In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences by Truman Capote

May 03, 2013 Jeffrey Keeten rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jeffrey by: On the Southern Literary Trail

"How much money did you get from the Clutters?"
"Between forty and fifty dollars."

Top Picture Hickock, Richard Eugene (WM)28 KBI 97 093; FBI 859 273 A. Address: Edgerton, Kansas. Birthdate 6-6-31 Birthplace K.C., Kans. Height: 5-10 Weight: 175 Hair: Blond. Eyes: Blue. Build: Stout. Comp: Ruddy. Occup: Car Painter. Crime: Cheat & Defr. & Bad Checks. Paroled: 8-13-59 By: So. K.C.K.

Bottom Picture Smith, Perry Edward (WM) 27-59. Birthplace: Nevada. Height: 5-4. Weight: 156 Hair: D. Brn. Crim...more

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Apr 13, 2011 Stephen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, easton-press, audiobook, non-fiction, classics-americas, true-crime, crime, hardboiled-and-noir, 1954-1969

PART 1: STEVE’S REVIEW

4.0 to 4.5 stars. Written over a period of 7 years and published in 1966, this novel, while not technically the first “true crime” non-fiction novel, is credited (correctly) with establishing the genre and being the progenitor of today's true crime novel. I would certainly agree that most of the other true crime novels that I have read followed almost the exact "blue print" laid out by Capote in this book. That is quite a testament to the technical excellence of this novel...more

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Sep 05, 2010 K.D. Oliveros rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to K.D. by: 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (2006-2010)

Shelves: 501, 1001-core, crime

A couple of weeks back, a disgruntled former senior inspector Rolando Mendoza from the Manila Police District shot and killed eight Hong Kong tourists ending the hostage crisis drama that lasted for around 10 hours. This took place at the Quirino Grandstand in the heart of Manila, Philippines. The whole nation was stunned while watching the images unfolding on TV screens. The whole world watched with us as the events are covered by CNN. Mendoza's demand was for him to get his job back. He was ab...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Shan Jago rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

‘This must be where pies go when they die.’
~ Special Agent Dale Cooper

‘Junebug vs hurricane/junebug vs hurricane/hey hey’
~ Lucinda Williams

A wonderfully written and meticulously detailed, yet ultimately disturbing, account of the complexities of human nature etc.
Bob is under your clean white linen. He wants to bloody your picketfenceteeth. Homemade pie vs shotgun. The blood of cherries; which nowadays is très à la mode. Some folk don’t even need a god or ideal to kill for. Some folk never ha...more

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May 16, 2013 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rating: 4.75* of five

BkC13) IN COLD BLOOD by Truman Capote: As good as it gets. Only really good thing he wrote.

The first statement being unassailable, I'll focus on the second.

Breakfast at Tiffany's is fun, and a little bit risqué, but deathless literature? Even a well-made novella? Not so much. Other Voices, Other Rooms? A roman à clef that, because it dealt with hoMOsexuals (plural) in 1948, was much tutted over and hollered about. Reading it in the 21st century, one is struck at just how dre...more

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Dec 21, 2010 Paquita Maria Sanchez rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: literature, truthiness

At first I wasn't going to compose a review about this book. Considering the adapted-to-screen version, the biographical film centering around this period in the author's life, the seemingly infinite number of editions printed over the last 40+ years, the massive hype surrounding the murders/murderers even today, the more than likely THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of reviews already written about the novel, and the general rock-stardom that IS Truman Capote, it seemed about as pointless as dropping a p...more At first I wasn't going to compose a review about this book. Considering the adapted-to-screen version, the biographical film centering around this period in the author's life, the seemingly infinite number of editions printed over the last 40+ years, the massive hype surrounding the murders/murderers even today, the more than likely THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of reviews already written about the novel, and the general rock-stardom that IS Truman Capote, it seemed about as pointless as dropping a pebble into the Pacific Ocean and hoping for a wave. Then I remembered that I had the gall to write a review about Dante's Inferno and thought...hey, why start worrying about being humble now? Truman certainly wasn't. He was blingin' before bling was even a word, kids. Hell, he had to walk to school uphill both ways barefoot in the snow carting around all his bling. But enough about SlickRick...err...Truman. On with the review! (gallop, gallop, gallop)

The true-crime genre. Generally stinkier than what I would imagine that obese dude in Se7en's gaseous wind-breaks would be. I generally never peruse this section, which is why for entirely too long I was living under the assumption that the local bookstore was simply always sold out of copies of In Cold Blood. I'd been trying to read it for ages, but hadn't even considered that it could be over on the same shelf as The Stranger Beside Me (some of you, my lovely goodreads BFF's, may recall my feelings regarding THAT piece of shit). But enough with the review-nostalgia. I finally found it one day, took it home, and pounded it down like it was dressed tequila. It was the perfect book, in fact, to get me out of my reading funk. THREE CHEERS FOR MURDER! But I digress...

The novel is superbly crafted, with spot-on pacing (with the exception of the first chapter which, though necessary, does draaaaaaaaaag on a wheeeeeeeeee bit) and, more importantly, characters so real that they don't even seem real. Their conversations flow with a subtle grace rarely seen in published writing in general, and specifically (surprisingly) even less in true crime novels. You would think that you would think "the shit is, like, for real real, so it should seem more for real real when you write it down for real than other not for real shit that you write down, right?" However, part of the oddly convincing feeling that one gets from the characters in In Cold Blood is actually largely due to the fact that the dialogue is written in a novelistic style rather than through the true crime genre's irritatingly common habit of using(more often than not chopped to bits) "direct" quotations. I would argue that this approach serves to put you outside of the situation, and makes you feel detached from the horrors of the subject matter, as well as less sensitive to the most important lessons that we could possibly learn from true crime books in general: The WHO these people actually were. The WHAT drove them over the edge. The WHEN they lost their marbles. The WHERE in their pasts the pivotal damage occurred. In short, not just the HOW they did what they did, but WHY they did it to begin with. I can’t say that Capote necessarily answer all of these questions. However, he made his best effort to, setting the stage for generations of true-crime authors to follow in his footsteps and expand upon the genre-bending path he laid for them. It is really too bad that so few actually do.

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Apr 10, 2008 Amy Galaviz rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After I read it, I looked up pictures of the Clutter family, and just stared for about five minutes. They endured what is probably everyone’s worst fear.

Having never heard anything of the Clutter murders prior to reading this book, the experience of reading it was intense, gripping, and suspenseful from beginning to end. Capote, with his impartial writing style, relayed facts and details in such a way as to give a complete character illustration of everyone involved: from each of the Clutters, t...more After I read it, I looked up pictures of the Clutter family, and just stared for about five minutes. They endured what is probably everyone’s worst fear.

Having never heard anything of the Clutter murders prior to reading this book, the experience of reading it was intense, gripping, and suspenseful from beginning to end. Capote, with his impartial writing style, relayed facts and details in such a way as to give a complete character illustration of everyone involved: from each of the Clutters, to the investigators, lawyers, and even the murderers themselves. He did not reveal his personal sentiments or biases, or even presume to know right from wrong. In what he coined a “non-fiction novel,” Capote brilliantly combined the elements of a fictional murder novel with factual journalism and psychological analysis to show the moral dilemmas surrounding the act of murder.

In the section about the Clutter family life during their final days before the murders, Capote’s description of their daily routines and habits made what was to come even more troubling. Nancy and Kenyon were going through the typical hardships of adolescence; Nancy had a boyfriend of whom her father did not approve and was the most popular girl in school, while Kenyon was self-conscious, nerdy, and socially awkward. Herbert and Bonnie’s marriage was a bit shaky; Bonnie had a mysterious and fleeting mental illness, and Herbert was very busy with his farming business and did not have much time to tend to her. However, despite their problems, they maintained a strong family bond, were well-liked by the entire community, and we get a sense that things were looking up for them.

After the murder takes place, as if to intensify the suspense, Capote does not immediately reveal to us exactly how or why Perry and Dick committed the crime, but instead takes us on their journey as they attempt escape through the deep South while the investigators begin to try to solve the crime. We learn much about these two characters through their interactions with each other, letters, diary excerpts, and interviews with family members. We are brought deep into their psyche, learning everything from their personal hygiene habits to their mannerisms and quirks. In an uncomfortable yet brilliant way, Capote allows us to sympathize with the murderers, if only for a moment. What exactly went wrong with them? Did Perry Smith’s childhood of abuse, neglect, and displacement lead him to have moments of extreme callousness and violence? Dick, who had a seemingly normal childhood and a loving family, was in a car accident which left him with a permanent head injury. Was his head injury the cause of his downfall, or was it some other unknown character defect? Even though they were capable of evil and cold-heartedness, they also had goals and insecurities as well as the capacity for creativity, love, and fear. The murders were a tragic “psychological accident” (according to Alvin Dewey), the collision of two personalities gone terribly wrong with an innocent family who was in the wrong situation at the wrong time.

The final section of the book, from their first of many trials to their execution, presents us with the moral dilemmas surrounding the punishment of crime. Capote does not make any definitive conclusions, but poses many questions: Is execution right or wrong? Why the long delay (approx. 6 years) between the guilty verdict and the execution? Was a fair trial possible or necessary, given the horrific nature of the crimes committed? It is impossible to summarize the impact of this book in a few paragraphs, but it will definitely stay with me for years to come.
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Mar 12, 2007 Rolls rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Tru crime fans - get it?

Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" is a highly disconcerting read. After painting an idyllic scene we'd expect from the Midwestern setting evil makes it's presence felt. The blood is chilled and the heart gripped as a result.

As everyone must know by now this is considered the first nonfiction novel. Meaning that all of the bare facts of this story actually took place. A family of four was indeed murdered in their home by two unknown assailants on 14 November 1959. What made this book innovative was...more Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" is a highly disconcerting read. After painting an idyllic scene we'd expect from the Midwestern setting evil makes it's presence felt. The blood is chilled and the heart gripped as a result.

As everyone must know by now this is considered the first nonfiction novel. Meaning that all of the bare facts of this story actually took place. A family of four was indeed murdered in their home by two unknown assailants on 14 November 1959. What made this book innovative was the fact that Capote handled these facts not as a journalist but as a novelist. Rather than restrict himself to just the "who, what, where, when and why" of the fourth estate he let the fiction writer in him fill in the gaps left by the facts at hand. Scenes like Bonnie Clutter's last sad night on earth could and would only be attempted by a novelist.

While Capote never makes it possible for us to forgive the murderers (not that he or anyone could) he goes a long way towards making them sympathetic. It is the film's ("Capote") claim that he fell in love with Perry Smith while writing this book. Perhaps. Smith does indeed come off as a fully rounded person while Hickock seems less interesting to him (and consequently to us). What counts though is that he makes them human. After reading about the nature of this crime that in itself is a huge achievement.

Finally I just want to point out a person who played a huge part in this story but always fails to attract the attention accorded to the murdered, murderers or Capote himself namely Alvin Dewey. Dewey is the relentless Javert of this tale and it is through his eyes we see the facts unfold. Capote's drawing of him as a man "morally" wounded by the evil inherent in the murders of this poor family touches the heart. His refusal to let the murderers get away with their heinous crime galvanizes the spirit in turn.
This is where the true greatness of this book lies.

I started this book one night at two in the morning and read til I finished it at nine a.m. It is the very definition of a page turner. Once you are told what happened it is impossible to put this book down until you find out why.(less)

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Dec 27, 2008 Jeremiah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-that-done-edumacate

I originally thought this book would be a page turner on hypothermia. Being that thermoregulation keeps human blood at about 100 degrees, and hypothermia sets in at the high 90's, I assumed "cold" blood would be around 60 degrees...meaning instant death.

However, I did completely misjudge the book and its subject. Well played, Mr. Capote...well played.

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Sep 21, 2012 Reev Robledo rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Capote paints perfect pictures of every character. You can almost feel them breathing right beside you. Their thoughts, their mannerisms, their physique, their psyche, etc. Bravo.

He painstakingly describes every detail—with thousands of commas and dashes preceding thousands of commas and dashes—his keen sense of observation (and exaggeration) is both impressive and tiring at the same time. I felt that Truman probably held the details of every interview close to his heart hence a lot of unnecessa...more Capote paints perfect pictures of every character. You can almost feel them breathing right beside you. Their thoughts, their mannerisms, their physique, their psyche, etc. Bravo.

He painstakingly describes every detail—with thousands of commas and dashes preceding thousands of commas and dashes—his keen sense of observation (and exaggeration) is both impressive and tiring at the same time. I felt that Truman probably held the details of every interview close to his heart hence a lot of unnecessary banter between town-folk, relatives and even very minor characters were not omitted. The conversations were crucial, but somewhat too plenty.

I couldn't help but think of one of Disney's famous editing principles while reading this book: If it's not important in the telling of the story, cut it out. Of course, this is way beyond the family-oriented themes good ol' Walt implemented. It's gruesome, shocking and certainly deserves the accolade of the "true-crime" genre.

I love how Capote matter-of-factly drops sentences that depict the horror of the crime done after a rather mundane recollection of events. "I slit his throat." is one. Narratives of Nancy, Sue, Al Dewey stood out, perhaps because they had a natural flow to the story-telling and did not sound like a police report. Mrs. Kidwell's dream, though briefly described and wildly unbelievable, was haunting.

Now let me tell you why I am not impressed. My biggest question is: Would I have enjoyed this book if I didn't know that it was real? Will it stand up on its own minus the decades of controversy around it?

The answer lies in the text itself. The book is obviously a novelized transcript of interviews: if it isn't, then it certainly felt like it was. Truman Capote "filled in the blanks" with suppositions, questionable truths, and fictional drama—that wouldn't be an issue had he not boldly claimed his work to be "non-fiction".

It is my belief that Truman wanted to shock the mainstream with his empathic crusade for the murderers. Without question, he had an affinity for Perry and Judge Tate, and a clear distaste for Dick. Perhaps during the interviews, Hickok was appalled by Truman's nosy intrusions and homosexuality—that's just a guess—while Smith was more accommodating.

I am not sure if I am simply desensitized by the countless crime books, tv shows and movies I've seen. But I did not feel an ounce of pity towards the criminals. Things would have probably been different if I had read this in the 60s or 70s when coverage of crimes like these were bold and anti-Hollywood, therefore "cool".

Forgive my natural tendency to reject what's popular...for what most claim to be "a really great novel". I just had too many "Oh c'mon, how could you (Capote) have been there to know that?" moments to merit praise. Based on further research, many of the characters deny that many events in the book (Mrs. Meir having a picnic with Perry in jail for one) really happened.

Had this been categorized as a tale based on true events, then I would have given it double the stars. If you say this story is true, then I'll be doggoned if pertinent details were fabricated just to express that "creative license". It doesn't only not help in the telling of the story, it just makes the story something else entirely—a fictional one.
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Sep 30, 2009 Jason rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Within 10 minutes of finishing In Cold Blood you'll be on the internet searching for pictures of the killers and victims of this real world multiple-slaying narrated brilliantly by Truman Capote. The photos are there, and like a voyeur, you'll be drawn, captivated, needing to see the mug shots, the murdered family, the courtroom stills, the crime scene, each room that held a body with a head blown open like a busted melon.

Capote breathes such realism into the characters that all you'll need to m...more Within 10 minutes of finishing In Cold Blood you'll be on the internet searching for pictures of the killers and victims of this real world multiple-slaying narrated brilliantly by Truman Capote. The photos are there, and like a voyeur, you'll be drawn, captivated, needing to see the mug shots, the murdered family, the courtroom stills, the crime scene, each room that held a body with a head blown open like a busted melon.

Capote breathes such realism into the characters that all you'll need to make the story complete are those black-and-white photos. With an economy of words and language that is clear and straightforward, Capote successfully makes a difficult story very readable, very believable. The difficult part was taking a true story constructed from witness statements, interrogations, and multiple interviews between killers and author, and then salting in between with a dialogue that is perfectly deduced from a close personal knowledge of the killers--their attributes, their movements, their proclivities.

I felt like I was watching the action unfold, not so much reading it. And yet, Capote was able to do this without the cloyed techniques so prevalent in the mass media paperbacks you find at large grocery store chains. There are no outrageous cliffhangers between chapters, no desperate chases, no irrational climax, no unknown player revealed in chapter finis. In fact, he chose to introduce the murderers up front, then coolly alternates chapters between killers and victims, and then, when victims were eliminated, between killers and prosecutors. I liked this approach. It's uncommon. I liked the way it disarmed me, and made it a story of mechanical transaction rather than an emotional racetrack. For this reason the story, for me, was one of 'why' instead of 'how.'

I also liked that Capote applied psychoanalysis to the crime. Surely there must have been some insanity involved. But no, not really! And that was the real surprise. Apart from a tough childhood and some persistant hard knocks, the killers were probably no more deviant than a majority of cases that fall through the juvenille system, even today. The key ingredient to the crime was the bizarre congruency of their personalities--merely deviant when separated--that when mixed together created a lethal combination. Operating together, the killers must have felt the bewilderment one experiences when finding 2 spalls of broken rock in a large pile and suddenly, absurdly, fitting them exactly together.

New word: sartorial

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Nov 09, 2011 Judy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: true crime fans

Shelves: kansas, non-fiction, 1001-books, 2011-reads, audiobook-e-book, true-crime

Not being a fan of true crime, I must say this particular book was first-rate. My reason for even reading this account of the murder of a Kansan family, was three-fold:

1) I was interested in what the Truman Capote-Harper Lee connection could produce.
2) It comes highly recommended.
3) Its been mentioned in other books I have read leading to much curiosity.

Scott Brick is an excellent narrator of my audiobook, leading to additional appreciation of Capote's work. The account itself, is clear, precise...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, crime, books-i-own, favourites

I approached “In Cold Blood” with a certain amount of trepidation . It was a book that I had owned for several years, but had “never got round to”; it was highly praised, but classed as “true crime”, a genre that I don’t normally read. A genre, in fact, that I steer clear of, despite enjoying a good thriller or crime novel. However, as part of a challenge, “In Cold Blood” could be avoided no longer.

The book deals with the murders of four members of the Clutter family, in November 1959, looking i...more

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Oct 30, 2011 Checkman rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history, police-procedural, true-crime, detective, non-fiction

This is the first book that I've ever read for the specific purpose of reviewing it for Goodreads. I've been curious about the book for many years, but for some reason I've always found some reason not to read it. Well in 2011 I ran out of excuses and dived in.

First of all let me state that this was a very easy read. It moves along at a good clip and never drags. Well not quite true. It drags somewhat when Capote spends several pages covering Perry Smith's background. There is a touch of infatu...more This is the first book that I've ever read for the specific purpose of reviewing it for Goodreads. I've been curious about the book for many years, but for some reason I've always found some reason not to read it. Well in 2011 I ran out of excuses and dived in.

First of all let me state that this was a very easy read. It moves along at a good clip and never drags. Well not quite true. It drags somewhat when Capote spends several pages covering Perry Smith's background. There is a touch of infatuation in this section of the book. I now understand why there are those who believe that Capote might have fallen in love with Perry. It's also very obvious that he had no use for Dick Hickock. He describes Dick in very unflattering terms and there is a harshness to that man.On the other hand there is almost a gauziness to Perry. There were times when I felt like I was watching an old black and white movie in which the leading actress is filmed through a filmy material in order to make her softer and more romantic. Now I don't think this detracts from the book. In many ways I think it adds to it when you add in the research that has been done on Capote and the writing of In Cold Blood since it was originally published in the mid sixties and since Capote's death in 1984.

As a police officer I found the chapters dealing with the actual investigation to be well written. Capote does not over-dramatize the meticulous and (at times) mind numbing work that goes into a criminal investigation. Nor does he portray the detectives as supermen. Actually I was impressed with how balanced Capote was. For a writer who had no experience working the "crime beat" he did yeoman work. I believe that the fact that Capote and the lead investigator became friends helped. Capote was allowed access to the investigation and got to know the K.B.I. agents. They ,in turn, got to know him as well and ,I have no doubt, gave him more background material. For while Capote was known to be a skilful manipulator of people he must of had some likable qualities as well. The detectives ,and others involved with the investigation, seemed to be willing to open up to him. It shows.There is some outstanding details that add to the book's richness.

Much is made of the fact that In Cold Blood was the first of what is now called "True Crime". I won't dispute this. But there is more substance in this book. Since it was the first it isn't adhering to a formula. It established the formula.This does not diminish the books place in literature. Yes it was a massive best seller. Once again that doesn't change the book's place in history. Capote was an intelligent man and a pretty good writer. Consequently In Cold Blood is an intelligent and well written book.

Finally in closing I do have to agree that the actual murder doesn't have the punch that it would have delivered to readers fifty years ago. We're all much to used too mass murders occurring on a monthly, and sometimes weekly basis. Not just in the United States, but all over the world. Some say this takes away from the book. I don't agree. In Cold Blood is now old enough that it has become part of history.

In Cold Blood takes the modern reader to an older America. An older America in which many believed they were safe and bad things didn't happen here. Certainly not to nice, middle class families in their homes. In retrospect we know this was a false belief, but many believed it then.

Capote gives the reader in 2011 a look into the past. Yet when Capote was writing the book it wasn't the past. It was the present. He couldn't have known (though he might have hoped) that in the end he was giving us a time capsule. This, in the end, is his greatest accomplishment. This was the country that people wanted to believe exsisted and at the time many thought did.But nothing lasts forever and that includes dreams and illusions. Eventually hard old reality is going to kick open the door. By the late fifties that cherished dream was starting to fade. This book was in on the beginning of it and as a result is a valuable documentation of that period. (less)

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Mar 23, 2011 Mariel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: reader meet author

Recommended to Mariel by: eskimos

Shelves: rubber-ring

Morrissey once said that Truman Capote wasn't so much a writer than someone who wrote down stuff that happened ("He was funny though". That's the only exact part of the quote I remember, not having 100% conversational recall). I wouldn't ever want to pin down Morrissey to one thing he ever said (the man changes his mind a lot). I think about Truman Capote and his party boy reputation, what he was pinned down to and feel sad there's gotta be an angle to look for at all. For me this book is from a...more Morrissey once said that Truman Capote wasn't so much a writer than someone who wrote down stuff that happened ("He was funny though". That's the only exact part of the quote I remember, not having 100% conversational recall). I wouldn't ever want to pin down Morrissey to one thing he ever said (the man changes his mind a lot). I think about Truman Capote and his party boy reputation, what he was pinned down to and feel sad there's gotta be an angle to look for at all. For me this book is from a guy who wrote down stuff that happened in a way that I'd have seen it happened. Like that weird feeling you get when you talk about memories with someone else and what they remember isn't what you remembered *at all*. I'll feel lonelier than ever those times. I'd want to have his recall.
There's a certain kind of story about outsiders that almost hurt too much for me to live in. These stories make me lose sleep and it is a while before I can pretend to feel normal again. I know too well that feeling of being an outsider, not getting how others seem to know how to breathe so easily. Show me someone who lives completely outside the bounds of society, and I feel scared to relate too much. There's loneliness, and darkness, and same galaxy of me or not, I seize up and get a panic attack. Guilt, shame, empathy, all that stuff. Capote is one of those writers I feel understands this feeling of living in this world. No pretending. Maybe the not pretending keeps darkness from getting bigger. That's what I remember.
I don't know if it is over feeling this, or me being brought so low by self-hatred, but In Cold Blood made me empathize to the point of bone deep sorrow, and skin crawling shame. I cannot hear or read about some awful crime against humanity without feeling irrational guilt. I'm too afraid of any darkness that might be in me, though I could not bear to hurt anything ever. How does anyone else do it? What parts in others are the same parts in them? Can before and after hinge on only one action? Capote's book is not merely a true crime account to me. It's a sucker punch to my gut. Or some fancy wrestling move that keeps me from getting past any of it. Maybe a half nelson. I almost grasp it, and then some fast and loose foot work eludes understanding from my unexercised organs...
What happened to the Cutter family was beyond horrific, something more sicker and disturbing than I can put name to. [I feel like I should say this first. I've been reading other goodreads reviews that suppose Capote didn't care as much about them. I don't feel in my heart that was true. I don't want it supposed of me that I don't care either. It isn't something I'm good at, conveying the whole feelings I'm capable of. I think Capote did his bit as a human being by the Cutters. /End just-in-case clarification.]
It was also heartbreaking what Perry did. The murders were not the only tragedy. Another time, if things could have gone any other way at all, it might not have happened. That moment of never being able to go back from that darkness... the thought kills me inside. I mean, fuck. I don't pity Perry, he had an unending supply of pity for himself (though it gave me plenty uncomfortable pause over the eerie similarities of his background to that of my father's). He wanted Capote to praise him for his great intelligence, looked for anyone else to blame (such as his poor sister. She was not well equipped to deal with that situation. All she could have done was fail him). I'm still so sad that it happened to him. What can I say? I've sorrow to spare what I have endlessly for the Cutter family. He killed himself, too.
The point of no return moment... I want to believe it isn't too late for anything else. Was there a time when it wasn't too late?
There but for the grace of God go I.... I don't know about God. But I'm afraid of that happening to anyone.
Well, yes, it is the choices that one makes. That was a collosal one. There's also a side of me that thinks about mental illness, life changing head injuries, little evils that lead further down the path of no return. I think about lives that were ruined, or never had a chance at all, and I can't bear it any more. There are killers like Dick who have families and some other life they cut off from that sociopathic side. I only felt sorry for his family. I didn't feel there was a humanist part of him that was lost to what they did.
I'm too depressed to reread this any time soon (it's been more than a few years). Maybe I'm getting colder (or just older). I don't wanna think about it any more because it hurts too much. Reading Truman Capote's In Cold Blood is the closest I've felt to understanding how something like this happens, if true understanding ultimately eludes me (I ain't that smart). If I could grow a beard I'd grow a Jesus beard and stroke it thoughtfully right now. (Run calming fingers through it if too frustrated by deep thoughts.)
Capote was a humanist. Whatever parties he threw, or image he had... Why do people insist on supposing a person can only be one thing? Pinning them down... How do you really know? Memories don't always match up, the stuff that happens.
As a side note, the 2005 film Capote pissed me off so much I felt sick over it for days. The idea that Capote was manipulating the situation, or exploiting Perry and Dick, or owed them anything more than that book.... Well, I was really fucking pissed. Fuckers. Ass, eye, ear and nose fuckers (the hanging scene even smelled vile). It was every kind of wrong that I hold as truth. I mean, did they READ In Cold Blood? How could they misunderstand Capote so much? The filmmakers probably did it for a "different" angle. A different angle like tilting the whole world to suggest that everything that is true is something else, in an upside down bizarro world. Bastards. I hatesssss them.

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Jan 19, 2008 Martine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who like a good crime story with some lyricism in it

Shelves: film, crime, modern-fiction, non-fiction, journalism-in-book-form, north-american

I don't know why I waited so long after seeing and liking Capote to read the book on which the film was partly based, but I'm glad I finally got around to it, as In Cold Blood is a magnificent read. The first ever true-crime novel (or 'non-fiction novel' as Capote himself called it), In Cold Blood tells the story of the quadruple murder that shook the Kansas community of Holcomb in 1959 and which Capote then spent six years investigating, talking to the bereaved villagers, the detectives who wor...more I don't know why I waited so long after seeing and liking Capote to read the book on which the film was partly based, but I'm glad I finally got around to it, as In Cold Blood is a magnificent read. The first ever true-crime novel (or 'non-fiction novel' as Capote himself called it), In Cold Blood tells the story of the quadruple murder that shook the Kansas community of Holcomb in 1959 and which Capote then spent six years investigating, talking to the bereaved villagers, the detectives who worked on the case and the murderers themselves, with one of whom he may well have fallen in love; his sympathy for him shines through loud and clear. The amazing thing about the book is that all these different characters have their own voices, and they are all different and convincing -- a feat all the more impressive when you know that Capote conducted his interviews without a notepad or a tape recorder. The result of all these interviews is a kaleidoscope of impressions, a piece of journalism which somehow manages to read like high literature -- a page-turner which succeeds in conveying both the horror and the poetry of the crimes and lives described, and does so in Capote's trademark Beautiful English. No small feat, that.

The opening chapters of the book are brilliant. Capote introduces the reader to the reasonably prosperous town of Holcomb, its cheerful inhabitants and the mostly happy lives the Cutter family were leading before Perry Smith and Dick Hickock showed up and killed them. He then describes the murder scene and the early investigations, and shows how the community succumbs to paranoia and mistrust, as the locals are convinced the murderer is someone from their midst. Finally, he focuses on the murderers themselves, two seemingly likeable lads who for the longest time seem to get away with their crime. Clearly, neither of them has a conscience, but what they do have is dreams, hopes, plans and grudges, all of which are described in great detail and from several different points of view. The only thing that is not described in great detail in the first two thirds of the book is the gruesome murder itself. Capote wisely refrains from letting Smith and Hickock explain the hows and whys of the massacre until they are finally arrested, which makes the story gripping; you really want to go on reading to find out why exactly the Cutters had to die and which of the two men pulled the trigger and therefore is the greater villain. When you finally do find out these things, the answer is both surprising and right; such is the ingenuity of Capote's writing that you can't guess but don't feel cheated afterwards, either.

Sadly, the story somewhat goes off the rails once the murder case has been solved. Rather than quickly wrapping the story up after Smith's and Hickock's arrests, as he probably should have done, Capote takes his time to focus on their trial, their life on death row and their equally notorious fellow inmates, whose stories may have meant something to contemporary readers but which rather detract from the main story now. He also uses this part of the book to debate the issue of capital punishment, which is interesting but again detracts from the main story. Therefore, I found the final eighty pages of the book a bit of a let-down. Thankfully, though, the first 250 pages are excellent -- the best mix of fact and fiction I have ever read, I think.
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May 23, 2007 Shannon Brennan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

We've all heard quite a lot about (from?) Truman Capote these past 12 months. Between Philip Seymour Hoffman's Capote and what's-his-name's (Toby Jones') performance in Infamous, it's rather difficult to even crack the spine of this over-explicated text without hearing the faint cackle of new-york-high-society-types, or picturing Mr. Capote himself, before a crowd, holding the book (a tome, in my mental image) above his head, in that fantastic anecdote about the primacy of the text. So, perhaps,...more

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Aug 16, 2007 Martha Matthews rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Meticulous reconstruction of the brutal murders of a helpless family, with an emphasis on the movements of the killers after the crime and their eventual convictions and executions. Felt like the source material was doing the driving, not the author. In fact, I became tired of slogging through page after page of first-hand accounts from the killers, their family members, and their former cell-mates - a pitiable bunch.

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Sep 22, 2012 Louize rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tfg-f2f

The Page Walker shared this thoughts.

A story of 6 murders...
IN COLD BLOOD by Truman Capote

One Indian summer night, in the plains of western Kansas, a family was murdered inside their own home –a man, his wife, their son, and a daughter. Armed with a knife and a 12-guage shotgun, the murderers robbed, and killed each member separately with a close-range shot to the head. Forty-six days later, the murderers -Perry Edward Smith and Richard Eugene Hickcock -were apprehended in Las Vegas. And at th...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Diana~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classic-literature, 2011-reads, college-reading, life-changing

In Cold Blood is a haunting novel that portrays the darker side of society. While I did not enjoy reading it since my Professor assigned this reading to us, it is still a novel that I will never likely forget. It explores the faults of our very own justice system and how everything isn't just always black or white... but also shades of gray. Ultimately, I felt sorry for the Clutter family and Perry Smith but pity for Dick Hickock. Even towards the end, he was never remorseful or apologized for h...more In Cold Blood is a haunting novel that portrays the darker side of society. While I did not enjoy reading it since my Professor assigned this reading to us, it is still a novel that I will never likely forget. It explores the faults of our very own justice system and how everything isn't just always black or white... but also shades of gray. Ultimately, I felt sorry for the Clutter family and Perry Smith but pity for Dick Hickock. Even towards the end, he was never remorseful or apologized for his sins-- hence forth his death was his very own redemption. Perry on the other hand, is an entirely different matter.

Unlike Dick, Perry never truly had a happy childhood but a rather misfortunate one. Every single one of his siblings ended up committing suicide except for his sister, Barbara Johnson-- she actually leads a pretty good life. I think the most heartbreaking aspect of all is the fact that essentially, his family is probably one of the main reasons why he ended up becoming a human being that is thoroughly flawed and lost. I think Truman Capote does exceptionally well trying to convey to his readers how pitiful Perry was and as a result, we sympathize with him. All Perry ever wanted in life was to be happy and search for 'lost treasure' but apparently, that won't likely ever happen. To make matters worse, he ended up in an accident that scarred both his legs and even his soul forever. It may seem like I'm trying to defend him for his crimes but I'm actually not. He is essentially a murderer who brutally murdered a family of four. But as a reader, I feel as if Perry was never 'right' in the head. He was often mistreated as a child ever since his mother and father became estranged. One of the worst things that I have read about Perry Smith's childhood was when he was beaten up by nuns in an orphanage. I don't think I could ever look at the world the same way again... and this is why Truman Capote became one of the most famous writers of his time and the most well-known in present day.

Dick Hickock is and will always be one of the characters that disgusts and make me pity him at the same time. He disgusts me because of his attraction to children and wanting to rape Nancy Clutter during the night of the murder. The scene that I will never likely forget is the one in which Perry and Dick are both in Miami, Florida and Dick tries to 'seduce' a twelve-year old child. Perry was disgusted and believe me, I wanted to throw up. He is essentially the true mastermind behind the entire murder and this is also another reason as to why I hate him. He could have lived his whole life as the ideal husband and father to his children but things ultimately change, as life does in the outcome. Ever since he was in an accident that caused his face to be disfigured, the novel stated that he came out as a different person. I guess this is when his crimes truly began.

Even though I did not give this read a 5 out of 5 stars, this will always be a book that I'll never likely read again due to the emotions that Capote was able to pull out of me. Every time I think of the Clutter family, Perry and yes, even Dick... I think of the life that they could have had. The life and childhood that Perry had always wanted and the life that Dick could have had if he had gone to college instead of getting a job. Well done Truman Capote, well done.(less)

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Jul 10, 2009 The Chaotic Reader rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: non-fiction-novel, mystery

With the glut of crime-related progams - both factual and fictional- on primetime television and the daily bombardment of crime we receive from the news media, you might assume this would be just one more crime story. The fact is, it is a very compelling description, by those involved as well as by Capote, of the brutal murder of a family and of the investigation, trial, and execution of those who committed it. The accounts of the individuals who first found and first investigated the the scene...more

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Aug 08, 2008 Mel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, nonfiction

In Cold Blood was an experiment in form—and the expansion of a genre. The author, Truman Capote did five years of painstaking research before committing what he learned to the page. The story of how the text came to be is almost as fascinating as the tale of the Clutter murders itself.
Capote insisted that there should be no authorial presence in the text, and yet his voice drips from each page. The protagonist is Perry Smith, the murderer who Capote is quoted comparing himself to. In the book o...more In Cold Blood was an experiment in form—and the expansion of a genre. The author, Truman Capote did five years of painstaking research before committing what he learned to the page. The story of how the text came to be is almost as fascinating as the tale of the Clutter murders itself.
Capote insisted that there should be no authorial presence in the text, and yet his voice drips from each page. The protagonist is Perry Smith, the murderer who Capote is quoted comparing himself to. In the book our sympathies lie with the murderer—with Capote—with the outsider. And the text is successful in this, the reader, this reader, walks away wondering if there but for the grace of God go any one of us.
And yet, Capote is not present. It would be impossible for Capote to have put himself into his book without taking away from the story. He was colorful, egocentric, and well, generally speaking, the center of attention. The impression gotten from the articles written about Capote and his work was that he was not well received in Holcomb. There were reports of Truman at hotels in pink lingerie… In 1959, in Kansas, one can assume that wasn’t very acceptable. Had he made himself someone within the text – how would that have changed the mom-and-apple-pie presentation he gives us? It’s not his story – he isn’t a character in it and I think wisely chose to allow the character be who and what they were – it gives the story a sort of insular integrity – these people, in this community…that Truman was not in any way connected to. The power of the story lies, at least in my opinion, in his physical absence.
The structure of the text is compelling there is a starting point and an ending point. What happens in between is relative and although factual, it is contextual. The book is not linear at all and yet not once does the reader feel lost in time or space. What amazed me about Capote was his transitions from the murdered’s point of view to the murderers, to the detectives—seamlessly. I’m not sure how aware I was of this until I watched the movie, which isn’t seamless. It is clear why this text is one of the hallmarks in the genre of creative nonfiction.
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Aug 23, 2007 Taka rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: japan_jul07-aug10, american_lit

Capote's style is a menagerie of 4-parts precision, 2-parts lyricism, and 4-parts stiffness, which is not my favorite cocktail to say the least. I did appreciate the concise aspect of it, though.

As for the story, the fact that it is a "non-fiction novel" - a category Capote made up - sheds the verisimilitude of an usual fiction and makes you reel from the naked force of truth, esp. when reading the murder scenes. To know that these people actually existed, and to know how and why they were murde...more

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May 18, 2007 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's considered a nonfiction novel but it is also an expository tale about the nature of American violence. The town is all-American, the murdered family is all-American and the class divisions, lack of compassion, and the spirit of revenge are also distinctly American. What's so disturbing about the book is the sympathy you can't help but feel for Perry Smith, who actually fired the shots that killed all four Clutters. It's transmitted through Capote who found somewhat of a demented friendship...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Thenewdirectionoftime rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Cold Blood represented a new kind of literary genre, in which Capote was able to blend together his meticulous journalistic research with his considerable talent as a novelist. But by 2012, readers have become cynical about the kind of novel that seems to exploit tragedy. “The novel will be out next month,” seems now almost a blasé response to any catastrophe that happens. It is important to remember that In Cold Blood shouldn’t be held culpable as the progenitor of this trend of trivializing...more

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Mar 13, 2008 Josie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a really good book! It's about the true story of the murders of 4 family members in Holcomb, Kansas town (a small town) and it's honestly one of the scariest books I have ever read! Don't read this one at night! Truman Capote gives an account-by-account re-telling of the murder of the Clutter family from the events leading up to the murder to the prosecution of the murderers. Very good! What makes it all the more creepy is the fact that it is a true story.

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Mar 22, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime, nonfiction

The One Sentence Summary: A creative nonfiction novel exploring the shocking motiveless murders of the prosperous Clutter family in 1950s rural Kansas.

The Meat and Potatoes: On the morning of Sunday, November 14, 1959, Herb Clutter, his wife Bonnie, son Kenyon, and daughter Nancy were found bound, gagged, and shot in the heads with a 14-guage rifle. The Clutters were respected residents of a peaceful farming community in Kansas and, although wealthy, were known to conduct all business by check r...more The One Sentence Summary: A creative nonfiction novel exploring the shocking motiveless murders of the prosperous Clutter family in 1950s rural Kansas.

The Meat and Potatoes: On the morning of Sunday, November 14, 1959, Herb Clutter, his wife Bonnie, son Kenyon, and daughter Nancy were found bound, gagged, and shot in the heads with a 14-guage rifle. The Clutters were respected residents of a peaceful farming community in Kansas and, although wealthy, were known to conduct all business by check rather than holding cash. The crime appeared motiveless. This is a true story. Truman Capote read about this crime in a New York Times blurb just days after it occurred. On the lookout for a crime that could provide the subject for an experimental nonfiction novel, he travelled to Holcomb, Kansas with his lifelong friend and author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, arriving just two days after the funeral. Capote befriended town residents, witnesses, and the detectives, following the case and hoping it would unfold into something he could use for a novel. In Cold Blood explores the lives of the victims, the killers, the detectives, and the town, presenting a full picture of the shocking crime. The point of view of the novel shifts frequently, showing the events through the eyes of whatever character is most relevant at the time. The reader learns the identity of the killers long before the authorities, and follows them as they make their pre-crime preparations, as well as travelling to Mexico and around the US once the crime has been committed. Through correspondence with family members, pretrial psychiatric assessments, and descriptions of the killers’ lives in their own words Capote shows the readers the humanity in the seemingly inhuman murderers, something that is rarely accomplished simply by following a case in the media. The novel also follows the detectives through various theories of the crime as they sift through the evidence. Essentially, In Cold Blood presents a bird’s eye view of the murders, the investigation, and all the major players, satisfying the reader that every possible angle of this mysterious case has been explored.

The Praiseworthy: In Cold Blood defines a genre. This was the first book to combine journalism and the novel, to present the true facts of a real-life event within a fictionalized narrative. Also, enough cannot be said about the quality of the writing. Unlike many true crime books of today, Capote takes the time to craft gorgeous sentences and paragraphs. Although the journalistic slant is very apparent, Capote’s tale reads like high quality literary fiction. Listen to how he leads us into the courthouse setting:

Among Garden City’s animals are two grey tomcats who are always together—thin, dirty strays with strange and clever habits. The chief ceremony of their day is performed at twilight. First they trot the length of Main Street, stopping to scrutinize the engine grilles of parked automobiles, particularly those stationed in front of the two hotels, the Windsor and Warren, for these cars, usually the property of travelers from afar, often yield what the bony methodical creatures are hunting: slaughtered birds—crows, chickadees, and sparrows foolhardy enough to have flown into the path of oncoming motorists. Using their paws as though they were surgical instruments, the cats extract from the grilles every feathery particle. Having cruised Main Street, they invariably turn the corner at Main and Grant, then lope along towards Courthouse Square, another of their hunting grounds—and a highly promising one on the afternoon of Wednesday 6 January, for the area swarmed with Finney County vehicles that had brought to town part of the crowd populating the square.

The Shortcomings: Depending on your reasons for reading it, In Cold Blood could come across as overly detailed. Capote includes pages and pages of information such as the killers’ own detailed accounts of their lives, and correspondence (reproduced in full) from family members. If this were a traditional fiction novel, an editor would have hacked those sections to pieces. Since it’s instead an exploration of a true crime, these details can be interesting and informative, although they do tend to interrupt the narrative flow. Similarly, in his zeal to present the whole story surrounding the case, Capote makes some questionable decisions regarding what to include. After the killers have been tried, convicted, and sent to death row, he includes in-depth discussions of the deeds of the other criminals on their cell block, which only factor into the story in that the killers interact with these men occasionally. The novel moves very quickly at first, but these details tend to bog down the reading in the end.

The Verdict: I would recommend In Cold Blood to all who enjoy true crime, any who have an interest in the case of the Clutter murders, and those keen on reading a highly detailed narrative of murder.
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Mar 09, 2009 Darcy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What an amazing author of incredibly sharp character studies. Truman Capote's portrayal of the murder victims, the murderers, and the detectives was equally impartial. In fact, I think the descriptions of the motivations of criminals in this book were more sympathetic and detailed than those of the upright hard-working farmer who was killed and the detective who had nightmares and smoked 60 cigarettes a day until the killers were caught. Yet, at the end of a scrupulously detailed account of the...more

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Feb 02, 2009 Geoff rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"In Cold Blood" is a well written novel based on the 1959 murders of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. The book is a fascinating read. Truman Capote is a master at detail and making the reader feel he/she is present - from the Clutter's last days to the execution of convicts, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock. Capote does well at portaying the personality differences in Smith and Hickock. My fascination with the Clutter murders did not stop with this book. I started reading online articles writt...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Miss rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: year-12-literature

Fascinating, clever and chilling.

Capote's true crime novel is hard to read, but it doesn't make it any less brilliant. The first section is devastating as you as a reader are aware that these days are the Clutter family's last. It is amazing how Capote is able to create such intense suspense despite the reader being fully aware of the outcome of the story. The tension is created in HOW and WHY the murders were committed and subsequently, whether Perry is telling the truth and the appeals process...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Eclectic Readers: In Cold Blood	4	4	May 01, 2013 10:46am
Death	7	102	Feb 17, 2013 02:28pm
New release book in style of In Cold Blood	2	58	Jan 18, 2013 09:50am
Mr. Rossi: EIIHJ ...: Mr. Clutter and his family	4	5	Dec 12, 2012 08:25am

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