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A review by zoe_271
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
This was my first foray into true crime, and Capote's unravelling of the murders was masterful. I loved how he kept me on the edge of my seat, still guessing at the details of what happened even though the broad strokes of the plot were obvious. He had me empathising with all the characters in ways I was uncomfortable with, at the same time as fleshing out the town of Holcomb in such a way that it felt like a major character, though more so in the first half of the novel. The last section debated the morality of the death penalty, a topic I thought I had a set view on, in a deeper way than I've explored before.
The standout has to be Capote's depiction of Perry, a man who I despised yet related to, a contradiction unto himself. On doing some background reading after I finished In Cold Blood, I learned that Capote had grown close to both perpetrators while they were in prison, interviewing them for his research, and that sympathy that he felt towards Perry in particular shone through the text. Yet while Capote explains how Perry is the way he is, how he ended up in such circumstances, he does not justify it. Questions are raised - are all lives worth the same? What is a fair trial, for a man who freely deemed himself judge, jury, and executioner?
This book made me sad. True crime is probably not a genre I'll delve into much more, because I found myself affected in a way that I just didn't enjoy, which is potentially why I'll not be giving this as high a rating as others might. However, that heart-wrenching feeling drawn out of me is nothing but a compliment to Capote's writing, and this is certainly a book that will leave a lasting impression on me.
The standout has to be Capote's depiction of Perry, a man who I despised yet related to, a contradiction unto himself. On doing some background reading after I finished In Cold Blood, I learned that Capote had grown close to both perpetrators while they were in prison, interviewing them for his research, and that sympathy that he felt towards Perry in particular shone through the text. Yet while Capote explains how Perry is the way he is, how he ended up in such circumstances, he does not justify it. Questions are raised - are all lives worth the same? What is a fair trial, for a man who freely deemed himself judge, jury, and executioner?
This book made me sad. True crime is probably not a genre I'll delve into much more, because I found myself affected in a way that I just didn't enjoy, which is potentially why I'll not be giving this as high a rating as others might. However, that heart-wrenching feeling drawn out of me is nothing but a compliment to Capote's writing, and this is certainly a book that will leave a lasting impression on me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts