This story initially began at a slow pace, but then I became completely hooked by the second chapter, of which there are only four in total.

The fact that this is a reconstruction of that fateful and murderous night of the 14th November 1959 truly makes this a captivating read. Capote has done an excellent job in presenting this account.

As I delved deeper into the story, I found myself on the edge of my seat, eager to discover what had actually happened on that tragic night. The details and the way Capote weaves the narrative are truly remarkable.

Each chapter builds upon the previous one, adding more layers of mystery and suspense. By the time I reached the end, I felt as if I had been on a thrilling journey and had gained a better understanding of that dark event in history.

This book is not only a fascinating read but also a testament to Capote's skill as a writer. It is a must-read for anyone interested in true crime or historical events.

I believe this marks the third occasion on which I have perused this true-crime novel. The initial reading took place during my high school days, and the second occurred subsequent to my relocation to Kansas City. However, both of those instances were prior to my discovery of Goodreads.

This third encounter, interestingly enough, proved to be the most illuminating. It came about after I had read "Furious Hours" by Casey Cep, which detailed the significance of Harper Lee's contribution to the reporting of Capote's book. As a result, I approached "In Cold Blood" with a more discerning eye, devoting more time to interrogating Capote's descriptions and motives. I continued to value the book's structure and pacing, yet I was increasingly perturbed by the extent of sympathy exhibited towards the killers.

"In Cold Blood" remains a remarkable true-crime work, yet I am uncertain whether I will embark upon a fourth reading.

I do not, as I have often stated, experience emotions very frequently. I am on the verge of being a sociopathic monster, mainly because I consider myself to be far too cute and charming for that. (Although, come to think of it, sociopaths can be charming...hmm. Back to the drawing board.)

Anyway, even in my actual, real life, I strive to have emotions as infrequently as possible. This is even more true for the books I read.

In Cold Blood is a true crime narrative that details the crime, investigation, and trial related to the murder of four members of the Clutter family. Therefore, I wasn't planning on feeling anything if at all possible. Because, obviously, emotions related to that aren't going to be like "eating cotton candy while at the top of a Ferris wheel at a fair in the beginning of summer" or "hearing an infant laugh for the first time."

And yet, by page 50, Truman Capote had me feeling overwhelmingly fond of the Clutter family. I knew what was going to happen to them. Even if I hadn't known the book's synopsis going in, I would have felt the building tension. Somehow, though, even though I knew what was coming, I was really hoping the Clutters would be okay.

Mr. Clutter, the pillar of his community. Mrs. Clutter, who finally felt she might be overcoming her lifelong struggle with mental health. Nancy, the sweet, kind teenager who overbooked herself because she didn't want to say no to anybody. Kenyon, nerdier than his older sister, but smart and kind and passionate.

As I read about their lives on and before November 15, 1959, I hoped they would be okay. Even as Perry Smith and Dick Hickock entered their home late at night, I hoped they would somehow leave a survivor.

What I expected out of this book was an exciting, impressive rendering of a horrible crime. I got a lot more. I was made to care about these people, and to feel their loss. I empathized with their loved ones, their community, their police force. I could have read about the Clutters for much longer than I did.

Unfortunately, the Clutters and the crime itself only took up about a third of the book. The remaining two thirds followed the investigation and the trial, but more than that, it followed the killers. I felt no pity for Dick Hickock. I don't think I was supposed to, or I hope I wasn't. Because that guy was a total jerk. I'm someone who believes that people can be partially excused by their circumstances, but Dick Hickock had no circumstance that could make up for what a horrible person he was.

Perry Smith, on the other hand. Even for him, who suffered all his life, I was only able to feel partial pity. A sickening kind of pity - it made me feel nauseous to read about him.

Maybe if this book had felt more focused on the Clutters, I would have given it five stars. I don't know. It's still a four-star read because it's so impressive. It's no wonder that this book, to some extent, gave birth to the genre of true crime as it is today. The exhaustive research and attention to detail are truly astonishing, and the writing is, for the most part, beautiful.

But the later parts of the narrative were sickening, and hard and unpleasant to read. Not just because of their content, but also because of the way the people it followed were treated. I don't know. It felt like it strayed a lot from the Clutters. Maybe it wasn't ever supposed to be their story - maybe it was Perry and Dick's all along. But I'd prefer to think it wasn't.

Bottom line: I love true crime. I love classics. This book feels outside of both of those genres. It defies categorization. I don't even know what it is. But it's good. And hopefully, that's enough.

PRE-REVIEW

I'm so glad that I'm sticking to my plan of reading a classic a month. (I'm so proud of myself, you'd never guess it's only the second month of the year.) I always forget how much I love classics until I pick them up. They're classic for a reason.

Whatever. I digress. This is a great book and I'll review it at some point. Hurray!

In Cold Blood is the new school classics selection in the group catching up on classics for November 2016. Having recently read Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's and been charmed by his writing, I simply couldn't wait to read this nonfiction thriller ahead of the upcoming group read.

Capote, writing in his laid-back southern style, transforms a truly horrid crime into a captivating story, making the how's and whys understandable to the average American. It is precisely in this regard that I rate this thrilling classic five stars.

On November 15, 1959, Richard "Dick" Hickock and Perry Smith, acting on a tip from another inmate, brutally murdered four members of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. Believing that the Clutters had either a safe or $10,000 cash in their home, Smith and Hickock coveted this wealth to live out their days in a Mexican beach resort. However, to their surprise and disappointment, the Clutters had neither the safe nor the cash. But Hickock had insisted on leaving no witnesses. After committing the crime, the pair fled, leading a life of continued crimes and violence, believing that the authorities would never catch up with them. And initially, it seemed that this ill-advised lifestyle might actually succeed.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Kansas Bureau of Investigations (KBI) led by Alvin Dewey, Hickock and Smith were finally brought to justice and ultimately sentenced to death. Capote weaves a tale by presenting the backstories of both felons and描绘出Holcomb and nearby Garden City, Kansas as an idyllic place to raise a family. But the crime changed everything. Families kept their doors locked and restricted their children from venturing far from home. In the surrounding areas, people saw their lives as divided into a before and after. Inevitably, the Clutter case led to less community interaction and the beginning of a breakdown of society.

Yet, by providing the backstories of the felons, Capote enables readers to empathize with their positions in society. Dick Hickock was on track to graduate at the top of his class, with a possible athletic scholarship and a degree in engineering. But his family couldn't afford a university education even with the scholarship, so Hickock went to work. An automobile accident left him partially brain damaged, and his parents claimed he was never the same. This one incident set him on a path of a life of crime. Perry Smith, on the other hand, had a bleak childhood, to the extent that readers would feel sorry for him. Coming from a fractured family and with only a third-grade education, Smith suffered from a superiority complex throughout his life. His role in the Clutter murders was the culmination of a lifetime of rejection. The felons came from completely opposite upbringings, and yet I found myself feeling remorse for both.

Capote pieced together the crime so vividly that I felt as if I knew the people of Holcomb and the principal players in the crime intimately. This work gave rise to a new genre that combines nonfiction and fiction in a way that makes history feel like a story. Both Capote and his research assistant Harper Lee went on to become award-winning authors. Their fictional writing skills allowed for the personalization of this tale and ultimately helped change the way many people write nonfiction.

Truman Capote is one of 20th America's master storytellers, and In Cold Blood is widely regarded as his magnum opus. His meticulous research allowed him to bring the story of the Clutter murders into the average American home. After finishing this five-star work that paints a detailed picture of the how's and whys of murder, I eagerly look forward to reading more of his charming Southern stories.

**"In Cold Blood": A Captivating and Groundbreaking Novel**

In Cold Blood is an incredibly fascinating novel, almost perfect in its own unique way, of which its author was a pioneer.

It is based on a real event. We know there was a heinous crime, we know the victims, we know the perpetrators of those murders, we know they were arrested and even know their fate. But none of this ruins the tension that Capote managed to impart to the story, to every single part of it.

The case naturally attracted the attention of two writers of the caliber of Capote and Harper Lee. Given the context of the crime, the homosexuality, and the eccentric nature of the author, Lee's help in gathering information was crucial. Kansas, in the conservative heart of the US; Holcomb, a small town with only a few buildings through which the railroad tracks run and rarely stops at the station; a community of neighbors, mostly ranchers, prosperous, traditional, and conservative (Truman defines them as extreme right Republicans); a family consisting of a respected and well-off couple and their two children, good students, popular and loved by all; a place where no one locks their doors, everyone helps each other as much as possible, all members of some church and fearing God; four senseless, cruel murders; a loot of only a few dozen dollars.

Capote collected around 4,000 pages of statements from neighbors, family members, the police, psychologists, the murderers themselves, their confessions, the account of their lives, the transcription of the interrogations and the trial... and then retreated to the small fishing village of Palamós on the Costa Brava to shape the novel.

Although initially the author's purpose was to explore the changes the tragedy had caused in a community like Holcomb, Capote completely changed the focus after the arrests. His new objective was to understand the reasons that led Perry Smith and Richard Hickock to commit such cruel and irrational acts. Without minimizing the brutality of the quadruple crime, as well as many other facts related to the murderers, Capote delves into the humanity of these individuals, their lives, their problems, their mentality, their personality, bringing to life literary characters that are hard to forget, especially the contradictory and complex Perry Smith.

As I said at the beginning, all the parts are captivating. The morbid curiosity that the author so skillfully appeals to drives us impatiently throughout the story: the morbid curiosity aroused by the portrayal of those we know are going to die, the description of their last days, their last moments; the morbid curiosity of following the murderers in their criminal path, of getting into their heads, of finding the key, either in their nature or in their past, that explains their cruel behavior; the morbid curiosity of knowing the brutality of the facts, the behaviors of both; the morbid curiosity that stems from the police pursuit of murderers who thought they were safe; the morbid curiosity of witnessing the exact moment they are caught and, in the interrogation, accused; the morbid curiosity of the trial, which is extremely partial; and, finally, the morbid curiosity of their end.

In conclusion, In Cold Blood is a remarkable work that not only tells a true crime story but also delves deep into the human psyche and the impact of such a tragedy on a community. It is a must-read for anyone interested in crime, literature, or the human condition.

Try as I might,

I could not get invested in this book. It seemed to be far too overstuffed with information that had little to do with the central plot. The writing was so dry that every time I attempted to read it, I would quickly become bored. I have spent half a month trying to force myself through this arduous task.

Definitely not the story for me, although the mystery itself, when it was actually being told, was truly fascinating. The author seemed to have lost sight of the main narrative and instead filled the pages with extraneous details that only served to detract from the overall experience. I found myself constantly skimming through paragraphs, hoping to find something that would re-engage my interest.

Perhaps if the book had been more tightly edited and focused on the central mystery, I would have had a different opinion. As it stands, however, it was a struggle to get through and not one that I would recommend to others.

“There’s got to be something wrong with us. To do what we did.” This profound statement sets the tone for Truman Capote’s magnum opus, “In Cold Blood.” It was his last published work, as he never managed to complete another novel. Capote dedicated six years to researching and writing this masterpiece, and it truly shows within the pages. The writing style is almost cinematic, vividly painting a picture in the reader’s mind. Speaking of movies, I had the opportunity to watch both the 1967 “In Cold Blood” and the 2005 “Capote” film adaptations. Each brought a unique perspective to the story. Capote himself once said, “No one will ever know what 'In Cold Blood' took out of me. It scraped me right down to the marrow of my bones. It nearly killed me. I think, in a way, it did kill me.” This shows the emotional toll that this work had on him. It is a testament to the power of his writing and the impact that this story had on his life.

I firmly believe that this was indeed the very first non-fiction novel ever penned. The prose is simply brilliant, cutting straight to the point with unwavering determination and remaining merciless until the very end.

It offers a truly compelling and insightful perspective on the events that transpired within that house. One comes to know all the intricate details of the events that ultimately led to murder and death. Truman Capote dedicated many hours to interviewing one of the criminals while they were incarcerated in prison.

This work is most likely the finest real crime fiction that has ever been written. You will not regret delving into its pages, and upon finishing, you will be grateful to be alive. It is absolutely recommended without a doubt. It is a modern classic that will undoubtedly stand the test of time and continue to captivate readers for generations to come.

This does not read like a typical true crime novel. Instead, it almost gives the impression of a historical fiction novel. However, the unfortunate truth is that all the horrible events described within actually took place. I would highly recommend having something light and cheerful nearby to read once you've finished this book, as it has the potential to drag you down into a pit of despair.

The Cutters are a farming family and an integral part of the community. Dad, Herb, is a fair and well-liked man, almost universally respected. His daughter is selfless, always willing to give her time to others. As for his son, not much is known about him, but he seems like a fine young man. The only one with issues is poor mom, who suffers from depression and social anxiety, spending most of her time secluded in her room.

They are simply going about their daily lives, completely unaware that two thieves are plotting to rob and murder them.

There is an abundance of detail in this book, some of which may seem a little unnecessary. In the beginning, I had to force myself to persevere. However, once I switched to the audio version, it became much more engaging. It is such a tragic story, but the author does an outstanding job of piecing together all the historical details and evoking a wide range of emotions within the reader, mainly anger and sorrow for the senseless loss of life. This is not a dry, emotionless retelling of a crime. Capote fills in the gaps with conversations and private thoughts. How accurate these are, I have no idea, but it definitely makes the book more accessible. I'm not a big fan of dull true crime novels, and this one is far from that. It's a captivating story about a beloved family, two criminals with their own backstories, and the aftermath of that fateful night.

Scott Brick narrated the version I listened to, and his strong and serious voice is perfectly suited for recounting this tragic tale.

Reading criminal cases is one thing, and reading a book like this is completely another.

In a case, you only deal with the crime of an individual, but here you are forced to "see" himself. The person he was, is

not just an animal that killed a family of four almost without any reason and then said he was joking and laughed about it.

You read about his life, his letters, his personal dictionary for using higher-level words, his high intelligence, his eagerness to study and his carefree childhood.

You start to think about how much distance there is between a man who spreads something on the cold ground for his sacrifice so that it won't be hurt and the same man who takes off his shoes and finishes his work with a shotgun.

A man who won't let his accomplice rape a young girl because he knows it's wrong and then kills the same girl himself.

How can both exist in one person? What strange beings

Capote said that the story is a crime, as if it happened in every present moment. They said he had such a great interest in this case that he pursued it and wrote it. But I say he had a greater interest in the strange personality of "perfectionist Perry". He wanted to discover him.

I listened to this book and how much I enjoyed his voice, the southern American dialect - the place where this crime took place - which made everything even more real.

95.11.13

In fact, all crimes are nothing but / variations of theft / including the crime of murder. When you kill a man, you are stealing his life. I think this makes me a big thief. Look, I killed them. … I wonder why I did that. “Am I sorry? No. I don't feel anything like that. I wish I did. But nothing in this weighs on me as lightly as a feather. The killer is “Perry Smith”.

A true story about a murder that took place in the state of Kansas, USA in 1959. The victims were four members of the same family. The crime was committed without a reason, without a motive for revenge or killing. This true story was the reason for the fame of the writer Truman Capote.

It is a chilling account that delves into the mind of a murderer. Perry Smith's actions are inexplicable and yet, through Capote's masterful storytelling, we are able to catch a glimpse of the darkness that lies within him. The details of the crime are both horrifying and fascinating, making this a must-read for anyone interested in true crime or the human psyche.

This almost documentary novel, which reconstructs the events preceding and following the brutal murder of the highly respected Clutter family, is written in the style of a police chronicle in a newspaper - with a sparing language, only facts, presented in chronological order, and attention to details - all of which creates an effect of presence.

It would have been completely ordinary if it hadn't become a kind of "encyclopedia" of Kansas life in the late 1950s - early 1960s, allowing one to immerse oneself in the life of an American provincial town. Truman Capote gives us detailed psychological portraits of both the victims - Herb Clutter, a successful farmer and a born leader, his wife Bonnie, suffering from depression and several other diseases, due to which she spends almost all her time in bed, their young and beautiful daughter Nancy, who loved her horse and had a relationship with Bob, and their teenage son Kenyon, and the killers - Dick Hickock and Perry Smith.

Society was shocked by both the scale and the particular cruelty of the murder, as well as the small things that were stolen - a little money and a radio. I remember how our society was also shocked by the murder of the famous athlete, the bronze Olympic medalist Dennis Tena, by petty car thieves who killed him while stealing mirrors from his car.

Unlike most detective stories, Capote's novel does not end with the capture of the criminals. With the same documentary accuracy, it reproduces the trial, as well as the last years, days, and hours before the execution of the sentence - the death penalty by hanging (for me, it was a revelation that this medieval method of execution, which makes the condemned suffer for 20 minutes, was still in use in the middle of the 20th century). This part of the novel is no less cruel than the part about the murder. Capote also raises the humanitarian issue - is it right in our civilized society to live by the principle of "an eye for an eye", and to what extent is the death penalty justified, even for a particularly brutal murder? But in my opinion, this is not Capote's best work.