environment.
April 28, 2017
“If you let yourself love a wild thing. You'll end up looking at the sky.”
Told in a reflective and almost lyrical tone, this is the story of a writer, referred to as 'Fred', who reminisces about the neighbor he fell for back in 1943. The thing is, I’m not sure if we ever get a glimpse of the real Holly Golightly.
An enigma of sorts; Holly’s not one to get attached or share much of anything about her past. She avoids the truth by putting a fun and often ridiculous spin on things and she’s full of biting comments. It’s hard to say who she really is under that facetious facade. From all outward appearances, she’s a nineteen-year-old woman who enjoys the company of many men and pretty things. A woman making her way, amidst the excitement and wonder of New York City.
The few things she openly admits - the soft spot she has for her brother (the actual Fred) and her cure for the mean reds. She claims being surrounded by the quiet of Tiffany’s, although we don’t actually see any of that in the book, is enough to calm her soul. You can’t think of the movie, read this book, or in my case listen to the audio without picturing Audrey Hepburn as Holly. She’s become synonymous with Breakfast at Tiffany’s. So my question is - what happened to the trips to Tiffany’s and the ring? Having seen the movie several times before listening to the audio, it felt to me like a piece of the story was missing. With a very different ending, the book didn’t come across as the great love story the movie did. It almost makes me cringe to say this, but I actually enjoyed the movie a tad bit more than the book.
The crazy cat lady in me has to mention how heartbroken I was that Holly left her “cat” behind, too. How could she? At least, he ended up with a home, I guess. And maybe even a name.
If you’re a Dexter fan, like me, you’ll love this audio. Michael C. Hall is the narrator and his voice is pretty unique. There were a few times his voice for Holly made me laugh, but for the most part, his narration was heavenly. At just under three hours, I found this to be a quick but wholly enjoyable listen.
Told in a reflective and almost lyrical tone, this is the story of a writer, referred to as 'Fred', who reminisces about the neighbor he fell for back in 1943. The thing is, I’m not sure if we ever get a glimpse of the real Holly Golightly.
An enigma of sorts; Holly’s not one to get attached or share much of anything about her past. She avoids the truth by putting a fun and often ridiculous spin on things and she’s full of biting comments. It’s hard to say who she really is under that facetious facade. From all outward appearances, she’s a nineteen-year-old woman who enjoys the company of many men and pretty things. A woman making her way, amidst the excitement and wonder of New York City.
The few things she openly admits - the soft spot she has for her brother (the actual Fred) and her cure for the mean reds. She claims being surrounded by the quiet of Tiffany’s, although we don’t actually see any of that in the book, is enough to calm her soul. You can’t think of the movie, read this book, or in my case listen to the audio without picturing Audrey Hepburn as Holly. She’s become synonymous with Breakfast at Tiffany’s. So my question is - what happened to the trips to Tiffany’s and the ring? Having seen the movie several times before listening to the audio, it felt to me like a piece of the story was missing. With a very different ending, the book didn’t come across as the great love story the movie did. It almost makes me cringe to say this, but I actually enjoyed the movie a tad bit more than the book.
The crazy cat lady in me has to mention how heartbroken I was that Holly left her “cat” behind, too. How could she? At least, he ended up with a home, I guess. And maybe even a name.
If you’re a Dexter fan, like me, you’ll love this audio. Michael C. Hall is the narrator and his voice is pretty unique. There were a few times his voice for Holly made me laugh, but for the most part, his narration was heavenly. At just under three hours, I found this to be a quick but wholly enjoyable listen.
June 16, 2018
I’ve seen the movie countless times, but I can’t remember the last time I saw it, but every time I have seen it, I’ve always been surprised by something I’ve either forgotten, or something I’ve seen in a new way.
I was looking for a way to keeping motivated to get through all this painting I’d planned, or at least as much of it as I can do myself, but it was so much easier, and tolerable with having an audio book to listen to. And I remembered my goodreads friend Jennifer, her review for Breakfast at Tiffany’s gave me the perfect choice.
An hour and a half of listening to it yesterday while painting, and another hour and a half of driving today to buy more paint, and I can only say that I loved this. Surprisingly, I loved the ‘book’ in a completely different way than the movie, and the narration by Michael C. Hall (Dexter) was amazingly!
Many thanks to Jennifer for her review that had me consider this as an audio. Please check out Jennifer’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I was looking for a way to keeping motivated to get through all this painting I’d planned, or at least as much of it as I can do myself, but it was so much easier, and tolerable with having an audio book to listen to. And I remembered my goodreads friend Jennifer, her review for Breakfast at Tiffany’s gave me the perfect choice.
An hour and a half of listening to it yesterday while painting, and another hour and a half of driving today to buy more paint, and I can only say that I loved this. Surprisingly, I loved the ‘book’ in a completely different way than the movie, and the narration by Michael C. Hall (Dexter) was amazingly!
Many thanks to Jennifer for her review that had me consider this as an audio. Please check out Jennifer’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July 30, 2023
Oh Holly, what do we do with you? This beautiful woman is engaging, capricious, untidy, and attractive – mysterious too. She is beautiful on the eye to be sure, instantly attractive; everything seems exciting about her. On open book.
Dangerous.
An impending disaster.
One really wouldn’t want to fall in love with her – easy to do admittedly. Holly would drive you up the wall. It’s not just her passing tastes, her capriciousness, and her naked honesty – it’s the excitement, the risk. I know that’s not for everyone, but for this old bloke, years gone by – I would have lapped her up.
Any dalliance with Holly would certainly end in tears – yours, not hers. The striking thing about Holly is her indifference. Not inflicted in any conscious way, I am sure she doesn’t mean it. You could say she’s careless with the hearts and feelings of others.
Importantly, she doesn’t give false promises.
Just because others fall for her charms, and they are substantial, does that mean she’s obliged to reciprocate their emotions towards her? I’m not so sure.
I love her free spirit.
Capote, and this is my second experience with his work, was a genius.
5 Stars
Dangerous.
An impending disaster.
One really wouldn’t want to fall in love with her – easy to do admittedly. Holly would drive you up the wall. It’s not just her passing tastes, her capriciousness, and her naked honesty – it’s the excitement, the risk. I know that’s not for everyone, but for this old bloke, years gone by – I would have lapped her up.
Any dalliance with Holly would certainly end in tears – yours, not hers. The striking thing about Holly is her indifference. Not inflicted in any conscious way, I am sure she doesn’t mean it. You could say she’s careless with the hearts and feelings of others.
Importantly, she doesn’t give false promises.
Just because others fall for her charms, and they are substantial, does that mean she’s obliged to reciprocate their emotions towards her? I’m not so sure.
I love her free spirit.
Capote, and this is my second experience with his work, was a genius.
5 Stars
December 27, 2021
Armed with dark glasses and a Picayune cigarette, here comes the enigmatic Holly Golightly. She is an irresistible bundle of contradictions -- a shrewd operator and a naïve star gazer, a lopsided romantic and an intermittent pragmatist, and a wild soul who really wants to play house someday. She hides behind a layer of whimsy, a true work of art, which functions both as her star attraction and her defense mechanism of choice. With those charming ways, sassy talkbacks, and quirky imperfections, this girl aims right for the heart. To quote Ricky Martin, "she's livin la vida loca". While in her company, I wondered if these youthful capers of hers will mellow down with age but a whiff of her ongoings almost ten years later suggests that time hasn't dampened her spirit. Anyhow, do people change that much or deviate from the behaviour that shapes their individuality?
Throughout the 80-odd pages, the spotlight shines bright on the sprightly Miss Golightly but the story is as much about the inwardly wrapped-up narrator who strikes up a friendship with her as much as The Great Gatsby is an examination of Nick Carraway's thoughts, prejudices and a gradual shift in perception after increased intimacy with the protagonist. There's always an element of intrigue when the narrator is deliberately unnamed and played down and more so in this case because he competes with the enchanting Holly to get the attention of the reader. This intentional modesty reveals a lonely young man looking for his place in an unkind world where anyone who is different is a misfit. He is similar to Holly in his independence of spirit which rejects any sort of imposed regimentation, his hidden yet strong yearning for a genuine connection, and also in his easily wounded pride. In the character of this anonymous narrator, there is a lingering hint of Mr. Capote himself, right from an aspiring young writer who shares his birthday with the author (30th September) to the multiple references to homosexuality.
It's a deceptively smooth ride through this perfect piece of prose which is fluid, stylish, and utterly delightful, but at the same time constructed with a rigorous precision that makes you sit up and admire Capote's efforts. The writing is as much of a presence as Holly is. In spite of the deeper undercurrents of loneliness, loss, and melancholy, there's never a dull moment. And this must be one of the most captivating endorsements of the charm that NYC holds.
It's been ages I watched the Hollywood adaptation so no point in comparing it with the book. I enjoyed the Audible version wonderfully narrated by Michael C. Hall and then read the book to savour the perfection one more time.
There is an abundance of compelling reasons to go back to Capote but I would run to him again even if his only excuse was this glorious writing style.
Throughout the 80-odd pages, the spotlight shines bright on the sprightly Miss Golightly but the story is as much about the inwardly wrapped-up narrator who strikes up a friendship with her as much as The Great Gatsby is an examination of Nick Carraway's thoughts, prejudices and a gradual shift in perception after increased intimacy with the protagonist. There's always an element of intrigue when the narrator is deliberately unnamed and played down and more so in this case because he competes with the enchanting Holly to get the attention of the reader. This intentional modesty reveals a lonely young man looking for his place in an unkind world where anyone who is different is a misfit. He is similar to Holly in his independence of spirit which rejects any sort of imposed regimentation, his hidden yet strong yearning for a genuine connection, and also in his easily wounded pride. In the character of this anonymous narrator, there is a lingering hint of Mr. Capote himself, right from an aspiring young writer who shares his birthday with the author (30th September) to the multiple references to homosexuality.
It's a deceptively smooth ride through this perfect piece of prose which is fluid, stylish, and utterly delightful, but at the same time constructed with a rigorous precision that makes you sit up and admire Capote's efforts. The writing is as much of a presence as Holly is. In spite of the deeper undercurrents of loneliness, loss, and melancholy, there's never a dull moment. And this must be one of the most captivating endorsements of the charm that NYC holds.
It's been ages I watched the Hollywood adaptation so no point in comparing it with the book. I enjoyed the Audible version wonderfully narrated by Michael C. Hall and then read the book to savour the perfection one more time.
There is an abundance of compelling reasons to go back to Capote but I would run to him again even if his only excuse was this glorious writing style.
July 15, 2022
خطر فاش شدن داستان
کتاب صبحانه در تیفانی نوشته ترومن کاپوتی ، یک شخصیت اصلی دارد و داستان حول محور او می چرخد ، خانم هالی گولایتلی
هالی سه خصوصیت اصلی دارد :
او بسیار شاد است و سرخوشانه زندگی می کند و اصولا نوع زندگی او ایجاب می کند که با مردان زیادی رابطه داشته باشد .
هالی در عین حال که باهوش هست کودن هم هست ، او با هوش خود مردان را اغوا می کند و موقعیت و فرصت برای خود فراهم می کند ولی در عین حال آنقدر نادان هم هست که پیام های رمزی یک زندانی را به خارج انتقال دهد !
مهمترین خصلت او همیشه در سفر بودن است ، همان طور که در صندوق پستیش نوشته : هالی گولایتلی در سفر . او ساکن نیست ، همیشه در حرکت است . در اطاقش همیشه همه چیز در چمدان و بسته بندی شده است . در عین حال هالی کمی هم وحشی ایست . در زیباترین بخش کتاب ، هالی خود را این گونه تعریف می کند :
شما نمیتوانید به یک موجود وحشی دل ببندید. هرچه بیشتر دل ببندید، آن موجود قویتر میشود. خلاصه آنقدر قوی میشود که به جنگل فرار میکند. یا میپرد روی شاخۀ درخت. بعد درختی بلندتر. بعد هم آسمان. اگر به خودت اجازه بدهی عاشق یک موجود وحشی بشوی، سرنوشتت این است که به آسمان چشم بدوزی
قهرمان دیگر کتاب گربه هالی ایست ، گربه ای که هالی برایش اسمی نگذاشته . آنها همدیگر را کنار رودخانه ای یافته اند و اصلا به هم تعلق ندارند ، به قول هالی هم او موجود مستقلی ایست هم هالی .
اما هالی اشتباه می کند . در پایان این داستان سر خوشانه گربه سروسامانی گرفته و به خانه ای خو کرده و راحت زندگیش را می کند ؛ اما هالی به سفر رفته ، هالی ایست که به قول خود به مرد ثروتمندی چسبیده و خود را در جایی از جهان گم و گور کرده
کتاب صبحانه در تیفانی نوشته ترومن کاپوتی ، یک شخصیت اصلی دارد و داستان حول محور او می چرخد ، خانم هالی گولایتلی
هالی سه خصوصیت اصلی دارد :
او بسیار شاد است و سرخوشانه زندگی می کند و اصولا نوع زندگی او ایجاب می کند که با مردان زیادی رابطه داشته باشد .
هالی در عین حال که باهوش هست کودن هم هست ، او با هوش خود مردان را اغوا می کند و موقعیت و فرصت برای خود فراهم می کند ولی در عین حال آنقدر نادان هم هست که پیام های رمزی یک زندانی را به خارج انتقال دهد !
مهمترین خصلت او همیشه در سفر بودن است ، همان طور که در صندوق پستیش نوشته : هالی گولایتلی در سفر . او ساکن نیست ، همیشه در حرکت است . در اطاقش همیشه همه چیز در چمدان و بسته بندی شده است . در عین حال هالی کمی هم وحشی ایست . در زیباترین بخش کتاب ، هالی خود را این گونه تعریف می کند :
شما نمیتوانید به یک موجود وحشی دل ببندید. هرچه بیشتر دل ببندید، آن موجود قویتر میشود. خلاصه آنقدر قوی میشود که به جنگل فرار میکند. یا میپرد روی شاخۀ درخت. بعد درختی بلندتر. بعد هم آسمان. اگر به خودت اجازه بدهی عاشق یک موجود وحشی بشوی، سرنوشتت این است که به آسمان چشم بدوزی
قهرمان دیگر کتاب گربه هالی ایست ، گربه ای که هالی برایش اسمی نگذاشته . آنها همدیگر را کنار رودخانه ای یافته اند و اصلا به هم تعلق ندارند ، به قول هالی هم او موجود مستقلی ایست هم هالی .
اما هالی اشتباه می کند . در پایان این داستان سر خوشانه گربه سروسامانی گرفته و به خانه ای خو کرده و راحت زندگیش را می کند ؛ اما هالی به سفر رفته ، هالی ایست که به قول خود به مرد ثروتمندی چسبیده و خود را در جایی از جهان گم و گور کرده
December 21, 2023
I wish I'd been warned off of this novel any time in my life up until yesterday. Alas. In case other readers, like me, don't know anything about Breakfast at Tiffany's other than, (a) it's short; (b) there is an Audrey Hepburn movie adaptation of it, and (c) it has nothing to do with either a meal or a luxury retail brand: more than once its main character utters the n-word for no purpose that advances the plot, and a dozen + times, uses the term, dyke, derisively. If I recall correctly, retard is thrown in for good measure and there are at least 2 instances in which nameless Black boys and Mexican men are included in the plot solely to have them demonstrate stereotypically negative characteristics. So there's that.
Nonetheless, having determined to stick with it to the bitter end in case there was some countervailing redeeming quality to it, I assure you, there is not. From time to time, Capote's writing moves past serviceable to elegant, but that's an insufficient inducement to spend 2 - 3 hours of your time in the mind of one of those empty, shallow, mid-century young, white, male easily-besotted-by-any-hot-mess-self-absorbed-blonde-slender-woman-he-meets narrators of which the American literary canon offers several dozen interchangeable denizens. See novels by Fitzgerald for more exemplars. If you insist on experiencing Breakfast at Tiffany's, the audible version is narrated by Michael C. Hall ("Dexter") and makes as much of the material as can be made.
p.s. how a character treats her pets is as valid a barometer for their value as it is in real life.
Nonetheless, having determined to stick with it to the bitter end in case there was some countervailing redeeming quality to it, I assure you, there is not. From time to time, Capote's writing moves past serviceable to elegant, but that's an insufficient inducement to spend 2 - 3 hours of your time in the mind of one of those empty, shallow, mid-century young, white, male easily-besotted-by-any-hot-mess-self-absorbed-blonde-slender-woman-he-meets narrators of which the American literary canon offers several dozen interchangeable denizens. See novels by Fitzgerald for more exemplars. If you insist on experiencing Breakfast at Tiffany's, the audible version is narrated by Michael C. Hall ("Dexter") and makes as much of the material as can be made.
p.s. how a character treats her pets is as valid a barometer for their value as it is in real life.
July 31, 2017
Delicioso!!! Una historia maravillosa!!!! De cinco, seis, siete, ocho estrellas... En cuanto a los tres relatos que acompañan está novela: Una casa de flores... 3 pasable; Una guitarra de diamantes: 3.5 mejor; Un recuerdo navideño: 3 triste.
May 28, 2024
And now to finally watch the movie.... which may take as long as it's taken me to finally read this.
February 19, 2017
Well, what can one say about Holly Golightly. She was beautiful, she was mean, she was independent, sometimes cruel, sometimes caring. Holly was as free as a bird, but shackled by her birth. She was temptress and torturer. She was glue and glamorous. Holly was light and darkness. She conquered and crashed. She loved and loathed.
Nineteen year old Holly was from Tulip, Texas, before she landed up in New York. Since the age of fourteen she was on her own, taking care of her brother Fred, who was in the army. He loved peanut butter, which she bought for him anywhere she could find it during the war times.
The film adaptation of this novella was very different from the book. I suspect nobody wanted to play the lead role of Holly, since it was unacceptable for their careers. And to get Audrey Hepburn to be the star, the script had to be changed considerably. The most important difference was to portray Holly as an innocent young woman who did not prostitute herself in the movie. The male lead, played by George Peppard, became a romantic character instead of the gay writer who became her friend in the book(he fell in love with his childhood postman). In the movie he also became a toy-boy himself to a wealthy women (not part of the book).
Although I enjoyed the movie, I loved the book much more.
Truman Capote created a complex character in his iconic writing style. Nobody can forget Holly Golightly. The social realism of the 1940s-New York embraced this girl next door, and made her something very different than the normal portrayal of these social climbers. She became a person with a heart and soul. Someone to empathize with.
A wonderful, soul-touching story. A classic must-read.
Holly:"... good things only happen to you if you're good. Good? Honest is more what I mean. Not law-type honest -- I'd rob a grave, I'd steal two-bits off a dead man's eyes if I thought it would contribute to the day's enjoyment -- but unto-thyself-type honest. Be anything but a coward, a pretender, an emotional crook, a whore: I'd rather have cancer than a dishonest heart. Which isn't being pious. Just practical. Cancer may cool you, but the other's sure to. Oh, screw it, cookie -- hand me my guitar, and I'll sing you a fada in the most perfect Portuguese."Her story is narrated by her upstairs neighbor, an aspiring writer, who befriended her, despite a downstairs neighbor, Madame Sapphia Spanella's outspoken wrath against Holly: "A crude exhibitionist, a time waster, an utter fake, somebody never to be spoken to again". But Holly was also 'pampered, calmly immaculate, as though she'd been attended by Cleopatra's maids'.
Nineteen year old Holly was from Tulip, Texas, before she landed up in New York. Since the age of fourteen she was on her own, taking care of her brother Fred, who was in the army. He loved peanut butter, which she bought for him anywhere she could find it during the war times.
"Fred's a soldier," said Holly. "But I doubt if he'll ever be a statue. Could be. They say the more stupid you are the braver. He's pretty stupid."This is a short novella, about a female character who deserved her place as one of the most outstanding literary characters of all times. What captured me the most is the way this young woman was presented to the world. Someone who could be loved; a young woman who could become a friend. She had heart and soul. She was warm and wonderful. But just as cold and calculating, since she did not quite trust the people's intentions towards her and therefore never really allowed herself to bond with anyone.
"Fred's that boy upstairs? I didn't realize he was a soldier. But he does look stupid."
"Yearning. Not stupid. He wants awfully to be on the inside staring out: anybody with their nose pressed against a glass is liable to look stupid. Anyhow, he's a different Fred. Fred's my brother."
"You call your own f-f-flesh and b-b-blood stupid?"
"If he is he is."
"I like a man who sees the humor; most of them, they're all pant and puff."Her actions prevented people to come too near, even her friends stood aside. A tragic figure. A statistic for the cognoscenti, the people who despised the likes of her.
The film adaptation of this novella was very different from the book. I suspect nobody wanted to play the lead role of Holly, since it was unacceptable for their careers. And to get Audrey Hepburn to be the star, the script had to be changed considerably. The most important difference was to portray Holly as an innocent young woman who did not prostitute herself in the movie. The male lead, played by George Peppard, became a romantic character instead of the gay writer who became her friend in the book(he fell in love with his childhood postman). In the movie he also became a toy-boy himself to a wealthy women (not part of the book).
Although I enjoyed the movie, I loved the book much more.
Truman Capote created a complex character in his iconic writing style. Nobody can forget Holly Golightly. The social realism of the 1940s-New York embraced this girl next door, and made her something very different than the normal portrayal of these social climbers. She became a person with a heart and soul. Someone to empathize with.
A wonderful, soul-touching story. A classic must-read.
June 29, 2021
4.5 estrellas
Me enamoré de la pluma de Capote.
Una novela corta con personajes muy pintorescos y muy muy particulares.
Holly es una chica que a pesar de tener 19 años y una vida aparentemente superficial y libertina, tiene una filosofía de vida tremenda.
Frases que te dejan pensando y sobretodo situaciones que te hacen ver que infancia es destino: inestabilidad , no encontrar tu lugar en el mundo.
¡Me encantaron los diálogos y su narrativa!
Me enamoré de la pluma de Capote.
Una novela corta con personajes muy pintorescos y muy muy particulares.
Holly es una chica que a pesar de tener 19 años y una vida aparentemente superficial y libertina, tiene una filosofía de vida tremenda.
Frases que te dejan pensando y sobretodo situaciones que te hacen ver que infancia es destino: inestabilidad , no encontrar tu lugar en el mundo.
¡Me encantaron los diálogos y su narrativa!
April 4, 2018
I enjoyed this novella, although I was kind of distracted while listening.
Have you noticed how much one can get away with when one is young and beautiful? Even the smartest of men seem to get their neurons on ice when in the presence of a delightful young morsel.
Case in point - Holly Golightly (I loved the name). She's nineteen, elusive and allusive - you know her but you don't really know her. She's a New York socialite, who counts on rich men to keep her.
She's a survivor. She's canny and naive; she's focused and disorderly. She's mean and she's sweet. She's one contradictory woman. (I hear you men saying - aren't all women?)
All is not what it seems.Discovering some aspects of Holly's past, added to her complexities and made her more sympathetic.
I was surprised to notice a pro-gay partnership idea in there, considering when it was written.
Now I feel like watching the movie adaptation.
Have you noticed how much one can get away with when one is young and beautiful? Even the smartest of men seem to get their neurons on ice when in the presence of a delightful young morsel.
Case in point - Holly Golightly (I loved the name). She's nineteen, elusive and allusive - you know her but you don't really know her. She's a New York socialite, who counts on rich men to keep her.
She's a survivor. She's canny and naive; she's focused and disorderly. She's mean and she's sweet. She's one contradictory woman. (I hear you men saying - aren't all women?)
All is not what it seems.Discovering some aspects of Holly's past, added to her complexities and made her more sympathetic.
I was surprised to notice a pro-gay partnership idea in there, considering when it was written.
Now I feel like watching the movie adaptation.
April 27, 2018
من اینو دوبار خوندم اما بار اول حواسم پرت بود. کتاب الکترونیک حواس منو فقط پرت میکنه یا برا شما هم همینطوره؟ :/
دفعه دوم برا اینکه حواسم پرت نشه، کندتر خوندم و سعی کردم بعد از هر باری که گذاشتمش کنار، توی ذهنم دورهش کنم. شخصیت هالی رو دوست داشتم. ینی هم گذشتۀ جالبی داشت و هم نویسنده بهنحو مطلوبی گذشتهشو ساخته بود و رسونده بودش به هالیِ الانش. حواشی این شخصیت هم جذاب بود حتی. اون یارو شوهرش، بچههاش، عشق شهرت و زندگی پرزرق و برقی که میخواست... راوی کارکردش فقط راوی بود. با اینکه اول شخص بود اما از یه زاویۀ دیگه. ازین نظر موافقم با بقیه که میگن مثل گتسبی بزرگ بود. اونجا هم راوی کارکردش برا شخصیت مقابلش بود. همچنین شخصیت مقابل هم جذابیت کافی رو واسه اینکه مرکز قرار بگیره، داشت. و خصوصیات مشترک هم داشتن. گتسبی و هالی.
اما بهنظرم صبحانه در تیفانی خیلی قویتر از گتسبی بزرگ بود. یادمه گتسبی بزرگ یه جاهاییش کند میشد یا حس میکردم زیادیه و حجمش هم بیشتر بود. صبحانه در تیفانی خیلی خلاصه، فشرده، موجز و جمع و جور بود. درنتیجه نقاط قوتش بیشتر به چشم میآد. داستانش هم بیشتر دوست داشتم. گتسبی بزرگ یه سری روابط آشفته بود که من اصن نمیتونستم درکشون کنم. اما اینجا نویسنده فقط روی یک شخصیت سرمایهگذاری کرده و تونسته ابعاد خوبی رو ازش بیرون بکشه. نحوۀ افشاسازی و کشفش هم قشنگ بود. جاییکه عکسهای نوجوونیِ هالی رو میبینه، بچههاشو میبینه، یا اونجایی که شوهرش برمیگرده دنبال هالی و از زندگیشون برا راوی میگه. چقدر این تیکه معرکه بود. توی ذهن آدم میمونه.
هنوز فیلم رو ندیدم و انگار فیلم بهتره. ازونجایی که سختترین بخش داستان پایانبندیه، بهنظرم پایان صبحانه در تیفانی یکی از قویترین پایانبندیهایی بود که تا حالا خونده بودم. خیلی وقتها یک کاری قویه اما پایانبندی صرفاً در جهت تموم شدنشه. یا بههرحال میتونست بهتر باشه. چیزی که در خداحافظ گاری کوپر اتفاق افتاد بهنظرم. اما اینجا ما یه پایانبندی عمیق داریم. بعد از دستگیری و بعد آزاد شدن هالی و دوباره از سر گرفتن رؤیاهای دیوانهوارش، راوی گربهشو پیدا میکنه و طوری توصیفش میکنه، انگار گربۀ هالی تجلی خود هالیه. راویای که هیچوقت از گربه خوشش نمیاومد، حالا وقتی به گربه تشخص میده و سیر زندگیشو درک میکنه و همانندسازی با هالی میکنه، احساسش تغییر میکنه. پایان فقط این نیست که هالی میره دنبال دیوونهبازیاش. ما انتظار اینم داشتیم، با اینکه دستگیر هم شده بود. اما میدونستیم بالاخره که میآد بیرون. اگه همونطور میموند که پایان خیلی ضعیف بود. اما جریان بیرون اومدن و برزیل رفتنش هم جالب بود و نویسنده فقط خوب بهش فکر کرده بود. بعد هم گربه. این تغییر حس و تغییر مرکزیت کوچیک و نهایی رو خیلی دوست داشتم. برا پایانبندی میخوام پنج ستاره بدم.
+ هالی ازونجور شخصیتهایی که حین خوندن میگفتم دلم میخواد از نزدیک ببینمش.
دفعه دوم برا اینکه حواسم پرت نشه، کندتر خوندم و سعی کردم بعد از هر باری که گذاشتمش کنار، توی ذهنم دورهش کنم. شخصیت هالی رو دوست داشتم. ینی هم گذشتۀ جالبی داشت و هم نویسنده بهنحو مطلوبی گذشتهشو ساخته بود و رسونده بودش به هالیِ الانش. حواشی این شخصیت هم جذاب بود حتی. اون یارو شوهرش، بچههاش، عشق شهرت و زندگی پرزرق و برقی که میخواست... راوی کارکردش فقط راوی بود. با اینکه اول شخص بود اما از یه زاویۀ دیگه. ازین نظر موافقم با بقیه که میگن مثل گتسبی بزرگ بود. اونجا هم راوی کارکردش برا شخصیت مقابلش بود. همچنین شخصیت مقابل هم جذابیت کافی رو واسه اینکه مرکز قرار بگیره، داشت. و خصوصیات مشترک هم داشتن. گتسبی و هالی.
اما بهنظرم صبحانه در تیفانی خیلی قویتر از گتسبی بزرگ بود. یادمه گتسبی بزرگ یه جاهاییش کند میشد یا حس میکردم زیادیه و حجمش هم بیشتر بود. صبحانه در تیفانی خیلی خلاصه، فشرده، موجز و جمع و جور بود. درنتیجه نقاط قوتش بیشتر به چشم میآد. داستانش هم بیشتر دوست داشتم. گتسبی بزرگ یه سری روابط آشفته بود که من اصن نمیتونستم درکشون کنم. اما اینجا نویسنده فقط روی یک شخصیت سرمایهگذاری کرده و تونسته ابعاد خوبی رو ازش بیرون بکشه. نحوۀ افشاسازی و کشفش هم قشنگ بود. جاییکه عکسهای نوجوونیِ هالی رو میبینه، بچههاشو میبینه، یا اونجایی که شوهرش برمیگرده دنبال هالی و از زندگیشون برا راوی میگه. چقدر این تیکه معرکه بود. توی ذهن آدم میمونه.
هنوز فیلم رو ندیدم و انگار فیلم بهتره. ازونجایی که سختترین بخش داستان پایانبندیه، بهنظرم پایان صبحانه در تیفانی یکی از قویترین پایانبندیهایی بود که تا حالا خونده بودم. خیلی وقتها یک کاری قویه اما پایانبندی صرفاً در جهت تموم شدنشه. یا بههرحال میتونست بهتر باشه. چیزی که در خداحافظ گاری کوپر اتفاق افتاد بهنظرم. اما اینجا ما یه پایانبندی عمیق داریم. بعد از دستگیری و بعد آزاد شدن هالی و دوباره از سر گرفتن رؤیاهای دیوانهوارش، راوی گربهشو پیدا میکنه و طوری توصیفش میکنه، انگار گربۀ هالی تجلی خود هالیه. راویای که هیچوقت از گربه خوشش نمیاومد، حالا وقتی به گربه تشخص میده و سیر زندگیشو درک میکنه و همانندسازی با هالی میکنه، احساسش تغییر میکنه. پایان فقط این نیست که هالی میره دنبال دیوونهبازیاش. ما انتظار اینم داشتیم، با اینکه دستگیر هم شده بود. اما میدونستیم بالاخره که میآد بیرون. اگه همونطور میموند که پایان خیلی ضعیف بود. اما جریان بیرون اومدن و برزیل رفتنش هم جالب بود و نویسنده فقط خوب بهش فکر کرده بود. بعد هم گربه. این تغییر حس و تغییر مرکزیت کوچیک و نهایی رو خیلی دوست داشتم. برا پایانبندی میخوام پنج ستاره بدم.
+ هالی ازونجور شخصیتهایی که حین خوندن میگفتم دلم میخواد از نزدیک ببینمش.
September 18, 2021
1.5
حالا شماها هرچی دلتون خواست بگید اما من واقعا و واقعا از هالی گولایتلی بدم میومد! از اون آدمایی که چون خوشگلن دیگه نیازی به فکر کردن نمیبینن و حتی گمان میکنن کارهای احمقانشون باعث جذابتر شدنشون میشه. در صورتی که بنظر من بیشتر شبیه یک لامپ نئون بزرگ میمونن که هر کار میکنن تا بیشتر دیده بشن. بیشتر دلبری کنن و از این طریق ارضا میشن. جای اون چیزی که توی وجودشون خالیه رو اینطوری پر میکنن خلاصه.
خود کتاب هم که بنظر من نه آنچنان در فضاسازی موفق بود نه در شخصیت پردازی. داستان بخصوصی هم که ابدا نداشت.
حقیقتش خیلی چیزها میخواستم راجع به هالی گولایتلی و این قماش آدما بگم ولی دیدم اصلا ارزشش رو هم نداره. بیخیال. به جاش، و برای اینکه تنوعی هم شده باشه دعوت میکنم همگی به فرازهایی چند از "زد-بازی" گوش بدیم که بعضی وقتا حواسشون نبود آهنگاشون قشنگ میشد:
{ریتم آهنگ اگر رو بلد نیستید میتونید اینجا گوش کنید}
چشما نیمه باز، سر با ریتم به آهستگی بالا پایین لطفا
میفرماید :
ماها تحریم نیستیم همگی سوخت میدیم
نمیدونیم باهم سرچی دوست میشیم
دیگه شده مسخره برام
اینجا بس کمه سواد،
از تفریح،
گذشته،
مصرف مواد
تهران شیک و پیک بود دیگه شیک نیست
رستوران بود و شده پیک نیک
تهران، کارتونی بود ولی گرگه
بردش
خوردش
میگ میگ!ا
دیگه دیگه رینگ بکس شد
چشم نذاشته میان میگن سُک سُک
دافاش خشنن و زاخارش فشنن
ولی بازم حال میکنیم باهاش مگه نه؟!ا
یه موقعی معیار خوب و ساده بود
تحصیلات و خونواده بود
قبل از این که پول و مایه بود
ولی الان دیگه
دخترا قشنگ میدونن باکی بخوابن
دختر چیه اینا ماشین حسابن
با این حال این جا عالیه
فکرا خالیه
تو جیرینگا مالیه
...
حالا شماها هرچی دلتون خواست بگید اما من واقعا و واقعا از هالی گولایتلی بدم میومد! از اون آدمایی که چون خوشگلن دیگه نیازی به فکر کردن نمیبینن و حتی گمان میکنن کارهای احمقانشون باعث جذابتر شدنشون میشه. در صورتی که بنظر من بیشتر شبیه یک لامپ نئون بزرگ میمونن که هر کار میکنن تا بیشتر دیده بشن. بیشتر دلبری کنن و از این طریق ارضا میشن. جای اون چیزی که توی وجودشون خالیه رو اینطوری پر میکنن خلاصه.
خود کتاب هم که بنظر من نه آنچنان در فضاسازی موفق بود نه در شخصیت پردازی. داستان بخصوصی هم که ابدا نداشت.
حقیقتش خیلی چیزها میخواستم راجع به هالی گولایتلی و این قماش آدما بگم ولی دیدم اصلا ارزشش رو هم نداره. بیخیال. به جاش، و برای اینکه تنوعی هم شده باشه دعوت میکنم همگی به فرازهایی چند از "زد-بازی" گوش بدیم که بعضی وقتا حواسشون نبود آهنگاشون قشنگ میشد:
{ریتم آهنگ اگر رو بلد نیستید میتونید اینجا گوش کنید}
چشما نیمه باز، سر با ریتم به آهستگی بالا پایین لطفا
میفرماید :
ماها تحریم نیستیم همگی سوخت میدیم
نمیدونیم باهم سرچی دوست میشیم
دیگه شده مسخره برام
اینجا بس کمه سواد،
از تفریح،
گذشته،
مصرف مواد
تهران شیک و پیک بود دیگه شیک نیست
رستوران بود و شده پیک نیک
تهران، کارتونی بود ولی گرگه
بردش
خوردش
میگ میگ!ا
دیگه دیگه رینگ بکس شد
چشم نذاشته میان میگن سُک سُک
دافاش خشنن و زاخارش فشنن
ولی بازم حال میکنیم باهاش مگه نه؟!ا
یه موقعی معیار خوب و ساده بود
تحصیلات و خونواده بود
قبل از این که پول و مایه بود
ولی الان دیگه
دخترا قشنگ میدونن باکی بخوابن
دختر چیه اینا ماشین حسابن
با این حال این جا عالیه
فکرا خالیه
تو جیرینگا مالیه
...
November 6, 2023
In Holly Golightly, Truman Capote has created an unforgettable character. I think he wanted to create a “woman” who could not be “caged”- a woman that could not be pigeon-holed.
I will remember her for her sparkling personality, for her wit, for her boundless faith in herself, for the small kindnesses she did willingly. I don’t think she was as flighty as she let the people in her life believe. She was smart and savvy- she knew what she wanted and I really hope she got it!
I really admired Capote’s writing. So many brilliant turns of phrases. I must admit that I was reminded of The Great Gatsby as I was reading. The voice of the narrators in both had a similarity. I am always impressed with authors who need a mere 85 pages to tell a perfect, complete story!
Some lines I loved:
“ A disquieting loneliness came into my life, but it induced no hunger for friends of longer acquaintances: they seemed now like a salt free, sugarless diet.” ( After Holly stops seeing our narrator)
“If I could find a real life place that made me feel like Tiffany’s, then I’d buy some furniture, and give the cat a name.”
“Everybody has to feel superior to somebody, “ she said. But it’s customary to present a little proof before you take the privilege.”
I don’t think I ever saw the movie- my goal for this weekend!
Update: Nov 5, 2023- I just watched the movie! So different from the book. I won’t be able to stop humming Moon River for a while now. I really enjoyed the movie, but the book’s ending was more realistic!
Published: 1958
I will remember her for her sparkling personality, for her wit, for her boundless faith in herself, for the small kindnesses she did willingly. I don’t think she was as flighty as she let the people in her life believe. She was smart and savvy- she knew what she wanted and I really hope she got it!
I really admired Capote’s writing. So many brilliant turns of phrases. I must admit that I was reminded of The Great Gatsby as I was reading. The voice of the narrators in both had a similarity. I am always impressed with authors who need a mere 85 pages to tell a perfect, complete story!
Some lines I loved:
“ A disquieting loneliness came into my life, but it induced no hunger for friends of longer acquaintances: they seemed now like a salt free, sugarless diet.” ( After Holly stops seeing our narrator)
“If I could find a real life place that made me feel like Tiffany’s, then I’d buy some furniture, and give the cat a name.”
“Everybody has to feel superior to somebody, “ she said. But it’s customary to present a little proof before you take the privilege.”
I don’t think I ever saw the movie- my goal for this weekend!
Update: Nov 5, 2023- I just watched the movie! So different from the book. I won’t be able to stop humming Moon River for a while now. I really enjoyed the movie, but the book’s ending was more realistic!
Published: 1958
March 3, 2023
در مورد کتاب صبحانه در تیفانی نوشتن برام سخته چون دچار احساسات متناقضی شدم! واقعیتش شخصت اصلی این کتاب منو یاد یه نفر انداخت که نسبت به اون هم احساسات دوگانهای داشتم، گاهی شیفته و گاهی متنفر. الان در مورد این شخص هم همه چیز دوگانه بود، این که این دختر آزاد و رهاست یا بی بند و بار؟ کدومش درست تره؟ باهوشه یا ساده؟ و... به نظرم بهترین قسمت کتاب اونجاست که میگه: «شما نمیتوانید به یک موجود وحشی دل ببندید. هرچه بیشتر دل ببندید، آن موجود قویتر میشود. خلاصه آنقدر قوی میشود که به جنگل فرار میکند. یا میپرد روی شاخۀ درخت. بعد درختی بلندتر. بعد هم آسمان. اگر به خودت اجازه بدهی عاشق یک موجود وحشی بشوی، سرنوشتت این است که به آسمان چشم بدوزی»ه
August 8, 2020
I really loved this - very immersive, with wonderful characterisation and a writing style that just completely caught me. I always enjoyed a looking back narrative and this was great.
December 20, 2024
#MarchOfTheModerns
‘If I could find a real-life place that made me feel like Tiffany’s, then I’d buy some furniture and give the cat a name.’
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” é uma novela tão charmosa e triste como sempre julguei que fosse, sem ter visto ainda o filme. Holly Golightly, como o próprio nome parece indicar, encara a vida com leveza e até alguma leviandade, mas é a máscara que escolheu depois de uma infância miserável, aquilo que esconde por trás dos seus inseparáveis óculos escuros.
The instant she saw the letter she squinted her eyes and bent her lips in a tough tiny smile that advanced her age immeasurably. ‘Darling’, she instructed me, ‘would you reach in the drawer there and give me my purse. A girl doesn’t read this sort of thing without her lipstick.’
Holly é provocadora, divertida e desbocada, um pouco como o próprio Truman Capote, que é dos autores que mais dá de si às suas personagens, todas essencialmente solitárias e inadaptadas.
‘You’re wrong. She is a phony. But on the other hand you’re right. She isn’t phony because she’s a real phony. She believes all this crap she believes. You can’t talk her out of it.’
Tendo apenas 19 anos e morando num apartamento cheio de caixotes e malas, Holly é um espírito livre que vive de expedientes e por sair com homens ricos enquanto um deles não se decide a casar com ela. Holly é uma sedutora por quem todos se apaixonam, incluindo o vizinho escritor que conta a história da breve mas intensa amizade que surge entre eles.
‘Look in the bedroom. There’s a present for you.’
I had one for her, too: a small package in my pocket that felt even smaller when I saw, square on the bed and wrapped with a red ribbon, the beautiful bird cage.
‘But, Holly! It’s dreadful!’
‘I couldn’t agree more; but I thought you wanted it.’
‘The money! 350 dollars!’
She shrugged. ‘A few extra trips to the powder room. Promise me, though. Promise you’ll never put a living thing in it.’
‘If I could find a real-life place that made me feel like Tiffany’s, then I’d buy some furniture and give the cat a name.’
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” é uma novela tão charmosa e triste como sempre julguei que fosse, sem ter visto ainda o filme. Holly Golightly, como o próprio nome parece indicar, encara a vida com leveza e até alguma leviandade, mas é a máscara que escolheu depois de uma infância miserável, aquilo que esconde por trás dos seus inseparáveis óculos escuros.
The instant she saw the letter she squinted her eyes and bent her lips in a tough tiny smile that advanced her age immeasurably. ‘Darling’, she instructed me, ‘would you reach in the drawer there and give me my purse. A girl doesn’t read this sort of thing without her lipstick.’
Holly é provocadora, divertida e desbocada, um pouco como o próprio Truman Capote, que é dos autores que mais dá de si às suas personagens, todas essencialmente solitárias e inadaptadas.
‘You’re wrong. She is a phony. But on the other hand you’re right. She isn’t phony because she’s a real phony. She believes all this crap she believes. You can’t talk her out of it.’
Tendo apenas 19 anos e morando num apartamento cheio de caixotes e malas, Holly é um espírito livre que vive de expedientes e por sair com homens ricos enquanto um deles não se decide a casar com ela. Holly é uma sedutora por quem todos se apaixonam, incluindo o vizinho escritor que conta a história da breve mas intensa amizade que surge entre eles.
‘Look in the bedroom. There’s a present for you.’
I had one for her, too: a small package in my pocket that felt even smaller when I saw, square on the bed and wrapped with a red ribbon, the beautiful bird cage.
‘But, Holly! It’s dreadful!’
‘I couldn’t agree more; but I thought you wanted it.’
‘The money! 350 dollars!’
She shrugged. ‘A few extra trips to the powder room. Promise me, though. Promise you’ll never put a living thing in it.’
February 20, 2020
Perché il mondo intero sembra innamorato o propenso ad innamorarsi di Holly Golightly? Per la sua bellezza? Per la sua eccentricità? Non credo. Più probabile che, conoscendola, rimanga ammaliato dalla sua assoluta libertà, da una vita condotta senza regole apparenti (o non certo secondo quelle imperanti), che oltre la sua apparente frivolezza sa nascondere profondità e tanta fragilità. Per chi conduce la propria vita lungo binari prefissati e ogni singolo giorno sente il peso del giogo che si è posto da solo sulle spalle, un simile richiamo, le prospettive che sembra schiudere non possono che essere irresistibili. Holly ha trovato la chiave per la felicità? No, perché oltre la sua travolgente energia, spesso trapelano insoddisfazione e smarrimento. Si può amare Holly sino a farla propria? Non più di quanto si potrebbe racchiuder il vento tra le proprie mani. Non più di quanto si potrebbe imbrigliare la tempesta. Come lei stessa disse: ci si può fare male ad innamorarsi di un animale selvatico.
February 12, 2023
کوتاه، روان و تا حدی تلخ. تلخه چون زندگیه به صورت کلی. یعنی داستانِ لحظهها هم هست ولی نوع روایت سرعت گذشت زمان رو کاملاً ملموس میکنه.
داستان در مورد دختریه به نام هالی و البته رابطهی سایر موجودات از آدم و گربه گرفته تا لباس و اتاق با هالی. هالی به تعریف نویسنده و از زبان خود شخصیت "یک موجود وحشیه" و سایر موجودات حاضر در داستان ظاهراً در این دستهبندی نمیگنجند. این شاید در دنیای داستان و واقعیت اولین برخورد من با شخصیت "موجود وحشی" نباشه. من ترجیحاً اسمشون رو میذارم free bird یا پرندهی آزاد. در مورد این پرنده که نویسنده با رسم شکل توضیح داده ولی در مورد موجودات در تماس با اون (شاید بشه گفت قربانیانشون) فکر میکنم این چند خط از متن به اندازهی کافی گویا باشه:
"هالی بهش توصیه کرد:《هیچوقت عاشق یک موجود وحشی نشو، آقای بل. اشتباه دکتر همین بود. همیشه با خودش موجودات وحشی به خانه میآورد. یک شاهین با بال آسیبدیده. یک بار یک گربهی دُمکوتاه گنده آورده بود که پایش شکسته بود. اما شما نمیتوانید به یک موجود وحشی دل ببندید. هرچه بیشتر دل ببندید، آن موجود قویتر میشود. خلاصه آنقدر قوی میشود که به جنگل فرار میکند. یا میپرد روی شاخهی درخت. بعد درختی بلندتر. بعد هم آسمان. آخر و عاقبتت این خواهد بود آقای بل. اگر به خودت اجازه بدهی عاشق یک موجود وحشی بشوی، سرنوشتت این است که به آسمان چشم بدوزی.》"
"هالی مارتینیاش را بلند کرد و گفت:《به سلامتی دکتر.》و لیوانش را به لیوان من زد.《به سلامتی تو، دکتر عزیزم، باور کن خیرهشدن به آسمان بهتر از زندگی کردن در آن است. فضایی خالی، فضایی مبهم، کشوری که فقط در آن رعد و برق میزند و اشیا ناپدید میشوند.》"
پ.ن۱: از ترکیب انگلیسی free bird استفاده کردم چون این مفهوم برای اولین بار در بستر انگلیسی برای من شکل گرفت.
پ.ن۲: من پرندهی آزاد رو برای آسیب رسوندن به دیگران سرزنش نمیکنم.
نیش عقرب از نه از ره کین است
اقتضای طبیعتش این است
(عقرب الزاماً شبیه هیولایی نفرتانگیز نیست.)
داستان در مورد دختریه به نام هالی و البته رابطهی سایر موجودات از آدم و گربه گرفته تا لباس و اتاق با هالی. هالی به تعریف نویسنده و از زبان خود شخصیت "یک موجود وحشیه" و سایر موجودات حاضر در داستان ظاهراً در این دستهبندی نمیگنجند. این شاید در دنیای داستان و واقعیت اولین برخورد من با شخصیت "موجود وحشی" نباشه. من ترجیحاً اسمشون رو میذارم free bird یا پرندهی آزاد. در مورد این پرنده که نویسنده با رسم شکل توضیح داده ولی در مورد موجودات در تماس با اون (شاید بشه گفت قربانیانشون) فکر میکنم این چند خط از متن به اندازهی کافی گویا باشه:
"هالی بهش توصیه کرد:《هیچوقت عاشق یک موجود وحشی نشو، آقای بل. اشتباه دکتر همین بود. همیشه با خودش موجودات وحشی به خانه میآورد. یک شاهین با بال آسیبدیده. یک بار یک گربهی دُمکوتاه گنده آورده بود که پایش شکسته بود. اما شما نمیتوانید به یک موجود وحشی دل ببندید. هرچه بیشتر دل ببندید، آن موجود قویتر میشود. خلاصه آنقدر قوی میشود که به جنگل فرار میکند. یا میپرد روی شاخهی درخت. بعد درختی بلندتر. بعد هم آسمان. آخر و عاقبتت این خواهد بود آقای بل. اگر به خودت اجازه بدهی عاشق یک موجود وحشی بشوی، سرنوشتت این است که به آسمان چشم بدوزی.》"
"هالی مارتینیاش را بلند کرد و گفت:《به سلامتی دکتر.》و لیوانش را به لیوان من زد.《به سلامتی تو، دکتر عزیزم، باور کن خیرهشدن به آسمان بهتر از زندگی کردن در آن است. فضایی خالی، فضایی مبهم، کشوری که فقط در آن رعد و برق میزند و اشیا ناپدید میشوند.》"
پ.ن۱: از ترکیب انگلیسی free bird استفاده کردم چون این مفهوم برای اولین بار در بستر انگلیسی برای من شکل گرفت.
پ.ن۲: من پرندهی آزاد رو برای آسیب رسوندن به دیگران سرزنش نمیکنم.
نیش عقرب از نه از ره کین است
اقتضای طبیعتش این است
(عقرب الزاماً شبیه هیولایی نفرتانگیز نیست.)
January 21, 2020
Livro que surpreende, encanta e se abandona com um sorriso já de saudade da extravagante e original Holly, do seu gato, do seu amor à vida.
«- Querido – pediu-me ela - , eras capaz de abrir aquela gaveta e dares-me a minha mala? Uma miúda não se presta a ler este tipo de coisas sem usar o seu bâton.»
Dizem que Truman Capote tinha um grande amor por gatos, pelo que não seja estranho que o felino sem nome do livro Boneca de Luxo desempenhe um papel importante no coração da história. Holly resume a novela com a citação: «Se eu pudesse encontrar um lugar da vida real que me fizesse sentir como Tiffany, então eu ia comprar alguns móveis e dar um nome ao gato.»
E ainda:
«Pobre desgraçado… – lamentou-se, coçando-lhe a cabeça. – Pobre desgraçado sem nome. Não é muito correcto que ele não tenha um nome. Mas eu não tenho qualquer direito de lhe pôr um nome, vai ter de esperar pertencer a alguém. Nós apenas nos encontramos um belo dia à beira-rio, não pertencemos um ao outro, ele e eu somos independentes».
Uma jovem em viagem à procura da sua casa, aquela onde se sinta em casa.
«- Querido – pediu-me ela - , eras capaz de abrir aquela gaveta e dares-me a minha mala? Uma miúda não se presta a ler este tipo de coisas sem usar o seu bâton.»
Dizem que Truman Capote tinha um grande amor por gatos, pelo que não seja estranho que o felino sem nome do livro Boneca de Luxo desempenhe um papel importante no coração da história. Holly resume a novela com a citação: «Se eu pudesse encontrar um lugar da vida real que me fizesse sentir como Tiffany, então eu ia comprar alguns móveis e dar um nome ao gato.»
E ainda:
«Pobre desgraçado… – lamentou-se, coçando-lhe a cabeça. – Pobre desgraçado sem nome. Não é muito correcto que ele não tenha um nome. Mas eu não tenho qualquer direito de lhe pôr um nome, vai ter de esperar pertencer a alguém. Nós apenas nos encontramos um belo dia à beira-rio, não pertencemos um ao outro, ele e eu somos independentes».
Uma jovem em viagem à procura da sua casa, aquela onde se sinta em casa.
December 16, 2017
Για μένα πατρίδα είναι εκεί που αισθάνεσαι οτι βρίσκεσαι στο σπίτι σου. Και γώ το μέρος αυτό το ψάχνω ακόμα.
Απο τους πιο ζωντανούς χαρακτήρες που πέρασαν ποτέ απο το χαρτί. Άψογα σκιαγραφημένη, αλλοπρόσαλλα ρομαντική χωρίς όμως ποτέ να μπορούμε να την προσεγγίσουμε πλήρως και να την αποκρυπτογραφήσουμε. Εξου και η γοητεία της. Και το οτι βρίζει σαν νταλικέρης αλλα δυστυχώς δεν το γευτήκαμε σε όλο του το μεγαλείο αυτό το χάρισμα.
Απο τους πιο ζωντανούς χαρακτήρες που πέρασαν ποτέ απο το χαρτί. Άψογα σκιαγραφημένη, αλλοπρόσαλλα ρομαντική χωρίς όμως ποτέ να μπορούμε να την προσεγγίσουμε πλήρως και να την αποκρυπτογραφήσουμε. Εξου και η γοητεία της. Και το οτι βρίζει σαν νταλικέρης αλλα δυστυχώς δεν το γευτήκαμε σε όλο του το μεγαλείο αυτό το χάρισμα.
May 16, 2016
I enjoyed Capote's In Cold Blood, and found that dark, true-crime telling at odds with what I imagined this book was about (I haven't seen the movie, but am very familiar with the glamourous images of Audrey Hepburn that people immediately associate with this story). When I was considering reading this, I stumbled upon the audiobook, which was, lo and behold, narrated by none other than Michael C. Hall. I had to listen!
First of all, I loved hearing Hall's voice again, after years of no Dexter. He has a wonderful voice. He did a great job narrating, although I have to say I didn't enjoy hearing him read Holly's dialogue in a womanly sounding voice. It sounded weird, and possibly put me off of her as a character a little. Which brings me to what I thought of the book:
I assumed this book was vintage 'chick lit', but it was more than that. I'm willing to bet that the book is deeper and darker than the movie. Holiday Golightly is a mysterious young woman who makes her living off men (she has been described by Capote as a modern day Geisha), who makes quite an impression on the nameless narrator. I think Capote wanted us to like her, see her as a damaged, vulnerable, lost girl who needs saving and a place she can call home. She's beautiful, charming and men flock to her. She's shocking (for the time, and for now, I daresay). She's at times thoughtful. But I found her, amidst her "darlings", pretty unlikeable and completely self absorbed. I tired of her omissions and trying to figure her out, which presents a problem when reading this book.
Capote is a wonderful writer, and I enjoyed listening to his prose. But at the end of it all, I was left a little empty.
First of all, I loved hearing Hall's voice again, after years of no Dexter. He has a wonderful voice. He did a great job narrating, although I have to say I didn't enjoy hearing him read Holly's dialogue in a womanly sounding voice. It sounded weird, and possibly put me off of her as a character a little. Which brings me to what I thought of the book:
I assumed this book was vintage 'chick lit', but it was more than that. I'm willing to bet that the book is deeper and darker than the movie. Holiday Golightly is a mysterious young woman who makes her living off men (she has been described by Capote as a modern day Geisha), who makes quite an impression on the nameless narrator. I think Capote wanted us to like her, see her as a damaged, vulnerable, lost girl who needs saving and a place she can call home. She's beautiful, charming and men flock to her. She's shocking (for the time, and for now, I daresay). She's at times thoughtful. But I found her, amidst her "darlings", pretty unlikeable and completely self absorbed. I tired of her omissions and trying to figure her out, which presents a problem when reading this book.
Capote is a wonderful writer, and I enjoyed listening to his prose. But at the end of it all, I was left a little empty.
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