Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful, poignant, insightful
Review: An exceptional book that is both chilling and touching. Capote is unmatched in the simple grace of his prose, which flows smoothly and seamlessly, even as he darts from one point of view to the next. The story he tells is every bit as important today as it was when first published. Capote grants the reader access to the minds of two troubled young men, to the friends touched by the Clutter family tragedy, and to the detectives seeking relentlessly to bring the killers to justice. Unlike many, I found the book to be admirably unbiased and nonjudgmental. While it is clear that Capote was no fan of the death penalty and while he occasionally and ever so briefly assumes the role of pop-psychologist/apologist for the killers, he never loses sight of the tragedy at hand. (The anti-capital punishment activists today should be so nuanced!) The book is rife with moving scenes and a kind of quiet dignity. And unlike so many other writers, Capote has an uncanny sense of timing: this book is pithy and to-the-point, not one word too long nor too short. The genre "true crime" often calls to mind cheap sensationalism and second-rate writing. With "In Cold Blood," Capote set a lasting benchmark that other writers should aspire to.
Rating:
Summary: True Crime Classic
Review: Truman Capote does a great job of portraying the family and the killers. This true crime book reads like a mystery novel. Truly a classic true crime book!
Rating: 
Summary: On second thought...
Review: When I first read this book, I loved it. I thought it was a perfect psychological thriller, with the added interest that it is a true story. Now, I think it is certainly well written and well researched. Capote has high skills at using words to convey situations, environments and emotions. His insight into the minds of the criminals is revealing and appealing.Where, then, did Capote go wrong? In taking sides. The story of a murder in cold blood should have been written in cold blood, too. I wonder what Balzac or Stendhal would have done with this material, being the masters at approaching their subjects in cold blood. But Capote, whom I think I would very much dislike if I had a chance to meet him, decides to go against the death penalty imposed on the two despicable murderers. Note: I am against death penalty for reasons not pertaining to this review, but if someone somewhere deserved the penalty, it was these two rascals. Oh yes, Capote tells us their story and how they became outlaws. Understandable, but not justifiable. Many other people suffer abuse and misery and nonetheless become productive members of society. Murderers deserve a punishment, if not for "social revenge", at least for "social health". Still, the book is well written and the story is chilling. Pity that Capote made it a political argument's case.
Rating: 
Summary: Painful
Review: I borrowed this book from my 14 year old neice for whom it was assigned reading. I was quite excited about it, too. Apparently its just me, but I found this to be a boring, painful read. As a booklover I could never understand why she didn't have the same joy in reading as I do. After suffering through this one, now I understand. I couldn't wait to finish it - not to see what was going to happen, just so it would be over. While I can appreciate it for the shocking, ground breaking novel it was back when it was originally published, I am of the opinion that many more interesting and better written true crime stories have been written since then.
Rating:
Summary: Don't ignore this book!
Review: I've always known about this book, and I knew it was considered a classic, but somehow I ignored it. Don't ignore this book! It is a flawlessly written true account of the brutal cold-blooded murder of a family of four in 1959. There are certain chapters of this book that are absolutely mesmerizing. Perry's confession may be one of the most harrowing accounts I have ever read, fiction or non-fiction. And what makes it more compelling is that it's true. In retrospect, I can see the influence this book has had on the mystery and crime genre. It adds credibility to all of the fictional criminals that you read about in your favorite mystery novels. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Incredibly well written novel
Review: I have to admit, I'm usually not the biggest fan of Barbara Kingsolver. But this book completely blew me away. I read it over and over and never get tired. The five differerent points of view interwiev to tell an incredible story.
Rating:
Summary: Well Written
Review: After reading In Cold Blood, I have many emotions running through my head. It is hard for most people to understand why people commit violent crimes. This book doesn't give any answers to that, but it does allow you to see into the lives of criminals before and after they commit a crime. I enjoyed the way the book was written. Capote tells the story from both sides. He tells all about the Clutter family as well as the murderers, Perry and Dick. Capote tells what actually happened in great detail and also what happened to the small town afterwards. I think this is a great book for people of all ages to own and read because the story has such meaning by the end of the book. There are so many "What ifs" that come up that really make one think about the things they do every day. I think it is a book that can mean a great deal if read for leisure, when one has more time to really think about it. It is a great work of literature coming from such a tragic event.
Rating: 
Summary: The shocking story "In Cold Blood" behind the scenes
Review: As Truman Capote takes an in depth look into a brutal murder in a small Kansas town, the audience learns more then they may want to know. As a reader you are taken through an amazing man hunt, and an in depth story about a murder of an entire family. As you follow the murderer's through the US, and learn about everyones reactions in the town where the murder occurred, you are able to feel as if you are part of the story. There are amazing details, and the characters feelings are explained really well. While reading you get close to the characters, and are able to share the feelings they are going through.
Rating:
Summary: Well writen yes, responsible...maybe
Review: Its easy to say that Truman Capote created a new genre of novel with this account of a true crime. The problem is he let himself get too involved which shows through in his opinnions presented in the book. This review will not try and argue Capote's abilities as a word smith, because he does great things in this book. The problem is thus...Capote falls in love with Perry, one of the the Clutter family killers. At first when I read this book I noticed several things. The first of which some people disagree with, but between the lines Capote blames the Clutter family for their own murders. He does this by saying how they lived a wonderful life, in a wonderful house, in a perfect little community. Besides this, he makes Dick out to be a horrible man while lending Perry all the sympathy he can. In reality, they're both horrible people. I read this book as an assignment for school after which we watched the A&E biography of Truman Capote in regards to In Cold Blood. The truth is this. Truman Capote was a homosexual, and in the course of researching the book, and his meetings with the men, he falls in love with Perry. In class discussions, I was of the opinnion that Truman Capote did not seem objective, though very few people agreed. After watching the biography, I wonder how Capote could have written an objective novel about a man he had feelings for. I was of the opinnion that regardless of the two men's backgrounds, whether good or bad, commiting the crime made them the same. The book implies that Perry is the lesser of the two evils.
Rating:
Summary: The Only Novel I Read Every Year
Review: Put simply, if I were limited to taking only one novel to a deserted island for six months, Truman Capote's riveting 1966 masterpiece, In Cold Blood, would be my first choice. Painstakingly researched over a five year period, and poignantly described like a fictional narrative, Capote tells the horrifying true story of the 1959 Clutter Murders; from what each family member did on their last day alive; to a retracing of what the two murderers did and where they went before and after the murder; to the exhaustive investigation undertaken by Detective Alvin Dewey and the KBI in finding the killers; to the big moment when both killers hang for their crime. More importantly, Capote takes us into the thoughts and lives of the two killers;especially Perry Smith. Yes, it is Perry who pulls the trigger, but after reading this novel, you feel great pity for this tragic character; even more so than the Clutters themselves. Don't miss this one!
|
