In Cold Blood

Rating:
Summary: Classic true crime
Review: "In Cold Blood" has been filmed twice, but the book presents the murder of a Kansas family with a cold truth which is far more unsettling than either film version. The book goes into the minds of the killers, especially the unhinged character of Perry Smith, but manages to present the killers as a product of the failure of society ; it is hard not to feel a measure of sympathy for the killers, and how their murderous ways were a result of their upbringing. Towards the end, the pace lags a bit ; some of the psychoanalysis passages particularly, but this is essential in understanding the killers motivations. Some of the images in the book remain long after the book is finished. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: It was very captivating
Review: I'm a senior in highschool and our term paper in English class had to be on a famous(or infamous)book. I chose Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" because it was something I knew a little bit about, but was interested in learning a lot more.I thought the book was fascinating. I know that I'm young and,despite the fact that I am very well read, have much more to learn about literature, so my opinion is probably invalid and reeks of inexperience.However, I thought the book was written in a very unique fashion, and that its themes, particularly that of irony, were compelling. The subject itself was interesting as well. My English teacher keeps pressing that not all books are to be read solely for entertainment purposes. I see her point, but I think that "In Cold Blood" entertains and informs concurrently.

Rating:
Summary: Absorbing but, happily, not sensationalized
Review: I first read this book in high school and really liked the first 2/3 of it. The last 1/3 is a dull and actually somewhat tedious account of a) the M'Naughten (sorry if I misspelled that) Law and how it does/does not apply to the killers, and b) the requisite psychiatric insights into the minds of Dick and Perry. However, the first 2/3 reads beautifully, almost like a great American tragedy, and the mysterious note on which the Dick/Perry account ends pre-killing ("Presently, the car crept forward." Next chapter: finding the bodies) has stayed with me 10 years after my first reading of the book. The best Truman Capote I've read, and I'm including Breakfast at Tiffany's when I say that!

Rating:
Summary: An engaging account of a terrible tragedy
Review: I found this book to be terribly engaging, despite the fact that I already knew how it was going to end. I had seen documentaries and read news accounts of the Clutter murders before, but had never read this, the definitive account of the slayings. Capote is able to bring the victims, their friends, and those who brought their killers to justice alive through his in-depth analysis and eloquent style. At times the psychiatric analysis of Hickock and Smith is a little dry, but these are necessary passages if we are to understand the motive behind this terrible event. Depsite the fact that the outcome of the story is, if not common knowledge, then at least easily predictable, Capote is able to find twists and turns in the story that constantly keep the reader guessing as to what will happen next.

Rating:
Summary: What this book presents is total control over plot
Review: This book was written in my mind like a editorial out of a paper. It was totally biased and had a great and detailed scenery.

Rating:
Summary: It is very interesting so far, but I love it already!!!!
Review: Very masterful in diction. Supplies the reader with wanting to go on and solve the mystery. Wish I could write this well.

Rating:
Summary: Very interesting . . .
Review: We had to read this over the summer for Advanced Placement English III. I thought that the content was good, and the descriptions and characertization of each character was very well thought out. Although, I thought it moved somewhat slowly in some places, which led me to skim over entire chapters, in edition, Capote tells the outcome in the first chapter. I also liked how Capote, in the beginning, jumps back and forth between Dick and Perry, and the Clutter family. I recomend it.

Rating:
Summary: Good lord, I appear to be in the minority
Review: As much as this book has been trumpeted, I found it rather tedious. Capote's stab at ambience journalism, while not irresponsible, rather leaves me cold. I suppose that Capote's tangential characters were well fleshed-out, but so unnecessary to the continuance of the story, I wondered if they weren't a bit overdeveloped. I should point out that, unlike the other reviewers, I did not use this novel as a springboard to develop opinions on the death penalty, so perhaps the major charm of the novel was wasted on me. I enjoyed "Breakfast at Tiffany's" a tremendous deal more.

Rating:
Summary: Truly gripping masterpiece
Review: The way that Capote tells the tale of these two men is truly masterful and spellbinding. However, this book has paved the way for trashy and poor imitations, which is the price we pay for someone coming up with the brilliant idea to chronicle the murders of a Kansas family. However, this book definitely deserves to be called one of the best.

Rating:
Summary: Do you have an opinion on the death penalty
Review: If you do, find out that after you've read this book you'll have a diferent opinion. Whatever you started off with, will either change or suddenly you'll have a great new set of questions to make yourself.