As promised, I finally read the original Truman Capote novella, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. I'm also reading a long (760 pgs!) Sci Fi book recommended by Brian H. It is good, albeit a long read. We are on vacation next week, so I should have some reviews ready to post when we return. k
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Truman Capote (4)
After reading ‘Fifth Avenue: 5am…’ (see March 2011 Book Reviews), I expected to find this novella to be darker and more scandalous than the movie. I was pleased that this was not exactly correct. It had much of the whimsy and even some of the best dialogue word for word. Until reading both the original and the recent analysis of the movie, I didn’t appreciate the freedom writers and movie makers have today compared to the 60’s. Capote wrote of a free spirited young woman who mainly took ‘bathroom’ money from men for the benefit of her company. On occasion, it is intimated that more occurs, but it is very subtle. At one point she claims to have had 11 ‘lovers’, but the definition of ‘lover’ seems to also be ambiguous. Even with all the subtlety, the movie version made some interesting changes. She discusses getting money for the bathroom at restaurants, but never implies in any way that she is sleeping with her dates. In order to soften the impact of her male friends, in the movie they added the sugar momma character of ‘Apartment 23’ for Fred. I always thought that felt a tad disingenuous and didn’t flow well in the movie. Overall the book is filled with little gems that aren’t in the movie and is very worth reading. The ending is very good and true to Holly’s character. My library’s edition had a couple of Capote’s other short stories. I would also recommend reading ‘A Christmas Memory’. It was very touching.
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