In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
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Book Reviews of In Cold Blood
Book Review: Top Notch!
Summary: 5 Stars
Without a doubt, In Cold Blood is one of the best nonfiction books I have ever read. The horrific subject matter, notwithstanding, the book was a an absolute pleasure to read. It is truly Truman Capote at his literary best.
One would think that writing about such a complicated quadruple murder, with the mountain of interviews, multiple players and complex circumstances - spanning the width and breath of the country, following the murderers'zigzagging course through Kansas, Mexico, Las Vegas and Alaska would be difficult enough, but Truman cleverly brought it all together in a ground breaking nonfiction novel that quickly became an international bestseller. You'll never get lost in this book, and you'll never loose sight of the action.
Truman Capote's writing style is legendary, and you'll find no better example of it than in the pages of this book. His sentences roll off the pages like warm butter over a stack of pancakes. Smooth. Delicious. His writing is eloquent, yet uncomplicated. Capote writes with the reader in mind, never letting you stray from the topic at hand, always bringing your attention back to the page in a wonderfully, readable style that is his trademark. In my opinion no one does it better. In Cold Blood gets ten thumbs up!
Book Review: In Cold Blood
Summary: 5 Stars
`In Cold Blood' is probably Capote's best known novel and from the word go it makes for engrossing and fascinating reading. This is basically a novel of true events in the fifties and sixties and follows the murder of a Kansas farmer and his family and the subsequent trial of the murderers. It is written with vivid and evocative language and the descriptions quickly bring you deeper into the story and help conjure the images within. You could quite easily forget that this is based on true events as the story telling is so rich and this really does read like a fictional account of the same events. The film `Capote' is based around his writing of this book and if you like one it is worth you checking out the other. Apparently there was much controversy surrounding this book when it was published, but coming to it years later and expecting a book of beautiful writing, you are left with none of the former controversy and plenty of the latter beauty. This makes for an engrossing read and although slightly uncomfortable in places you can't help but turn the pages until you read the formidable conclusion. Well worth a try if you a fan of strong American literature.
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Book Review: A Commentary on our 21st Century Culture
Summary: 5 Stars
I was a child when In Cold Blood was first published but remember the adults in my life talking about this controversial novel. After watching the two recent Truman Capote biopics (Capote and Infamous), I thought I should read it. I was surprised how much this 40+ year old book had to say about the anger, polarization and general lack of civility in today's society. A family is senselessly murdered in a small town in Kansas. Everyone in the town of 6,000 knew this family. After the murderers are apprehended, each minister in this community of 21 churches stood at his pulpit and spokeout AGAINST the capital punishment. Relatives of the slain family wrote a letter published in the local newspaper asking that prosecutors not pursue the death penalty. And when the murderers are returned to Kansas and are walked into the jail for booking, the audience who has gathered for this spectacle stands nearly silent. The town's citizens are relieved that it was strangers who commited this attrocity and they no longer have to eye their neighbors suspiciously. There is little talk of revenge or a sense of closure via the death penalty. What a fascinating view of our society on the cusp of the revolution of the 1960's and 1970's. READ THIS BOOK!Book Review: Spectacular-Just Can't Say Enough About It
Summary: 5 Stars
Somehow, I just found myself greatly amazed by the way that this book really discusses ethics (e.g. the death penalty) and the viewpoints/biases of the different characters. I had feared this book was going to be a disturbing psychodrama, with descriptions of pain and suffering en masse; however, it is a philosophical writing that doesn't use shock tactics to frighten the reader.
The book tells the true story of the wealthy Clutter family, murdered one night by two men, Perry Smith and Dick Hickok. Truman Capote flawlessly moves between the stories of the killers and the townspeople, showing how everything from complex upbringings to social interactions created the psychological tragedy that was the brutal Clutter murder, as well as the turmoil and fear that followed in the tiny Kansas village. Through primary-source recollections by several people involved in the incident, one learns of the conflict and the mysteries it beheld, from its initial conception in the mind of Dick Hickok to the execution of the murderers. All in all, this makes for a compelling read that will really make the reader consider their opinions and beliefs about life's hardships, obligations, and the power of justice.
Book Review: Around crime novels Mr Capote knew the ropes
Summary: 5 Stars
I got interested in reading "In cold blood" as I have found it listed among the 100 best crime novels ever written. Capote beginning from a non fictional event (a murder of a prestigious farmer and his whole family in rural Kansas back in the fifties) creates a great suspenseful work with very great character development dissecting (every victim, every perpetrator, the cops, the officers), and in addition, greatly picturing the setting with just simple colorful words.
The book is centered around action and mystery (murder, perpetrators on the run and the police tracking them).
In final chapters, the author takes his time to balance the action with the introduction of debates about the typical elements of crime (Victims as distinguished members of the local community, perpetrators early destitute life, suitability of the death penalty as punishment, US justice system).
Capote writing style is neat, polished, almost faultless, it is a pleasure to experience how he creates the magic that enthralls the reader pulling him along the whole story. Great writer above all.