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In Cold Blood (平装)
by Truman Capote
| Category:
Criminal, the nonfiction novel |
| Market price: ¥ 158.00
MSL price:
¥ 148.00
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| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
What an incredible book, touching, horrifying and saddening, based on a true story about an entire family murdered. Capote dives into the minds of the killers; A gift of humanization in the guise of beautiful prose. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 10 items |
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Jesse Van Sant (MSL quote), USA
<2007-05-28 00:00>
Great writing, disturbing story... very well done. The portrait of Perry Smith was extremely convincing, which made the whole thing all the more chilling: made me wish we could take better care of those who are on the fringes of society...also made me want to lock my doors at night. With that said I should note that I didn't necessarily experience In Cold Blood as a page turner, although it was definitely engrossing in its own way. It seems that "True crime" books of this nature are not so unique anymore, but this one is extremely well written and finely structured, and the characters really come alive... their backgrounds, their thoughts about what happened, the factors that contributed to the tragedy. To me the most shocking thing about Capote's account of the crime is the way in which he highlights the arbitrary, almost accidental nature of it, the way it really could have happened to anyone, or not happened at all. Overall I'd call this a solid and impressive effort... not quite an all time favorite, but still very good. |
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JMack (MSL quote), USA
<2007-05-28 00:00>
Truman Capote was so disturbed by this book that he was never able to complete another work. This is symptomatic of the intensity of In Cold Blood. In completing this "nonfiction novel", Capote helped create the genre of true crime. He set the standard of the genre so high, it is virtually unattainable.
The greatest facet of this book is not the story itself as much as it is the presentation of the story. There are far more enticing stories of crime in American history. However, Capote takes this story of execution style murders in Holcomb, Kansas and tells the tale in the poetic style similar to his works of fiction. While it is slow moving at times, Capote crafts the perfect word in almost every scenario.
The relationship that Capote developed with the killers also gives us tremendous insight. Long before "Dead Man Walking", this book made a veiled swipe at capitol punishment. While America culture abhors violence, it answers violence with more violence.
Being a fan of the true crime genre, I regret not reading this book sooner. I suspect the movie "Capote" will cause others to discover this book, as it did for me. I hold In Cold Blood in very high regard. |
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M. D. Stern (MSL quote), USA
<2007-05-28 00:00>
Capote presents a well-balanced and chilling account of the Clutter murders that occurred in 1959. Unlike some true crime books, Capote never forgets the victims. In fact, the reader is constantly aware of Mr. and Mrs. Clutter and their two children, Nancy and Kenyon Clutter, how each died and how each lived.
On the flip side, while Capote goes into the background of the killers and explains their mental makeup, the reader is never given the impression that sympathy is to be given for these two. Capote spells out the facts of the case in a very engaging manner, while never for once letting the reader forget that these two men are not little lost stray puppies.
His balance and sensitivity are what makes this book such an interesting read. It is not merely a treatise on the drama of what happened in the courtroom. Nor is it necessarily what type of forensic evidence was determined to find these two guilty. It is more a study of how the murders were committed, the aftermath of what happened, how the killers were caught, and a exploration of trying to find out what makes a person do what these two did.
Capote captured what a true crime story should be - and in fact did create the genre. While others have come close in their intensity and horror, In Cold Blood, goes deeper in exploring that all illusive entity: the criminal mind. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-05-28 00:00>
This is probably Capote's crowning achievement. Unfortunately it also destroyed him.
The storytelling is compelling and we get to know the characters better than in any book I've ever read (other than biographies). Even though we know how the story ends (it's history plus it tells us on the back of the book), the fun is in getting there. Much of the book has the feeling of a mystery novel. While we know who did it right off the bat, we find ourselves eagerly turning page after page to find out how and why.
Once we discover that, it sort of feels like the book should be over. But it continues for quite a bit more, covering the trial and the time the perpetrators spend waiting for their execution. To understand why, I suggest watching the movie "Capote". The story isn't really complete until you understand how the author was involved.
Though Capote was still young when he wrote this, he never finished another book. He put all of himself into the project and was never quite whole afterwards. You really should check it out. |
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J. A Magill (MSL quote), USA
<2007-05-28 00:00>
Truman Capote's brilliant Cold Blood has recently reemerged into the popular consciousness in the wake of the movie that dramatized the production of this singular work. That is all to the good. Capote stood as an unusual figure in the post WW II Period, the ultimate elite intellectual who became a fixture in the popular American mind.
Reviewers can praise in Cold Blood from dozens of vantage points, and I would point to the works tight lyrical prose. Having not read the book in more than a decade, I was struck by Capote's unique style. A close reader will note that the author uses almost no adverbs, indeed so few that their absence is notable. Using tremendous care, Capote produces a work that is at once intimate and distant, presenting an almost claustrophobic view of both victim and criminal.
Capote's work in its time provoked a generation of imitators. Doubtless its rediscovery will bring a second wave of such young authors, and give readers a chance to rediscover an American original. |
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Susan (MSL quote), USA
<2007-05-28 00:00>
In Cold Blood is a poignant touching book about the implications of murder; not just for the victims but for the killers as well. This book is so well done because it shows the horrible crime from multiple view points and does so eloquently.
The details here are spot on so you truly feel immersed in this community. You can touch it and taste it. This is a great literate work; read it! |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-05-28 00:00>
I enjoyed reading this book greatly. Capote's writing is so interesting and full of suspense. The way he traces the lives of the murderers and interviews so many people, leads to such an interesting narrative. Capote twists your emotions and causes you to feel pity for even the most brutal of killers. The language however flip flops your view and is so vivid and crude that it makes you cringe with disgust for these two men. The physical descriptions of the two men are so chilling and the writing is so dramatic. This book got a little slow towards the end, but picks right back up. I love the last sentence in the story; I think it makes the perfect ending and gives a little bit of closure to the distressed reader. |
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K. Gibson (MSL quote), USA
<2007-05-28 00:00>
Truman Capote's style of writting in this book was very unique. He really captured the esscence of the criminals and brought them alive on the page. He did an excellent job of evoking emotions in the reader and the detail work was wonderful. The story line in itself was interesting and the fact that it is a true story only made the book more intriguing, I would reccomend this book to anyone interested in murder mysteries or criminal behavior. This is not the type of book where you do not know who the criminals are... you know from the start, the interesting part is seeing how they track them down and how the criminals act after being caught. |
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Soapsuds (MSL quote), USA
<2007-05-28 00:00>
In reading this book, you will not get blood spilled on your lap nor will you get your hands tarnished with it. It is, however, a chilling, unbelievable, tragic, sad and anger provoking story. The author accomplishes a means to an end of a horrifying senseless murder in an artistic manner akin to a Shakespearean tragedy.
It is the authors' artistic style of writing that makes the contents of the story discerning, but palpable and tragic at the same time. It is through the author's artistic penmanship that makes the reader come face to face with the feelings of sadness, anger, resentment and disbelief, but with peace of mind at the end.
In spite of its contents, the reader will not want to close the book until justice is done. The author accomplishes that end in a subtle, but heart-wrenching way and without spilling bad blood on the reader. |
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Celeste Moon (MSL quote), USA
<2007-05-28 00:00>
In Cold Blood is nothing short of extraordinary. Capote had an incredible eye for detail and a talent for lyrical, whimsical simile and metaphor, coupled with the ability to draw out conversation. His prose glitters like Christmas tree lights (much as he described the bandaged heads of the dead Clutter clan).
So it's a great shame that the sensationalism of this creative non-fiction piece went on to spawn a million tawdry wannabes. While there may be some worthy successors, the True Crime genre in general is littered with sensationalist, voyeuristic and cliched garbage. But even when the author is as good at their craft as Capote, none will ever have the access to criminals in the same way. After the example of how these two ended up, no murderer would be naive enough to become as close to a journalist as Perry Smith and Bill Hickock did, and for such an extended time. Helen Garner's Joe Cinque's Consolation, while in haunting prose so spare that it echoes, is curiously and frustratingly half-empty as the murderer in question would not be interviewed.
Capote creates rich images and characterisations. The countryside, Holcomb and it's residents and the Clutter family are described with real warm and affection. The empathy the author felt for the murderers obviously has biased his account, but it's worth getting into this author's marvellous mind to see what he saw. |
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1 Total 1 pages 10 items |
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