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Truman Capote

Started by holyzombiejesus, November 13, 2018, 10:23:57 PM

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holyzombiejesus

Just started a re-read of In Cold Blood. I'd forgotten what a brilliantly written book this was, so gripping from the very first chapter. I used to really love TC but haven't re-read anything for a while. Just looking on wiki and there's one that I missed called Summer Crossing that I might get with my birthday money at the weekend. Dunno what else to say. Oh yeah, is B@T better than the film? I think so.

pancreas

I read B@T a few years ago. It's such a short laconic little tale. You see Holly Golightly from a distance, so her motivations are more confusing and unsettling than how they come across in the film. It really is a fantastic book.

Black Ship

Not seen the film but the book was not quite what I expected, which was a nice surprise. In Cold Blood was quite horrific, because you never exactly find out why they did the killing.

Dannyhood91

I love In Cold Blood. A bit of Proto Gonzo Journalism if you will.

holyzombiejesus

The way Capote slowly makes it apparent that this sweet little family are definitely all going to have such horrible deaths is so compelling. Only realised last night that the actual date of the murders was 59 years ago today (15th November 1959).

poodlefaker

The bit of Answered Prayers that got published after he died is some of his best work - it could have been a brilliant novel.

QDRPHNC

In Cold Blood is fantastic. I have a couple of collections of this short stories too, The Grass Harp being one of the stand-outs. Summer Crossing is pretty good, but is clearly an early work.

Icehaven

Quote from: Black Ship on November 14, 2018, 05:09:10 PM
Not seen the film but the book was not quite what I expected, which was a nice surprise. In Cold Blood was quite horrific, because you never exactly find out why they did the killing.

And that would either never happen in fiction or if it did it'd be criticised in many quarters as poor or lazy writing, which is why it's such a fascinating element.

amputeeporn

Unbelievable writer - his short fiction's out of this world and In Cold Blood's a masterpiece.

I think the rumours of dishonesty and duplicity (there were always rumours that Capote novelised a lot of details and outright made up others) only makes the book itself more interesting. Then beyond that, as said above, the unresolved, awful sad nature of the crime. It gets the desperation and the sadness of murder so completely.

I also think Breakfast at Tiffany's is a masterclass in economical writing, and when I saw the film afterwards I couldn't believe it was so well-loved. It's fine  but loses the real tragedy of the book and, yes, the distance.

I believe that Summer Crossing is a juvenile novel he didn't want published in his lifetime (but I might be wrong?).

Has anyone read anything else essential? I was always intrigued by Handcarved Coffins - his true crime follow-up to In Cold Blood, which is now thoroughly discredited but might be a worthwhile read?


holyzombiejesus

I enjoyed The Grass Harp and Other Voices, Other Rooms although that was many years ago and imagine I may find them a little twee nowadays. Will try and give them a re-read in the new year.