Fictionalised treatment of Truman Capote’s betrayal

I should stress that the 2-star rating is my personal view which seems to be out of kilter with the bulk of other reviewers who loved it.

For me, I couldn’t get into it at all. The writing is good making it quite literary, but it lacks pace and didn’t grab me at all. It covers Capote’s betrayal of his friends towards the end of his life, through a publication disclosing their secrets. I have no idea whether this happened, but it makes for an interesting storyline.

It is rare for me to give up on a book, but in this case, I just couldn’t summon up the energy to carry on reading. There is no discernible plotline in the early part of the book and the whole thing seems ephemeral and lacking in substance.

It can’t be a bad book, due to its critical acclaim, but the subject matter left me cold.

For anyone interested in the genius of Hollywood this could well be a gem.

Pashtpaws

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

An absolutely riveting story. I enjoyed this very much alothough is different to my usual genre. Very well written xx

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House UK, Cornerstone, for the ARC.
Now then - this book really is just 'something else' - in a class of its own - a really major piece of historical fiction, though based on thoroughly researched fact.
It's as fascinating, amusing and witty as Truman Capote was when infiltrating the lives of his Swans - his collection of ladies and their families who fell over themselves to provide him with confidences and gossip, travel and luxury. Truman was a feted writer, the best of best friends to the ladies he adored and admired for their own back-stories of hardships overcome to elevate them to the top of society. He was wealthy in his own right and he had access to Hollywood stars, Princesses, publishing moguls and even the periphery of the White House - a whole world of secrets.
But, once you break a best friend's confidence there is no turning back. This he did. There's a long spiral of descent as the alcohol and drugs which had been so much of the 'fun', in the hedonistic days gone by, gradually take their toll.
I was totally immersed in the conversations; an eavesdropper in a lounge or a restaurant, at an extravagant Ball, on a yacht sailing the Mediterranean or at a mansion in Palm Springs. Then, the 'after' emerges where all that is left is a diminutive boy in a man's body, seeking unforthcoming forgiveness.
An extremely poignant ending - really, really well-written.

I can't say in all honesty that I found this book an easy read, in terms of really short conversational sentences and quick jumps to seemingly unconnected passages, Additionally I found some parts of the closing chapters - although they obviously have high literary merit - rather confusing in their fantasy portrayals.
Nonetheless, albeit that this read was a complete departure from my usual genre, I do admire the sheer weight of work that this has taken to produce.
Thank you Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott.