sandraandthecity's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ultreaux's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ladyzluvcooljim's review against another edition
5.0
What a wonderful cross between F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ritzy world of The Great Gatsby and debonair debutante of This Side of Paradise with J.D. Salinger’s realism, intrigue, pessimism, and family politics from his stories on The Glass Family (Franny and Zooey, A Perfect Day for Bananafish). This is my first Capote novel (his first, too), so I can’t speak to his whole writing career and subsequent style, but going from reading a Cormac McCarthy novel to this shows the full breadth of possibilities of the English language. You might find as many colons or commas in an entire McCarthy book that you do in one Capote sentence, and yet both are perfectly natural and fluent (although my brain is more wire like Capote’s than McCarthy’s, for better or worse). The story follows the steady downfall of the adolescent Grady McNeil in the absence of her parents. I won’t pretend to know what Capote was really trying to tell us about these events but teenage angst and exploration does not meet a happy ending here. This is the first book in a long time where I felt my eyes breeze through both the syntax and the story, searching and craving for the next line. It was difficult to put down, which, combined with its brevity, made for a quick, enjoyable read.
cheyenneisreading's review against another edition
3.0
This was Truman Capote's debut novel that was discovered and then published posthumously. This was a short story to read and does slightly read unfinished, to a tiny extent. However for a debut novel I like the mystery behind it. The way that it was discovered.
sophieecook's review against another edition
4.0
a lovely little novel, capote’s first, which was undiscovered until after his death. it’s evident even in this work, (which while imperfect, has a character and life force all of its own) that this is a writer who evokes masterfully the atmosphere of the beginning of a life coming into itself. gorgeous writing style. 3.75 stars
anelisa_sanchez's review against another edition
3.0
Trauman Capote tiene una magia con las palabras, esta novela me gustó más que Desayuno en Tiffany’s y aunque le falto profundidad pude conectar mejor con los personajes que con su otra novela.
21eljuanpaaa's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
issieburton's review against another edition
1.0
I picked this up as I’m a big fan of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and this was described to me as a precursor. Whilst I appreciate the beauty in finding a lost manuscript, this novel really misses the maturity of Capote’s better known works. His youth and inexperience is palpable throughout as it lacks structure and the characters lack the substance and liveliness he is known for. It’s an honourable early attempt, but I think had Truman have had the chance to refine it, I’d be rating it higher.
My favourite part of this book was actually the afterword. Alan Schwartz explains how Summer Crossing was discovered and imagines Capote’s response to its publication with an endearing nostalgia for their friendship.
My favourite part of this book was actually the afterword. Alan Schwartz explains how Summer Crossing was discovered and imagines Capote’s response to its publication with an endearing nostalgia for their friendship.