Portraits and Observations: The Essays of Truman Capote (2007)

 

I know, I know… you will wonder how good of an author Capote is – especially if you only know him as the “In Cold Blood” crime writer. But Capote’s works are so beautifully written you will wish the smaller vignettes were books in themselves.  The book is divided between poetic travelogues, observations on well known artists and short autobiographical stories.

Capote writes lyrical, humourous, and descriptive anecdotes of people and places. In these pieces he continually surprised me at how quickly he can bring a reader into “his world” – and these places cover the globe and social ladder. I particularly enjoyed his travelogues on Brooklyn, Haiti, and Tangier. These travelogues demonstrate how Capote travels with an openness to new adventures and strays from the common tourist hideouts.

By the end of this book, you will wonder if there is anyone Capote did not know in the entertainment industry but a conversation with Marlon Brando (that I wish was the length of the whole book) is enough to take a look at this collection.

Submitted by Elizabeth W. @ NA