In Cold Blood in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Nov 29, 2019 Chelsey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: worth-the-hype, favorites, 4-star-books, read-in-2019

4 Stars

I love to read (and watch) anything related to True Crime. In Cold Blood is often labeled as one of the classic true crime novels to read. So, I have been looking forward to reading it. The only thing you really need to know before going in to this book is what to expect style wise. Unlike some of the more popular true crime that’s coming out now, this isn’t a simple collection and presentation of facts. In the vein of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil this is very much litera 4 Stars

I love to read (and watch) anything related to True Crime. In Cold Blood is often labeled as one of the classic true crime novels to read. So, I have been looking forward to reading it. The only thing you really need to know before going in to this book is what to expect style wise. Unlike some of the more popular true crime that’s coming out now, this isn’t a simple collection and presentation of facts. In the vein of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil this is very much literary nonfiction. The story is more than just the facts of the case. Capote paints a picture with his words and attempts to humanize, or at least explain, some of the murderer’s behaviors.

The novel is divided into four parts. Part one focused on the lead up to the murder; it demonstrates what a wonderful, innocent, almost picture perfect family the Clutter family was. It also began to detail some small bits of information about the perpetrators. Part 2 focused on the immediate aftermath of the murders, the reactions of townsfolk, and the escape made by Perry and Smith while slowly revealing more about their pasts. This was probably the least interesting part, if I had to pick. It felt a bit redundant to hear the same story and opinion from several different people from town. It did, however, add another layer to the atrocity; it really showed the impact a horrific crime like this has on people who aren’t directly connected to the victims.

Part 3 focused on the arrest and more development of the characters of Perry & Smith. We come to know some of their most intense struggles and feelings. Through Capote’s writing for a moment, just a moment, I almost have pity for the pair. Finally, part four followed through on the trial and ending for the two convicts.

Even if you know most of the details to this case, this book is still well worth a read. Capote’s brilliant writing really makes this something special to read. Although it doesn’t require a ton of brainpower, it will make you think. What would you do? How would you feel? If you like true crime, you should definitely give this a read!
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May 31, 2023 Olivermagnus rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2023, non-fiction, true-crime, zmay-2023

I have always been a big fan of true crime and I feel like I must have read this book at some point in my life but I can't remember it. I do know I saw the 1967 movie starring Robert Blake as Perry Smith and Scott Wilson as Richard "Dick" Hickock and have never forgotten it.

During the early hours of November 15, 1959 in the small prairie community of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of a prosperous farming family, the Clutters, were savagely murdered by shotgun blasts into their faces. There was no I have always been a big fan of true crime and I feel like I must have read this book at some point in my life but I can't remember it. I do know I saw the 1967 movie starring Robert Blake as Perry Smith and Scott Wilson as Richard "Dick" Hickock and have never forgotten it.

During the early hours of November 15, 1959 in the small prairie community of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of a prosperous farming family, the Clutters, were savagely murdered by shotgun blasts into their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and hardly any clues. Months pass with neighbors suspicious of each other and everyone in town afraid to sleep, fearing that they might be the next targets.

The crime rocked America and numerous reporters, including Truman Capote, arrived in Holcomb as the search for the killers ensued. His close friend, Harper Lee, travelled with him. She helped him get access to the neighbors and Holcomb residents who were extremely private. As a result, Capote was able to conduct his own investigation into the manhunt, arrest and trial of the killers.

When the killers are finally caught it turns out the men had never previously seen any of the Clutters and had never even been to Holcomb. They were ex-convicts who had been tipped off by a fellow prisoner to what was thought to be a rich haul from a wealthy farmer. In fact, the killers only got between forty and fifty dollars for all their trouble.

The book is roughly organized in four parts. "The Last to See Them Alive," "Persons Unknown," "Answer," and "The Corner." Capote's structural method was interesting and he coined it a “non-fiction novel” and also “an experiment in journalistic writing.” He used a variety of different story strands, background details, and flashbacks to present non fiction material in a very different way than other non fiction books.

Truman Capote took six years and devoted extensive research (much on-site) to the writing of "In Cold Blood", which would become his most famous literary achievement. It was the first book to bring the true-crime genre to mainstream culture.

I felt like the amount of detail and repetitive descriptions to be a negative for me. There's some controversy over the way Capote filtered in fictional scenes that may or may not have happened. I felt like much of the information given had an unmistakable ring of authenticity, so I was happy with the writing style.

I do think this was one of the few times I liked the movie better than the book. The book had a great ending with the detective Al Dewey, who was in charge of the investigation, expecting a closure after observing Perry and Dick hanging from the noose. Overall, a great example of early true crime and I can't believe I had never read it before. ...more

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Dec 13, 2016 Ed Lehman added it

Shelves: 1001-list, completed-1001-list-book

about 1978

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Jul 10, 2016 Irene rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars, own-physical, love-the-cover, read-in-2016

Great read. It was especially refreshing to read about a real-life, multifaceted tale, reconstructed into a compelling novel. There were certainly some slow parts, but I appreciated that it was done for the sake of detail.

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