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A Capote reader
Truman Capote began writing when he was eight and became one of America's most versatile and gifted authors. This reader contains much of his published his fiction, including Breakfast at Tiffany's, as well as his prolific output of short stories, travel sketches in which he evokes places from Tangiers to Brooklyn, portraits of his contempories such as Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe and Cecil Beaton, and his brilliant reportage and essays. His piece entitled The Muses are Heard, which recounts a trip to Communist Europe with the cast of Porgy and Bess, shows the chameleon-like talents of a literary legend.
722 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 21, 2017
A Capote Reader is a long collection of short stories, novellas, travel sketches, reporting, portraits and essays by Truman Capote. I separately reviewed his classic Breakfast at Tiffanys which is her as one of two novellas and was a five star read. However, the other short stories and novella were ok, but I hardly remember any of their details and none were even close the the excellence of Breakfast. The reporting is quite dry as were the travel sketches. Things improve in the portraits - in particular The Duke in His Domain about Marlon Brando in Kyoto shooting Sayanara and A Beautiful Child about Marilyn Monroe (this one was sublime). The essays which close out the volume are interesting and largely autobiographical - the one standout being Ghosts in Sun Light: The Filming of In Cold Blood.
Here I hesitated between 3* and 4* but since I only loved about 80 pages out of 720...
Here I hesitated between 3* and 4* but since I only loved about 80 pages out of 720...
April 11, 2011
Truman Capote was a writer of unique genius, one who could cover so many genres, fiction and non-fiction, the creator of some brilliant literary cameos. I’ve loved his work ever since I read Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which introduced me to Holly Golightly, a free spirit, the one figure in literature that I identify more with than any other, the delightful, effervescent, wonderful Holly, always travelling and never arriving.
A few years ago I saw Capote, an excellent biopic of the author, played with commendable skill by Philip Seymour Hoffman. It follows in Capote’s steps as he, with the aid of Nell Harper Lee, his childhood friend and fellow writer, researches the 1959 murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, a quest that would end in the publication of In Cold Blood, in so many ways the definitive non-fiction novel, disturbing and horribly compelling at one and the same time.
The recent death of the veteran actress Elizabeth Taylor brought to mind another aspect of Capote’s work – the detailed and memorable little pen-portraits he painted of some of the celebrities he knew, not the kind of superficial tittle-tattle one usually associates with this kind of thing, but revealing, affectionate and intimate. There are several in my A Capote Reader, an anthology which covers various aspects of his work, short stories, novellas, reportage and travel writing as well as his portraits.
My favourite of his pen sketches by far is A Beautiful Child, an account of the day he spent with Marilyn Monroe, but Elizabeth Taylor, published in 1974, is almost as good, not just for the sympathetic way he depicts her but for the obvious empathy between the writer and the actress, which, in so few words, enables him to get well below the surface.
My rereading was well-rewarded. He describes how he once visited her in hospital, where she was recovering from a bout of life-threatening illness. In response to a question of his she replies that she wasn’t afraid, that she was too busy fighting, that she was not ready, as she put it, to “go over that horizon”, not being the type. She clearly had a ‘type’ in mind, as Capote immediately deduced;
“Perhaps not; not like Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland, both of whom had yearned to go over the horizon, some darker rainbow, and before succeeding, had attempted that voyage innumerable times. And yet there was some kind of common thread between these three, Taylor, Monroe, Garland – I knew the last two fairly well and yes, there was something. An emotional extremism, a dangerously greater need to be loved than to love, a hotheaded willingness of an incompetent gambler to throw good money after bad.”
When it came to life and relationships Taylor was certainly a gambler, evidenced by her turbulent relationship with Richard Burton, another movie veteran, a relationship itself with enough drama for a movie; a relationship that, in some ways, did make a movie in the screen version of Edward Albee’s play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, where they played opposite one another in the lead rolls. They were the most celebrated off-screen lovers, as Capote says, since Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.
The essay concludes several years after this hospital visit. Taylor is in New York with Burton, where he is appearing in a play. After one performance Capote joins them in their hotel suite, where he shares in a late-evening buffet. When Burton leaves the room to fetch some more champagne Taylor describes their relationship:
Oh, we quarrel. But at least he’s worth quarrelling with. He’s really brilliant. He’s read everything and I can talk to him – there’s nothing I can’t talk to him about…But the most important thing is what happens between a man and a woman who love each other. Or any two people who can love each other.
Capote writes, as Taylor draws the curtains against the rain, she looked at him sightlessly, like Galatea surveying some ultimate horizon. “What do you suppose will become of us?,” she asked, but the answer came already supplied – “I guess, when you find what you’ve always wanted, that’s not where the beginning begins, that’s when the end starts.”
I felt sad the first time I read this, even sadder the second. I hope not to find what I’ve always wanted for some time yet, though I can’t help but envy the actress. I think also of the brilliance of past celebrity, the brilliance of Taylor of Burton and of Capote, now all over that ultimate horizon, compared with the mediocrity of the present.
A few years ago I saw Capote, an excellent biopic of the author, played with commendable skill by Philip Seymour Hoffman. It follows in Capote’s steps as he, with the aid of Nell Harper Lee, his childhood friend and fellow writer, researches the 1959 murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, a quest that would end in the publication of In Cold Blood, in so many ways the definitive non-fiction novel, disturbing and horribly compelling at one and the same time.
The recent death of the veteran actress Elizabeth Taylor brought to mind another aspect of Capote’s work – the detailed and memorable little pen-portraits he painted of some of the celebrities he knew, not the kind of superficial tittle-tattle one usually associates with this kind of thing, but revealing, affectionate and intimate. There are several in my A Capote Reader, an anthology which covers various aspects of his work, short stories, novellas, reportage and travel writing as well as his portraits.
My favourite of his pen sketches by far is A Beautiful Child, an account of the day he spent with Marilyn Monroe, but Elizabeth Taylor, published in 1974, is almost as good, not just for the sympathetic way he depicts her but for the obvious empathy between the writer and the actress, which, in so few words, enables him to get well below the surface.
My rereading was well-rewarded. He describes how he once visited her in hospital, where she was recovering from a bout of life-threatening illness. In response to a question of his she replies that she wasn’t afraid, that she was too busy fighting, that she was not ready, as she put it, to “go over that horizon”, not being the type. She clearly had a ‘type’ in mind, as Capote immediately deduced;
“Perhaps not; not like Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland, both of whom had yearned to go over the horizon, some darker rainbow, and before succeeding, had attempted that voyage innumerable times. And yet there was some kind of common thread between these three, Taylor, Monroe, Garland – I knew the last two fairly well and yes, there was something. An emotional extremism, a dangerously greater need to be loved than to love, a hotheaded willingness of an incompetent gambler to throw good money after bad.”
When it came to life and relationships Taylor was certainly a gambler, evidenced by her turbulent relationship with Richard Burton, another movie veteran, a relationship itself with enough drama for a movie; a relationship that, in some ways, did make a movie in the screen version of Edward Albee’s play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, where they played opposite one another in the lead rolls. They were the most celebrated off-screen lovers, as Capote says, since Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.
The essay concludes several years after this hospital visit. Taylor is in New York with Burton, where he is appearing in a play. After one performance Capote joins them in their hotel suite, where he shares in a late-evening buffet. When Burton leaves the room to fetch some more champagne Taylor describes their relationship:
Oh, we quarrel. But at least he’s worth quarrelling with. He’s really brilliant. He’s read everything and I can talk to him – there’s nothing I can’t talk to him about…But the most important thing is what happens between a man and a woman who love each other. Or any two people who can love each other.
Capote writes, as Taylor draws the curtains against the rain, she looked at him sightlessly, like Galatea surveying some ultimate horizon. “What do you suppose will become of us?,” she asked, but the answer came already supplied – “I guess, when you find what you’ve always wanted, that’s not where the beginning begins, that’s when the end starts.”
I felt sad the first time I read this, even sadder the second. I hope not to find what I’ve always wanted for some time yet, though I can’t help but envy the actress. I think also of the brilliance of past celebrity, the brilliance of Taylor of Burton and of Capote, now all over that ultimate horizon, compared with the mediocrity of the present.
March 11, 2008
haha. My privileges to the Huntington Public Library were eventually revoked becuase I loved this book so much that I never returned it. It's been over ten years now. I am not sorry.
January 8, 2025
Truman Capote is one of the great American post-war writers. This collection includes a selection of his exquisite short stories, the perfect novella 'Breakfast at Tiffanys', and samples of his shorter pieces - travel, portraits, journalism - all fabulous.
An excellent introduction to this singular writer.
An excellent introduction to this singular writer.
December 3, 2022
This is definitely a book for Capote fans!
I loved the short stories, essays, The Grass Harp and of course, Breakfast at Tiffany’s as well as 2 of the reportages.
A Beautiful Child was incredible and I enjoyed most of the other portraits of famous people.
Some of the travel sketches were a bit dull at times and I didn’t really enjoy The Muses are Heard - I was counting down the pages on this one.
Overall, definitely a ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read and a must for those who love Capote 😊
I loved the short stories, essays, The Grass Harp and of course, Breakfast at Tiffany’s as well as 2 of the reportages.
A Beautiful Child was incredible and I enjoyed most of the other portraits of famous people.
Some of the travel sketches were a bit dull at times and I didn’t really enjoy The Muses are Heard - I was counting down the pages on this one.
Overall, definitely a ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read and a must for those who love Capote 😊
May 27, 2022
A staggering and varied opus, covering a wide range of Capote's writing. One of the best writers I've encountered; playful, clever observations throughout.
December 29, 2017
Eg er fillen så dårleg til å setje meg ned berre for å lese, for eg las ingenting i denne på mange veker etter å ha lese dei første 150-ish sidene og så klarte eg fillen å lese heile resten av boka(om eg ikkje nødvendigvis fekk med meg absolutt alt) samtidig som eg høyrde gjennom scoret til Star Wars: The Force Awakens
February 28, 2012
Years ago I only managed to watch about five minutes of Breakfast At Tiffany’s before finding it unbearably affected and turning it off. What I read of this collection made me feel just about the same, and I did indeed close the book before reading all of the collection. Instead, I read a selection, including fiction and travel essays.
The fiction pieces all seemed to start with a girl in a raincoat – her and her environs painfully constructed to be enigmatic. The characters were mainly two-dimensional, with just a smattering of Zooey Deschanel thrown in. I though the travel writing was patronising to the locations and the people in them.
Of course, Capote is a very good writer, but his seems so considered that it sucks the life out of what he writes. In fact, he replaces what should be the content of the writing with his own personality. I probably would have liked that if I felt that I liked him more, but despite being an apparent hit at parties, I think I would have found him a bit of a show-off and a bore.
Ironically, the piece I liked best was Breakfast At Tiffany’s, where the main character was at least developed to some degree. But I still didn’t finish it.
The fiction pieces all seemed to start with a girl in a raincoat – her and her environs painfully constructed to be enigmatic. The characters were mainly two-dimensional, with just a smattering of Zooey Deschanel thrown in. I though the travel writing was patronising to the locations and the people in them.
Of course, Capote is a very good writer, but his seems so considered that it sucks the life out of what he writes. In fact, he replaces what should be the content of the writing with his own personality. I probably would have liked that if I felt that I liked him more, but despite being an apparent hit at parties, I think I would have found him a bit of a show-off and a bore.
Ironically, the piece I liked best was Breakfast At Tiffany’s, where the main character was at least developed to some degree. But I still didn’t finish it.
physical-tbr
August 9, 2025Short Stories
"Miriam"
rating: tbd/5
"My Side of the Matter"
rating: tbd/5
"A Tree of Night"
rating: tbd/5
"Jug of Silver"
rating: tbd/5
"The Headless Hawk"
rating: tbd/5
"Shut a Final Door"
rating: tbd/5
"Master Misery"
rating: tbd/5
"Children on Their Birthdays"
rating: tbd/5
"A Diamond Guitar"
rating: tbd/5
"House of Flowers"
rating: tbd/5
"Among the Paths to Eden"
rating: tbd/5
"Mojave"
rating: tbd/5
Novellas
The Grass Harp
rating: tbd/5
Breakfast at Tiffany's
rating: tbd/5
Travel Sketches
"New Orleans"
rating: tbd/5
"New York"
rating: tbd/5
"Brooklyn"
rating: tbd/5
"Hollywood"
rating: tbd/5
"Haiti"
rating: tbd/5
"To Europe"
rating: tbd/5
"Ischia"
rating: tbd/5
"Tangier"
rating: tbd/5
"A Ride Through Spain"
rating: tbd/5
"Fontana Vecchia"
rating: tbd/5
"Extreme Magic"
rating: tbd/5
"Greek Paragraphs"
rating: tbd/5
"Music for Chameleons"
rating: tbd/5
"The Muses are Heard"
rating: tbd/5
"Then It All Came Down"
rating: tbd/5
"Handcarved Coffins"
rating: tbd/5
"The Duke in His Domain"
rating: tbd/5
"From Observations: Richard Avedon, John Huston, Charlie Chaplin, A Gathering of Swans, Pablo Picasso, Coco Chanel, Marcel Duchamp, Jean Cocteau and André Gide, Mae West, Louis Armstrong, Humphrey Bogart, Ezra Pound, Somerset Maugham, Isak Dinesen"
rating: tbd/5
"Jane Bowles"
rating: tbd/5
"Cecil Beaton"
rating: tbd/5
"Elizabeth Taylor"
rating: tbd/5
"A Beautiful Child"
rating: tbd/5
"Remembering Tennessee"
rating: tbd/5
"A House on the Heights"
rating: tbd/5
"Lola"
rating: tbd/5
"A Voice from a Cloud"
rating: tbd/5
"Ghosts in Sunlight: The Filming of In Cold Blood"
rating: tbd/5
"The White Rose"
rating: tbd/5
"Self-Portrait"
rating: tbd/5
"Preface to The Dogs Bark"
rating: tbd/5
"A Day's Work"
rating: tbd/5
"Dazzle"
rating: tbd/5
"Hidden Gardens"
rating: tbd/5
"Hello, Stranger"
rating: tbd/5
"Derring-do"
rating: tbd/5
"Nocturnal Turnings"
rating: tbd/5
"Mr. Jones"
rating: tbd/5
"A Lamp in a Window"
rating: tbd/5
"Hospitality"
rating: tbd/5
"Preface to Music for Chameleons"
rating: tbd/5
"Miriam"
rating: tbd/5
"My Side of the Matter"
rating: tbd/5
"A Tree of Night"
rating: tbd/5
"Jug of Silver"
rating: tbd/5
"The Headless Hawk"
rating: tbd/5
"Shut a Final Door"
rating: tbd/5
"Master Misery"
rating: tbd/5
"Children on Their Birthdays"
rating: tbd/5
"A Diamond Guitar"
rating: tbd/5
"House of Flowers"
rating: tbd/5
"Among the Paths to Eden"
rating: tbd/5
"Mojave"
rating: tbd/5
Novellas
The Grass Harp
rating: tbd/5
Breakfast at Tiffany's
rating: tbd/5
Travel Sketches
"New Orleans"
rating: tbd/5
"New York"
rating: tbd/5
"Brooklyn"
rating: tbd/5
"Hollywood"
rating: tbd/5
"Haiti"
rating: tbd/5
"To Europe"
rating: tbd/5
"Ischia"
rating: tbd/5
"Tangier"
rating: tbd/5
"A Ride Through Spain"
rating: tbd/5
"Fontana Vecchia"
rating: tbd/5
"Extreme Magic"
rating: tbd/5
"Greek Paragraphs"
rating: tbd/5
"Music for Chameleons"
rating: tbd/5
"The Muses are Heard"
rating: tbd/5
"Then It All Came Down"
rating: tbd/5
"Handcarved Coffins"
rating: tbd/5
"The Duke in His Domain"
rating: tbd/5
"From Observations: Richard Avedon, John Huston, Charlie Chaplin, A Gathering of Swans, Pablo Picasso, Coco Chanel, Marcel Duchamp, Jean Cocteau and André Gide, Mae West, Louis Armstrong, Humphrey Bogart, Ezra Pound, Somerset Maugham, Isak Dinesen"
rating: tbd/5
"Jane Bowles"
rating: tbd/5
"Cecil Beaton"
rating: tbd/5
"Elizabeth Taylor"
rating: tbd/5
"A Beautiful Child"
rating: tbd/5
"Remembering Tennessee"
rating: tbd/5
"A House on the Heights"
rating: tbd/5
"Lola"
rating: tbd/5
"A Voice from a Cloud"
rating: tbd/5
"Ghosts in Sunlight: The Filming of In Cold Blood"
rating: tbd/5
"The White Rose"
rating: tbd/5
"Self-Portrait"
rating: tbd/5
"Preface to The Dogs Bark"
rating: tbd/5
"A Day's Work"
rating: tbd/5
"Dazzle"
rating: tbd/5
"Hidden Gardens"
rating: tbd/5
"Hello, Stranger"
rating: tbd/5
"Derring-do"
rating: tbd/5
"Nocturnal Turnings"
rating: tbd/5
"Mr. Jones"
rating: tbd/5
"A Lamp in a Window"
rating: tbd/5
"Hospitality"
rating: tbd/5
"Preface to Music for Chameleons"
rating: tbd/5
October 14, 2020
It's not often that an author has a personality, a presence that overshadows his work. Truman Capote is hilarious and eloquent and snobbish all at the same time, unabashedly gay during a time when it wasn't deemed an “acceptable” life choice, yet speaks honestly about his humble beginnings in the Deep South, shuttled between relatives (ahem, though he does manage to mention he grew up next door to Harper Lee and that she wrote him in to To Kill a Mockingbird). He writes witticisms that might not pass muster with the hyper-sensitive people in today's world, but I can confirm are just as funny today as they were yesteryear:
Only she's not so bad on the nerves as Eunice, for she is a natural-born half-wit and ought to be kept in somebody's attic.
Who the hell wants to live forever? Most of us, apparently; but it's idiotic. After all, there is such a thing as life-saturation: the point where everything is pure effort and total repetition.
'Then maybe you will understand this,' she said, leading me over to a deep-freeze, and opening it. Inside was nothing but cats: stacks of frozen, perfectly preserved cats—dozens of them. It gave me an odd sensation.
Sigh....I fear that the age of the age of the larger-than-life, male wit/social climber looming large on the New York City social scene is becoming an anachronism, and, with it, Capote's legend.
Only she's not so bad on the nerves as Eunice, for she is a natural-born half-wit and ought to be kept in somebody's attic.
Who the hell wants to live forever? Most of us, apparently; but it's idiotic. After all, there is such a thing as life-saturation: the point where everything is pure effort and total repetition.
'Then maybe you will understand this,' she said, leading me over to a deep-freeze, and opening it. Inside was nothing but cats: stacks of frozen, perfectly preserved cats—dozens of them. It gave me an odd sensation.
Sigh....I fear that the age of the age of the larger-than-life, male wit/social climber looming large on the New York City social scene is becoming an anachronism, and, with it, Capote's legend.
November 3, 2024
Great for an in depth overview of Capote's oeuvre. You see his style develop from some of the clunkier early short stories, to carefully crafted later reportage.
It's interesting how Capote constructs himself in his narratives. He's happy to reveal his creative process and the hangovers of his small town(s) upbringing, and some of his more frivolous shortcomings - however, he's careful to hide much of his private self.
My favourites that I recommend from this collection include:
The travel sketches (esp New York, Hollywood, and Extreme Magic)
Music for Chameleons (incredible)
The Muses are Heard (and preface for insights on writing)
Handcarved Coffins
A Beautiful Child
A House on the Heights
Lola
It's interesting how Capote constructs himself in his narratives. He's happy to reveal his creative process and the hangovers of his small town(s) upbringing, and some of his more frivolous shortcomings - however, he's careful to hide much of his private self.
My favourites that I recommend from this collection include:
The travel sketches (esp New York, Hollywood, and Extreme Magic)
Music for Chameleons (incredible)
The Muses are Heard (and preface for insights on writing)
Handcarved Coffins
A Beautiful Child
A House on the Heights
Lola
June 19, 2025
Ten stars. Capote’s writing is a joy to read, compact and humorous and interesting, detailing times past and famous people and compelling places. This reader included portraits of famous people, short stories (including the novella The Muses are Heard), and a number of essays. I’ve read much of his work this spring, watched numerous movies, and read compilations of comments about him by others - and it is fun to read anecdotes in one play embedded in a different story. The things Capote told Perry Smith in Infamous may have been recorded in his diary, or the screenwriter may have assembled Capote’s dialogue from his other writing. I’ll be sorry to get to the bottom of the Capote stack and I am almost there.
January 9, 2021
The last two statements are Holly’s. And there are many other indications of the polarities of her self: so many polarities that she spins in the mind of the reader. Good and bad, cruel and kind, honest and dishonest, disloyally promiscuous and generously loyal – an interbreeding within the single soul, a miscegenation of the birdcage mind.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long to post here.
Above is one of its observations at the time of the review.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long to post here.
Above is one of its observations at the time of the review.
February 26, 2019
A superb compendium of Capote's work, contains the perfect classic, Breakfast At Tiffany's, and his early short stories and profiles of celebrities make this an essential read. A wide variety of Truman's work and writing styles are featured in one handy, if weighty, book. If only I could give it six stars.
May 22, 2020
This is a great book that does not include In Cold Blood, Other Voices other Rooms and the Christmas stories. It has everything else and a lot of his short stories. I enjoy his writings and only wished he had written more.
June 9, 2025
DE non-fictie schrijver. Heel erg goed
May 2, 2019
I have read A Capote Reader, the almost complete works of Truman Capote, in 744 pages, four times; never finding it tiresome. As soon as I completed one reading I immediately began another reading. Truman’s use of commas, colons, semicolons, dashes and idiosyncratic sentence structures fascinate me. His observations and sui generis slant on life is piquant, outré and farcical, especially because of absurd or ridiculous aspects; all wrapped in fastidious prose. Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
July 14, 2008
This volume includes several short stories, travel sketches, people sketches, novellas and other bits and pieces. As of writing I have read the short stories, which are mostly pretty reasonable. Will be putting it aside for some time, but would get to The Grass Harp and Breakfast at Tiffany's, both of which are included, soon enough.
A book to be dipped into once in a while, I don't think I'd want to read it all at once. More will follow when other segments are read.
Have now read The Grass Harp and Breakfast at Tiffany's. These form the novellas section of this work. Both have their charm, I enjoyed the former more than the latter, which is probably better known, albeit from the film version. Capote has a very different style in each of these, which are again quite different from In Cold Blood.
I've picked this up again and completed much of the non-fiction portion of it. There is one story listed under the Reportage section called 'Handcarved Coffins', which I really enjoyed. It piqued my interest to find out if any such crime existed and had been resolved since the writing of the piece. It transpires that Capote made it all up but held it out as being based on a true crime. Whether it ever happened, which as I say is unlikely, in no way detracts from the enjoyment of the story. There's also a doubtful interview in the reportage section with the Manson family member Beausoleil, as well as a full report on Capote's visit to Russia with the cast and crew of Porgy and Bess back in Communist days. Each holds its own charm and the Russia report is rather an interesting period piece.
Other sections now completed are the sketches of various actors, artists and other celebrities and the travel sketches. The last section, which I have just begun, is a number of essays. The one related to filming of In Cold Blood is an intriguing companion to the book of the same title.
A book to be dipped into once in a while, I don't think I'd want to read it all at once. More will follow when other segments are read.
Have now read The Grass Harp and Breakfast at Tiffany's. These form the novellas section of this work. Both have their charm, I enjoyed the former more than the latter, which is probably better known, albeit from the film version. Capote has a very different style in each of these, which are again quite different from In Cold Blood.
I've picked this up again and completed much of the non-fiction portion of it. There is one story listed under the Reportage section called 'Handcarved Coffins', which I really enjoyed. It piqued my interest to find out if any such crime existed and had been resolved since the writing of the piece. It transpires that Capote made it all up but held it out as being based on a true crime. Whether it ever happened, which as I say is unlikely, in no way detracts from the enjoyment of the story. There's also a doubtful interview in the reportage section with the Manson family member Beausoleil, as well as a full report on Capote's visit to Russia with the cast and crew of Porgy and Bess back in Communist days. Each holds its own charm and the Russia report is rather an interesting period piece.
Other sections now completed are the sketches of various actors, artists and other celebrities and the travel sketches. The last section, which I have just begun, is a number of essays. The one related to filming of In Cold Blood is an intriguing companion to the book of the same title.
March 24, 2008
I was given this book by a dear friend of mine perhaps 10 years ago. I read it cover to cover one summer and then gave it away, as I was in the habit of doing those days. Every few months, I remember a particular detail of that summer and fondly recall having spent it with this book. I feel compelled to buy it again, read it cover to cover again, and conjure up not only the people and places of that time in my life, but the people and places that staff the working parts of Capote's real and imagined lives.
The fiction here is superb. No doubt you're curious about In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Neither disappoints. But what I found to be the most rewarding was his short fiction and non-fiction. Capote knows the value of words and as such hesitates to indulge in unwarranted richness. He tells you everything you need to know and nothing else. There is great trust in that. As a writer, Capote builds a bond with the reader that this compilation characterizes quite well.
That said, the stories he tells in short form, to me, are the ones that stick the most. Furthermore the non-fiction counts (of which there are many) seem to me the most entertaining. There's a particular piece of reportage where he spends his day with his housekeeper - getting into trouble with her, and thus getting to the heart of his otherwise unknown compulsion to know more about her life - that makes me smile whenever I think of it. While many writers tell tales of their own conquest, Capote comes off as much more humble, much more gentle and much more engaging than most.
The fiction here is superb. No doubt you're curious about In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Neither disappoints. But what I found to be the most rewarding was his short fiction and non-fiction. Capote knows the value of words and as such hesitates to indulge in unwarranted richness. He tells you everything you need to know and nothing else. There is great trust in that. As a writer, Capote builds a bond with the reader that this compilation characterizes quite well.
That said, the stories he tells in short form, to me, are the ones that stick the most. Furthermore the non-fiction counts (of which there are many) seem to me the most entertaining. There's a particular piece of reportage where he spends his day with his housekeeper - getting into trouble with her, and thus getting to the heart of his otherwise unknown compulsion to know more about her life - that makes me smile whenever I think of it. While many writers tell tales of their own conquest, Capote comes off as much more humble, much more gentle and much more engaging than most.
September 1, 2008
I am a big fan of the short story, and think that crafting a good one is a great accomplishment for any writer. It's just nice to be able to sit down and digest a little literary nugget in 20 to 40 pages.
Capote does a great job with some of these, and others are a little less than fully stirring; still, he implants a certain gloom in to the day-to-day storylines of these dynamic and profoundly American characters that leaves you with an almost-complete knowing of who they are, while maintaining a certain mystery to theire inner workings.
Subjects are varied, but most hinge on the delicate workings of the interpersonal relationship, and the challenges of the less financially endowed in our society. Interesting and somewhat dreary to be sure, but not without moments of light-heartedness and revelation.
Capote does a great job with some of these, and others are a little less than fully stirring; still, he implants a certain gloom in to the day-to-day storylines of these dynamic and profoundly American characters that leaves you with an almost-complete knowing of who they are, while maintaining a certain mystery to theire inner workings.
Subjects are varied, but most hinge on the delicate workings of the interpersonal relationship, and the challenges of the less financially endowed in our society. Interesting and somewhat dreary to be sure, but not without moments of light-heartedness and revelation.
March 23, 2011
My librarian lent me this and I can' thank her enough. I'm enjoying every single minute. Capote is brilliant. I haven't quite finished it yet because I really don't want to. Having already read his novellas, I've treated myself to a short story a night. I am now left with the travel sketches and essays. I like him because he writes about big cities, small towns, childhood, drunken lushes,lonely souls and captures the sad beauty of them all. His portrait of Marilyn Munroe "the beautiful child" was incredibly moving and I think I love her.
August 31, 2013
The content of this reader is of varying quality. I loved the novella "A Grass Harp". Some of the portrait, especially of Marilyn Monroe. This is countered by his early short stories and the short non-fiction story "The Muses are Heard", which bore me, to be honest. The greatest work in this collection is, in my opinion, "Handcarved Coffins". It recounts bizar murders and it's even more bizar aftermath in a small American town. Truman Capote tells the story in a truly gripping way. I can still hardly believe that "Handcarved Coffins" is a non-fictional work.
October 6, 2015
A book that covers the full range of Capote's writing styles. I have already encountered much of the short fiction, and a novella, included here. Among the new (to me) material I liked were: the novella Breakfast At Tiffany's, the account of a trip to Communist Russia: The Muses Are Heard, prefaces to a couple of his books and accounts of time spent with Elizabeth Taylor, and Marlon Brando in The Duke And His Domain. Much more awaits for those coming to the book who are unfamiliar with the author's work.
August 2, 2008
It's pretty much all here. At least the short fiction and personality pieces. The vignettes are great. Capote's insights and pratical experiences with the likes of Bogart and Liz Taylor are enlightening. Pushing through Breakfast At Tiffany's, an hour or two of reading, is something I like to do once a decade. Holly Go Lightly isn't as adorable on paper as she is on film and is must reading for fans of the film who have never read the original story.
July 3, 2008
I love how Capote writes with such simultaneous glee and compassion about the declining lives of socialites. There is not one short story of that particular theme that I am not completely filled with pity for the protaqonist -as if the story was some kind of greek tragedy. Oh, and "The Headless Hawk" just might be my absolute favorite short story.
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February 4, 2008This was very liberatory reading for me as a young teenager. I haven't really returned to Capote much as an adult - but he is forever memorialized in my conscious for the worlds he opened me up to, homeschooled and holed up in my room. Thanks, Truman.
March 9, 2007
It's funny, but despite Capote's love for short stories, his aren't that great. He seems more suited to longer stuff and non-fiction. Breakfast at Tiffany's is perfect.
October 13, 2008
Capote is now one of my favorite writers. This book contains several genres and I enjoyed every one of them - short stories, travel logs, essays, bios - outstanding!
November 28, 2008
A really good introduction to Truman Capote and it has evoked an interest in me to start exploring american writers.
November 5, 2009
I'm in the process of reading these short stories. I have to take a break every few or I find that I'm becoming a little paranoid.
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