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Yachten und dergleichen

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Nie hat jemand die Vergeblichkeit des Lebens zu so stimmungsvollen, schönen Erzählungen verdichtet wie Capote: Ob ein Pelzmantel die Besitzerin wechseln soll oder eine Partygesellschaft nicht darüber hinwegtäuschen kann, wie wenig Gäste und Gastgeberin miteinander verbindet Truman Capote erzählt nie bitter von den Um- und Irrwegen des Alltags, sondern schaut immer mit Wärme auf die Strauchelnden und Strampelnden. In seiner gerade erst entdeckten Geschichte »Yachten und dergleichen« etwa strichelt er die Skizze einer vollendeten Nacht auf einem Kreuzfahrtschiff und das so, dass man sich hinterher mit dem Dasein, komme, was wolle, wunderbar versöhnt fühlt.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

3 people are currently reading
104 people want to read

About the author

Truman Capote

346 books7,303 followers
Librarian 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.

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5 stars
20 (8%)
4 stars
66 (26%)
3 stars
113 (45%)
2 stars
42 (16%)
1 star
7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Kingofmusic.
273 reviews54 followers
October 4, 2022
Capote war ein begnadeter Erzähler! Schöne Geschichten für zwischendurch.
Profile Image for Sunnie.
438 reviews40 followers
January 13, 2025
A very short tale written in true Capote style. The real story is who actually wrote it!
Profile Image for Melanti.
1,256 reviews140 followers
October 2, 2016
A lost and recently rediscovered chapter from one of Capote's unfinished novels.

The introduction talks a bit about how the story was found and discusses it in the context of the novel. It seems like it differs in some way from any version that could have made it into the novel - though they didn't discuss how, other than the book had gone in a different direction.

What wasn't clear, though, was whether this was a very early draft or if it was Capote had been rewriting it to try to make it stand alone well enough to publish individually.

In whatever case, it wasn't found with the other chapters of the unfinished novel, and was never published as a stand alone story in his life time.

The editor felt sure that it stood alone fine - yet I'm unconvinced. The prose is good, of course, but the plot was a little thin for that; it read more like an excerpt from a longer story to me.
Profile Image for K B.
121 reviews33 followers
Read
July 30, 2022
At one point Capote describes a friend returning from her errands as “sweat-soaked and heat crazed” and if that just doesn’t describe me this summer…
Profile Image for Tim  Goldsmith.
531 reviews12 followers
February 23, 2022
It's hard to say too much about this. A discovered chapter of a book that never got published. This tiny pages is short, sharp and engaging, just like Capote himself. Makes me want to read "In Cold Blood" again.
Maybe that is the value of this little piece... like a hors d'oeuvre, this little tidbit leaves you wanting more.
Profile Image for Grant Johnson.
99 reviews4 followers
September 17, 2017
This is what short fiction is all about. This is pure Capote through-and-through.
Profile Image for Pinky.
1,672 reviews
September 25, 2022
It’s my mission to read as much of Truman Capote’s Answered Prayers, his last, and by all his accounts, greatest, work as possible. According to the intro, “Yachts and Things” was found tucked away in the manuscript library at NYPL and was likely intended to be a part of Answered Prayers. Previously unpublished and I’m guessing not completed, the story is about Truman and a woman who is likely Katherine Graham from the WaPo on a private Mediterranean cruise. I loved it and wish there was more.
Profile Image for Kazeem Olalekan.
Author 2 books3 followers
February 14, 2021
One too many Hashish makes the words thinner in volume but flowery in prose. Short but nice.
2 reviews
June 16, 2023
I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.

The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.

For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...

Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:

1. Reading Exercises the Brain

As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.

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Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.

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We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.

4. Reading Improves Literacy

Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.

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By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.

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By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.

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Profile Image for Andy Davis.
745 reviews14 followers
November 4, 2024
A very short Capote snippet about a Mediterranean cruise that a slightly affected not unlike Capote takes with a woman. They stop with a rich woman on a private island for supper, watch a porpoise playing by the boat and smoke some hashish with a beach part of Turks. And that's about it but the prose is nice and lush. It might have been meant as part of a novel in early stages of prep.
Profile Image for Melanie.
2,732 reviews14 followers
January 23, 2025
I can see where this would have been a good story or even a decent short story, but it feels very incomplete.

How did this book find me? It was the in the Audible Plus catalog and I have been meaning to read more of Capote's work.
Profile Image for Leah Agirlandaboy.
843 reviews15 followers
Read
December 2, 2021
Meh, but it was discovered as an unpublished chapter of an unfinished novel, so.
Profile Image for Clare K H.
426 reviews7 followers
June 13, 2022
A snippet of the first chapter of an unfinished novel. Lovely prose, a tantalising snippet.

Audio has some introductory info at the beginning.
78 reviews
October 11, 2022
capote’s great but this was clearly a little scattered and unfinished. silver lining is it left me wanting more?

a shame we’ll never know how it would have read
Profile Image for Deborah.
101 reviews7 followers
August 25, 2025
Breve e magico, perfetta lettura estiva. Grande scrittore!
Profile Image for Andreea Stanciu.
13 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2026
I listened on Audible, I don’t really have much to say… just one chapter, and that’s about it.
Profile Image for Gregg Parker.
Author 5 books21 followers
July 26, 2025
Unfortunately, this is a case of false advertising, as the title is very misleading. While there are quite a few things in the story, there is only one yacht. Therefore, it should be called "Yacht & Things."
Profile Image for Kathleen Sullivan.
19 reviews
March 28, 2017
Good at setting the scene and nice to know from the introduction that it's thinly veiled autobiographical - I was surprised to find I would have liked the story to keep going, yet as it is I wouldn't recommend it really - it's unfinished.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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