I want to live inside this book.

Disappointing. Instead of the insight, snark, gossip and personal depth I thought I would get, this book was just a long, repetitive glossing over of his life & work by the people who knew him. Maybe it's not theirs or Plimpton's fault, maybe absolutely no one knew what made Capote tick (and eventually explode like a time bomb) but this felt extremely superficial and frustrating--like trying to scuba dive with a snorkel.

The scene Joan Carson recalls of Truman's passing in her home and her dog, Cinnamon's loyal reaction made me cry. Beautiful, fascinating and sad book. A wonderful compilation of individuals, a time of eloquent & decadence past. Highly recommend this book. I read it along side Music for Chameleons. Having read Other Voices, Other Rooms; Breakfast at Tiffany's & In Cold Blood beforehand. I also recommend reading as much of Capote's work as you can before diving into this or much of it will be lost on you. I love Plimpton's style of presenting a life. I felt as though I was being spoken to by each person. Check out his book on Edie Sedgwick as well!!

This is the lazy man's biography. It's an endless series of highlights from the conversations Plimpton and his staff had with folks that hung out with Capote - unfortunately no comments from Harper Lee.

I don't remember how this book ended up in my apartment. I think I pulled it out of the free book box at work. I like Truman Capote's writing, especially "In Cold Blood", his short stories and some of his short non-fiction. I can't really say I have much interest in reading literary biographies (this was my first and probably only dive into the genre). I didn't really like this book very much, I only read about 200 pages of it (reading some parts, skimming others, skipping most). The most interesting stuff I found to be the pages focused on the crafting of "In Cold Blood" but most of the other stuff wasn't very interesting (I could care less about the feelings of all the rich folks he upset with his "Answered Prayers" book). If you are interested in New York "cafe society", read it. If you like a good gossip book, read it (Capote was the king of gossip). If you like books about friends and contemporaries and haters sharing there most memorable stories about someone famous, read it. If none of these things appeal to you, skip it.

I am still slowing working my way through this book, which surprises me. I do plan on finishing this book but it is not good as Gerald Clarke’s autobiography of Truman Capote, which makes my top ten list of books I love. While I have discovered some new and interesting things about Capote, I find this book to more negative than I thought it would be. Yes, Truman made a lot of enemies in his lifetime, however there are parts of this book where it seems like the only enjoyment certain people can get is by spitting on Capotes grave.

Even after reading this biography, I still come away thinking Truman Capote was way larger than life.

Actual content of the biography aside, I thought the way it was written was interesting. George Plimpton collected little anecdotes from the various people in Capote's life and put them in together according to theme or period of time. It was a little confusing for me because I didn't know some of these people and their relationship to Capote, but I liked how it would give various angles to the same person. For instance, one person said that Truman Capote was her best friend and he knew all her little secrets, etc, but the next person says "I didn't like him. He tries to get all your secrets out of you by pretending to be your best friend and uses it to get attention from other people."

Excellent and such a fascinating topic

Interesting format, compilation of interviews of many of the rich and famous--and a few infamous--people Truman Capote knew. Fascinating life even though it ended in sadness.

This is a four, but there is nothing specific that Plimpton could have improved upon to make it a 5. Seeing as it is a vast collection of thoughts from people who knew Capote, it is their voices that drive the book forward.

This book mainly lacks in its ability to engage me continually. I loved each section, but I would feel as if I had read a ton, gleaning so much information at once, only to find I had read 10-15 pages. The pages are large and the font is small, so at nearly 500 pages, this is more like a traditionally printed book would be at 800 pages.

I am not one to cry. However, Joanne Carson's account of Capote's death is heart wrenching. I was sobbing streams of tears. Tears that must have been stored up from all of the deaths of loved ones in my life.

Additionally, there are just so many great lines in this book. Quotes from authors, Capote about his process, designers, and other "elites". Overall, I think that this is a great piece of history, a collection of tales about a man who helped shape Manhattan and the literary current of his time.

Another great oral history from George Plimpton (a la "Edie"). It's possible that oral history has been done to death as a format, but when it works, it is completely absorbing. Everything I know (or recall) about Capote, bad and good, is probably because of this book.

When it comes to entertainment, Plimpton's amalgam of communal recollections are to biographies as well-produced documentaries are to Charlie Rose's interviews -- it's maybe not as interesting as it is entertaining, not unlike watching the movie. At the same time, when it comes to the actual facts, there's something refreshing about hearing about one's life through the filter of their counterparts -- especially when dealing with someone as exaggerated as Capote.

Overall, a thoroughly engrossing book.