3.5 Stars

This vivid, eloquent novel – Capote’s first – revolves around seventeen-year-old Grady, the beautiful, headstrong daughter of the privileged McNeil family. In many ways, it is a coming-of-age story as Grady’s sexuality is exposed in the blistering heat of a New York summer.

Her everyway hair was like a rusty chrysanthemum, petals of it loosely falling on her forehead, and her eyes, so startlingly set in her fine unpolished face, caught with wit and green aliveness all atmosphere. (p. 51)

To read the rest of my review, please click here:

https://jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2019...

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

Very short story but packs a big punch! It’s a bit like reading an episode arc of Gossip Girl, except maybe “slightly” more intellectually stimulating. An interesting take on love and how the definition and requirements of love can differ depending on the person and their experiences and conception of the world.

"Toward midafternoon, as the heat closed in like a hand over a murder victim's mouth, …"

I did not like the story, which isn't to say I disliked it; I thought it was barely OK. There were, however, certain aspects of the story I did dislike. Particularly, the ephebophilic relationship between Grady of 17 years and Clyde of well over 20. Capote writes with a good deal of style, in fact, I think he gets a bit carried away with "Toward midafternoon, as the heat closed in like a hand over a murder victim's mouth, …" and "Naomi, scholarly and bourgeois as a napkin ring, …."

I wouldn't recommend Summer Crossing just for itself, but you like/are interested in an early Capote work, you'll likely find this interesting.

This is one of those books where the back-story itself is almost good enough. Years after he originally wrote this novella (at age 19) in 4 Composition Notebooks (remember those black and white ones that you did all your Important Writing in in middle school?), Capote hastily moved out of his brownstone and asked his Super to throw away anything that he'd left behind in the rush. The detritus included a box containing this manuscript. A neighbor found the box and decided that such a thing should be kept for posterity. Which he did--in his closet--until he died recently. Then his relatives came across the manuscript and sold it to Sotheby's which sold it to the NYPL to house in their Truman Capote collection. And after various arguments about the ethics of publishing that which was intended to be un-published, we now have Summer Crossing in all its colon-happy, run-on sentenced, uber-similied splendor.

It's a sweet story, in its way, although the brassy 17 year old precursor to Holly Golightly ends up getting hers in about every sense. In essence, what begins as a hedonistic summer of independence becomes a rather doomed coming of age, with very little hint of redemption.

I'm not entirely sure I agree with the choice to publish this manuscript (although I look forward to seeing it at the NYPL). On one hand, I'm glad we get a glimpse of What He Was before What He Became. However, there is something a bit sobering about the appropriation of an author's work after his/her death.

At any rate, reading Summer Crossing will definitely give one a chance to think "I could do [better than] that!" which is probably reason enough to make it available.

Идеалната компания за горещ неделен следобед през август, с чаша пенливо розе в ръка!

Не очаквах да харесам историята толкова много, поради сравненията със “Закуска в Тифани”, която не ме заинтригува достатъчно. Дали заради героите и младата любов или заради красивите описания на Ню-Йорк, не съм сигурна напълно, но четенето на тези 115 страници ми доставиха истинско удоволствие. Усетих лепкавата жега на града, разходиш се из Сентрал парк, 5-то авеню и Бруклин.

Грейди Макнийл е дръзка, богата, безгрижна 17 годишна девойка, която не се съобразява с правилата. Тя обича да кара буика си, да пуши, да танцува и няма никакво желание да дебютира в обществото. Вместо да замине с родителите си на пътуване из Европа тя избира да остане и да прекара лятото в Ню-Йорк. Причината е само една - любовта и то с неподходящото момче.

От самото начало усещах, че нещо ще се случи и напрежението ме държа до финалната сцена…

Красива история за любовта и съзряването. Радвам се, че дадох втори шанс на Капоти.

Summer Crossing

Summer Crossing è il primo romanzo di Truman Capote
Un romanzo che iniziò a scrivere a soli 19 anni, a cui continuò a lavorare per un decennio, ma che non volle mai pubblicare.
E poi?
E poi ,per caso, è stato ritrovato nella sua vecchia casa di Brooklyn, tra lettere e scartoffie, scritto a mano su dei quaderni ...
e quindi pubblicato ,solo pochi anni fa !
Romanzo giovanile, dunque, anche per tematiche,
che racconta l'incontro d'estate ,in una New York afosa e affascinante, tra Grady e Clyde.Grady è una ragazza viziata, ribelle, con la smania di crescere e di fare nuove esperienze di una impulsiva diciassettenne,Clyde è più grande, ha 23 anni,è un veterano di guerra, uno che sbarca il lunario come posteggiatore , con l'aria da duro , più esperto, ma in fondo...
Romanzo acerbo?
Forse.
Ma non nella scrittura, molto piacevole , affilata, esatta, sicura ,già matura .
Altro protagonista della storia Peter, l'amico d'infanzia di Grady (a me è piaciuta molto la descrizione della loro complicità :) )

Lasciarono che nella stanza calasse l'oscurità:la superficie morbida e flessibile delle loro voci si muoveva e sospirava attorno a loro, e anche se dicevano cose del tutto prive d'importanza era già tanto che potessero usare le stesse parole, applicare gli stessi valori.Grady disse :" Da quanto tempo mi conosci,Peter?"
E Peter : "Da quella volta che mi facesti piangere: eravamo a una festa di compleanno e tu mi rovesciasti un sacco di gelato e di torta sul vestitino alla marinara.Oh eri una bambina molto cattiva."
"Sono diversa adesso? Tu sei sicuro di vedermi come sono in realtà?"
"No" ,disse lui, ridendo,"e nemmeno lo vorrei."
"Perché potrei non piacerti?"
"Se pretendessi di vederti come sei in realtà vorrebbe dire che ti ho liquidata, che ti trovo noiosa e senza spessore"

PS. vedi ,a volte ,a riordinare lo scantinato? :D

Putea fi o poveste scurtă sau putea fi un roman mai amplu – nu este niciuna dintre cele două. Este dezamăgitor, cu tot cu munca asiduă și benevolentă a editorilor, să citești un astfel de text de la unul dintre autorii tăi preferați; nu există alt termen decât „incomplet”. Se simte că este un draft, orice ar fi. Există rupturi, goluri ce ar fi trebuit umplute (de autor, nu de editori). Nu cred că voi mai face greșeala de a citi astfel de manuscrise regăsite fiindcă pur și simplu „nu fac dreptate” autorului.

Recenzie completă: https://cristinaboncea.com/2025/02/25...

O lectura usurica, rapida, perfecta pentru o dupa-amiaza de vara. De ce doar 2 stele? Pentru ca, spre sfarsit, nu se leaga mai multe lucruri si te opresti din lectura pentru a te intreba de ce si cand s-a intamplat lucrul x. Recitesti fragmente, dar nu gasesti elementul/elementele care sa lege cat de cat actiunea. Nu m-a impresionat, insa am sa citesc in continuare carti care l-au consacrat pe Truman Capote.

holly golightly may be the archetype but grady mcneil is the blueprint

six chapters accounting a reckless summer ridden with instability, prominent feeling and a profound naivety. it is criminal this was abandoned i want more

“handicapped by the width of her feeling and the narrowness of his”

Δείτε επίσης και στο Chill and read

Το «Καλοκαιρινό Ταξίδι» είναι ένα από τα πρώτα δείγματα γραφής του Τρούμαν Καπότε που όμως έμελλε να είναι και το τελευταίο του που εκδόθηκε. Εκτός αν βρεθούν κι άλλα χειρόγραφα καταχωνιασμένα σε κάποιο συρτάρι. Ο διάσημος συγγραφέας έγραψε ένα βιβλίο ενηλικίωσης με ηρωίδα μια κοπέλα της κοινωνίας που γνώριζε καλά.

Καλοκαίρι στη Νέα Υόρκη και η οικογένεια Μακ Νιλ ετοιμάζεται για ένα ταξίδι στην Ευρώπη. Ευκαιρία να δουν σε τι κατάσταση έχει αφήσει ο πόλεμος το σπίτι τους στη Νίκαια. Βέβαια, η μεγάλη κόρη Μακ Νιλ δε θα ακολουθήσει τους γονείς της. Θα περάσει το καλοκαίρι με το σύζυγο και τα παιδιά τους στο Ανατολικό Χάμπτον. Όμως φέτος, ούτε η μικρή κόρη Μακ Νιλ θα ακολουθήσει τους γονείς της στην Ευρώπη. Θέλει να περάσει το τελευταίο καλοκαίρι πριν το ντεμπούτο της στη Νέα Υόρκη. Όχι ότι σκέφτεται σοβαρά να κάνει το ντεμπούτο της, αλλά είναι καλύτερα να το λύσουν αυτό το θέμα με τη μητέρα της, όταν οι γονείς Μακ Νιλ επιστρέψουν από την Ευρώπη.

Η Γκρέιντι θα περάσει το καλοκαίρι της στο τεράστιο αλλά τόσο γνώριμο διαμέρισμα της οικογένειας Μακ Νιλ με θέα το πάρκο. Θα έρθει αντιμέτωπη με παιδικές φιλίες που ωριμάζουν, μια αρκετά περίεργη και άστατη ερωτική σχέση και το γεγονός πως έχει γεννηθεί, μεγαλώσει και θα συνεχίσει να υπάρχει μέσα σε ένα περιβάλλον ασφάλειας και σιγουριάς για το μέλλον. Αυτό που της εξασφάλισε ο πατέρας της και το όνομα αλλά και η περιουσία που δημιούργησε.

Σίγουρα δεν είναι το πιο ώριμο έργο του. Δεν είναι κάτι παραπάνω από ένα πρώτο δείγμα γραφής που βρέθηκε σε τέσσερα τετράδια και που οι επιμελητές της έκδοσής του φρόντισαν όλο αυτό να βγάζει νόημα, αφήνοντας το κείμενο όσο πιο παρθένο γινόταν. Αν η επιμέλεια ήταν πιο διεξοδική, θα κατέληγε ένα κείμενο ξένο στα γραπτά του Καπότε και κανείς δε θα το ήθελε αυτό. Μέσα από αυτό το πρίσμα μπορεί κανείς να δει και να αντιληφθεί πως μπορεί να μην πρόκειται για το καλύτερό του βιβλίο, έχει όμως τη φωνή του, ίσως αυτή την πιο πρωτόγονη φωνή του, που δεν την έχει διορθώσει ούτε καν ο ίδιος.

Η ιστορία που θέλει να πει έχει το ενδιαφέρον της. Είναι τα χρόνια μετά τον Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο. Είναι η κοινωνία στην οποία ανήκει η ηρωίδα του, αυτή με την οποία συνδιαλέγεται αργότερα και ο ίδιος και φτάνει να τη γνωρίζει καλά. Οι άνθρωποι που τους ανήκει η Νέα Υόρκη, αν όχι ο κόσμος όλος. Μια κλεφτή ματιά στη ζωή τους στην εποχή για την οποία γράφει ο Καπότε, πολύ φοβάμαι πως δεν απέχει πολύ από μια σημερινή ματιά. Και είναι όλα αυτά που θέλει να πει μιας και ο ίδιος δεν απέχει και τόσο πολύ από την ηλικία της ηρωίδας του όταν γράφει αυτή τη νουβέλα. Δεν ξέρω αν η απόφαση να εκδοθεί το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο είχε να κάνει καθαρά με το κέρδος ή αν ήταν μια απόπειρα να διαβάσουμε ένα «φρέσκο» γραπτό του συγγραφέα είκοσι χρόνια μετά το θάνατό του.

Mr. Truman will probably throw a fit in his grave if I tell him that his first novel wasn't nearly as entertaining as Ms. Novik's. So he is a great writer, I don't doubt that. And for a first novel, Summer Crossing is probably better than most.

Doesn't mean I have to like it, and I didn't. It didn't make sense to me, which is probably more a question of age than of writing. But the book did nothing to me: I wasn't particularly interested in what was happening, I didn't seem to like the characters or understand their motives, I wasn't shocked, provoked, intrigued, sad or anything. I would probably have put the book away if it had been any longer. Well, at least now I can say I have read it, and isn't that what reading the classics is all about anyway? *g*