The fascinating rise and fall of Capote, as seen through the eyes of friends, former friends, associates, enemies, and true loves. I enjoyed this very much.

Coundn't put this down. I find it difficult to review a biography I have chosen to read purely to find out more about the life of someone I know a little about and want to find out more in that, if the biography is 'well written' (whatever that means), the reading is tandem with concentrating on building the picture from the information reported rather than how well it is or is not written . This biography is made up of segments of dialogue from people who featured in Capote's life. One event or conversation could be written from the viewpoint of more than one person, often as asides without much background, leaving the reader to decide whether or not they will believe what is, basically, gossip. It is a narrative style similar to how Capote wrote 'In Cold Blood' (though the sources were diametrically opposed to gossip) and, to a certain extent, satisfies the problem all biography readers must face re how the biographer selects and deselects information, and how the voice or style in which it is presented colours the information they choose to deliver. There is a similarity in the segments style wise, not much variation of voice, definitely no hesitations, silences, umms or aaahs but the 'facts' differs. I am always aware when reading a biography of who the biographer is, where they fit in their subjects life, what their sources are and where there seems to be biases. There are bound to be some here, it is unavoidable in any biography, but George Plimpton has succeeded in presenting something that feels like being in the company of the people that Capote filled his life with, all gossiping and sharing and exposing themselves as much as they do Capote. Says a lot about them, and through that, Capote. I found it very satisfying.

That I don't care for George Plimpton.

I think you would have to be a Capote fan to like this book. It goes into a lot of detail but through the lens of how others saw him. Many admit that they don't know what was true and what was false. Capote told many tall tales. Not only about himself, but also about others. It also made me want to read the book that Gerald Clarke wrote since it seems Capote knew about this book and had more to do with the writing.

I've never read a biography written from the perspective of the subject's friends. It took some getting used to but now I'm a big fan. You feel like you're ease dropping on a conversation among friends.

Innovative way to portray capote with interview quotes from his friends and social acquaintances

I almost put it on my "favorite" shelf. It was that good.

This book attracted me as much for Plimpton as for Capote; I've always liked the Paper Lion's style. And what he does here is epic and fascinating, letting the pattern show itself: that Capote made each of his friends feel like s/he was his only friend, his only TRUE friend, the only one special enough (Milton's "fit reader though few" comes to mind) to really be suitable company for so discriminating a sensibility as Capote's.

What a frightening creature. Like a Siren, seducing sailors onto the rocks. Was his art great enough to redeem his epic perfidy? Or was it all downhill after Other Voices, Other Rooms? Oh wait--I'm forgetting In Cold Blood, his work I know best. He sowed the seed of creative nonfiction, there. But I don't see him on high school or college syllabi whereas, nearly 50 years after its first appearance, To Kill a Mockingbird has been read by middleschoolers and highschoolers and college students (and me) since 1960 and continues to support Harper Lee well into her 80s. TC was a nasty little man who wrote some beautiful but little books--except for In Cold Blood, a monster.

Recommended from a friend. Still early in the book but so far it has been fantastic. Some truely hilarious stories and it has sucked me thus far. Looking forward to finishing it.

I read this a long time ago and remember it as being well written and interesting. I own a copy and want to reread it to give it a proper review. Truman Capote was quite a character and up until the last few years of his life was one heck of a good writer.

About half way through this fascinating read about this most unusual creative genius, with a touch of madness perhaps, or maybe I will just call him "eccentric". I have enjoyed every book by TC that I have read, including "In Cold Blood". It is very interesting to learn about this most unusual author's "private life".

He was an insecure jerk.