In Cold Blood
Posted by Lanea on Wednesday, February 7th, 2007
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.
This is one of those classics, you know, and everyone is supposed to read it. Somehow, as is true of many classics, I sailed through my extensive liberal education without reading this book in class. So I read it after reading The Burning of Bridget Cleary, figuring two true-crime books right on top of each other would be some sort of enjoyable penance.
It was. Though I think I expected more of Capote. It’s a good book–don’t get me wrong. But how can it possibly measure up to the hype, or to his other work? Capote was a masterful writer, but the combination of unsavory material and some writing tics that now seem outmoded–like using "quotes" to denote "questionable material" over and over again–took some of the shine off the work.
Still and all, it’s a good book and I would not dissuade anyone from it. I just don’t know if I’ll feel the need to read it again, when Breakfast at Tiffany’s is such a delicious offering each and every time.
Filed in Books | 3 responses so far
Teaganon 08 Feb 2007 at 10:46 am 1I just finished this book as well! The first 40 pages of it annoyed me – just too much mundane detail, but he really does set up the background for the murders well.
Janeon 08 Feb 2007 at 1:01 pm 2I listened to it for the first time last year, and without all those “quotes” to get in the way, it was astonishing.
rho1640on 08 Feb 2007 at 8:18 pm 3Someday I hope to be able to read one of his books without hearing his voice in my head — they just don’t go together at all –