Michael
2.75*
Perhaps I admire Truman Capote’s writing more than I enjoy reading what he wrote. He was clearly a brilliant writer, but I generally don’t respond to him. However, this book was given to me as a gift, so I read it.
These are clearly immature works. The stories were all enjoyable to a greater or lesser degree, but many of them seemed little more than character sketches. And as Hilton Als pointed out in the Foreword, Capote never gives his Black characters a “self.” Perhaps as a southerner born in the 1920’s he is simply unable to imagine Black characters as unique individuals and treats them as stereotypes. This makes these early stories uncomfortable at times. However, being himself marginalized, he can look at marginalized white characters with great sympathy.
It is very hard for me to rate collections of short stories. None of these stores were bad, in the sense that I no longer wanted to read them, many were pleasant, but I don’t think any of them will stick with me.
I believe that anyone who loves Capote’s writing will appreciate this collection and love some of the stories.
2.75*
Perhaps I admire Truman Capote’s writing more than I enjoy reading what he wrote. He was clearly a brilliant writer, but I generally don’t respond to him. However, this book was given to me as a gift, so I read it.
These are clearly immature works. The stories were all enjoyable to a greater or lesser degree, but many of them seemed little more than character sketches. And as Hilton Als pointed out in the Foreword, Capote never gives his Black characters a “self.” Perhaps as a southerner born in the 1920’s he is simply unable to imagine Black characters as unique individuals and treats them as stereotypes. This makes these early stories uncomfortable at times. However, being himself marginalized, he can look at marginalized white characters with great sympathy.
It is very hard for me to rate collections of short stories. None of these stores were bad, in the sense that I no longer wanted to read them, many were pleasant, but I don’t think any of them will stick with me.
I believe that anyone who loves Capote’s writing will appreciate this collection and love some of the stories.