These long ass chapters make it hard for stopping points. 8% in Spoiler I dont know shit about this book except it was a sensation that put Truman Capote on the map. I assume it's this Clutter family that gets murked. Are those whiffs of smoke Nancy keeps smelling that she assumes is her brother possibly from the murderer that's been lurking around??? That's my only thought right now besides how awful it would be to live in mid 1900s kansas. Through The Last To See Them Alive Spoiler My big questions is the motive. Why did Dick and Perry murk the Clutter fam? I have to assume somethign with Herb. Maybe he was a witness to his crime that put him in jail or something
Through chapter 1/22% in Spoiler I really got into this book over the last 20 pages of the first chapter. Understood all the table setting but I guess I was surprised it took almost 70 pages to actually get down to the murder. But it really was a great read towards the end. Answering Truman's q after reading it about why them - I definitely think Herb being himself is playing a part, just don't know why. But his wallet being opened/them going through it has to mean something. What a brutal crime.
About a third through Chapter 3. Im almost as interesting in Capote's process as in the plot of the story. The research and interviews he must have done w all parties involved had to have been an enormous task.
Yea the plot is really secondary to the breathtaking process/writing. Harper Lee was a HUGE part of it. The movie 'Capote' is about him investigating/writing ICB and is outstanding.
I knew Capote and Lee were close. Isn't there a conspiracy theory that either she wrote this, or he wrote Mockingbird? I saw Capote when it came out, but definitely will watch again after im done w this.
On page 172 which is pretty much right at 50% Spoiler Book continues to pick up the pace and I continue to be more enthralled. Holy shit at the part where detective Nye basically got Dick's parents to spill the goods and give him the exact timeframe of everything going down. I cannot imagine being the detective in that moment. Or how pissed the parents had to be when they realized what happened. Hopefully we get a look at that when they're eventually captured.
Conspiracy that he wrote TKAM...but it's been pretty well debunked. I believe there was speculation that Capote was somewhat in love with Perry Smith.
Through Chapter 3 The Answer Spoiler All that for 40 or 50 bucks. Oof. Also I couldn't help but love the irony of Herb offering to write a check to check forgers.
Just finished this chapter as well Spoiler Which was easily my favorite of the book so far. Perry describing that night was riveting. And you're spot on - for so little money. And had he trusted his gut initially, they leave and never commit the crime. Also, it's amazing how they couldn't help themselves by writing fake checks and whatnot so many times (over a month+) after the crime. Not knowing much about this case going in, I expected a long, drawn out search. Outside of the other convict (who, granted, played a huge part in them getting caught) they really did themselves no favors. Looking forward to finishing the book, either tomorrow or Friday.
Also: Spoiler This is the first book I've read by Capote. Took me a bit to get into his prose but damn is he a great writer. "In any event, Mr. Bell, entirely unaware of his guests' intentions, which included throttling him with a belt and leaving him, robbed of his car, his money, and his life, concealed in a prairie grave, was glad to have company, somebody to talk to and to keep him awake until he arrived in Omaha." I mean holy hell that is phenomenal.
Finished Spoiler It's just amazing that this non fiction, and he was able to write it in a novelized style that made it feel it wasnt. It wasn't a crazy story w a bunch of twists, but the writing kept me engaged w the story. The research and interviews he must had done to get such a feeling for everyone involved must have been monumental. Every 'character' was developed so well. I think that's the most impressive part. Glad I finally got around to this. 8/10
Finished Spoiler This is one of the tougher reviews I've given a book. The reporting is phenomenal. The detail is phenomenal. And the writing is very good throughout. But I thought it started slow (which I get, you don't want to just dive into the murders) and once the killers were caught, I thought the end of the book was slow and not as interesting as what came before it. Chapters two and three, and especially three, were so good and so intense that in hindsight it was only setting up for a bit of a letdown going into the last 25% of the book. That said, happy I finally got around to reading it. 8/10
Spoiler Im with you on the end. I was getting a bit impatient with the detours that took so much time to explain court rulings to set precedent for insanity ect.
Started, about 1.5 hours into the audiobook. Enjoying it so far. Downloaded the movie Capote as well to watch when I'm done
I never participate in book club but I might start. Read this like 8 years ago so I'd definitely like to reread it.
Felt a little rushed. Spoiler Felt it they could have done more to show how deep the relationship between Perry and Capote was. Seems like they wanted to make Perry divulging the details of the murder as the big climax, but prior to that, there was just one scene of Capote relaying the importance of knowing it. Also the growing rift between Harper Lee and Capote was handled poorly. Like with Perry, all the sudden Capote is being a snot to her, without showing much reason why. Everything was very surface level. Would have liked to see how the frustrations affected him more than him just telling people in 3 lines of dialogue at a party. Having said that - Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance was outstanding. I think that's the first thing Ive watched w him since his death, which was kind of eerie.
Need to rewatch it, but as for the suddenness of Capote's relationships souring, that may be rather accurate...he was monumentally petulant and a real cunt in general.
And finished the reread yesterday...I much enjoyed the latter third of the book...still one of my favorite American works.
Just started it today so a little behind. Planning on getting through the first two sections by the weekend though
I just finished. Thought it was incredible. Well written, engrossing, and a groundbreaking writing style. 9.5/10 I know it's a classic, and well deserved, but I don't know if I would have ever read it as I don't really read that much nonfiction nor true crime stuff. Glad I decided to jump in. Excellent. I'll type up some spoilers thoughts later, about to jump on a flight