In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Truman Capote is a name almost synonymous with In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Both literary works have been acknowledged as Capote's most popular and often read works from his career as an American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. He received four O. Henry Memorial Awards for his work, including a short story called "Miriam." 

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 30th, 1924, Truman Streckfus Persons became Truman Capote during his writing life and passed away in Los Angeles, California on August 25th, 1984. During his lifetime, he became engrossed with journalism at one point in his writing career, and this evolved into his research and narrative nonfiction book, In Cold Blood. 

In 1959, a family of four were murdered in their home, and the reason pointed to robbery, but the police had a difficult time finding the culprits at first. Shortly after hearing about the Clutters, Capote decided this was the story he wanted to tell. Taking on research and asking Harper Lee, his childhood neighbor and fellow novelist, to go to Kansas with him and interview those affected by the Clutter's murder, Capote sunk himself into the creative process of journalist research. 

As a result, Capote spent six years interviewing the two men arrested for the murders of the Clutter family. Both were given the death penalty for their crimes, despite this being a small town and most heavily opposed to the "an eye for an eye" mentality. His writings started as a series of articles published in The New Yorker in 1965. The book was published later that same year and was considered a proponent of what was known as New Journalism. 

Although I had heard of In Cold Blood, I had never read it. To be honest, it didn't seem to be a book I'd want to pick up. Yes, I enjoy a good mystery, but this hit a little too close to home. First, it's based off a true story with real people and one state over from where I live. Second, it's hard for me to read about real people and picture them, knowing the ultimate conclusion. Their deaths are infinitely more real and more painful as a result. Third, I wasn't sure I wanted to take on reading a narrative plot that would delve into the side of the criminals. Informative, yes. Pitying, yes. Hard to read, yes. 

However, my school took it on as the common read for the year, and students as well as faculty and staff alike were encouraged to read it and participate in the events that revolved around the book. This made the prospect of diving into such a horrifying story more worthwhile. First, others were taking it on and that proved to be a great conversation starter. Second, there would be events in which the book would be discussed. People's perspective about the read would be shared. Third, it's a community effort, and if I wanted to give it a try, this was the time and place. 

So, I started to read it with apprehensive thoughts and a slight predilection to dislike it. Inside, I was geared up to be negative in my reflection and review of it. I suspected it would make me cry - it did. I suspected I would be thrilled when the criminals were caught - I was. Yet, there were a few other things I hadn't bargained for, and I believe it was a direct result of Capote's writing. 

The only way I can go into my feelings and rating of this book is to jump right in and share all I have to say below. Therefore, thanks for joining me, and I hope you not only gain a different insight into this book, but you might also understand what I mean by there being other "things" than I bargained for popping up and teaching me even more lessons. 

Numeric Breakdown:
1: didn't like it
2: it was okay
3. liked it
4. really liked it
5. it was amazing


1. Writing Style: 5/5
This, sadly, appears to be my first time taking on narrative nonfiction, and I feel it was a great introduction to this type of writing style. As I mentioned before, I was a bit predisposed to be unfavorable in my view of this new read when I started. The storyline did not lend itself to a happy ending, and I wasn't excited to work my way through this tragic affair. 

Yet, it is an exceptionally well-written book. The details, interviews revealed through the narrative pace, the different sides he attempted to represent, and the emerging antagonist as the main character showed Capote's writing style and skills at their best. He certainly took to the journalistic bent within his writing and helped it shine on a whole new level. 

The descriptions of the people and settings were consistent with the voice he shared throughout the whole story. His overall breakdown of the book started with the Clutters and worked its way through to the execution of Perry and Dick. Within the story, his narrative voice doesn't physically overshadow the story and the "characters" who are being shared. It was an undemanding read with effortless narrative and succinct expository provided by the townspeople and the murderers themselves. 


2. Overall Content: 4/5
The content itself is the making of the story. This book is presented as almost an autobiography of two killers within the context of the overarching account of the Clutter's deaths. Although Capote attempts to paint a picture of the Clutters at the beginning of the book, we don't know how much of this has been collected from the townspeople, friends, and family of the victims and how much is his own narrative speculation based on what he learned. The conversations could be authentic to the best knowledge of those the Clutters had spoken to, and it might be an overall picture of how the Clutters were, as seen through the eyes of those closest to them. Again, the audience is uncertain of the actual words spoken the day before their deaths. Everyone's perspective on this family could be different. 

Capote shares them in a positive light. He alludes to the mental health battles Mrs. Clutter suffered, the kindness of Nancy, the goodwill and hardworking focus of Mr. Clutter, and the hands-on craftiness and solitary lifestyle of Kenyon. Yet, he doesn't dive deeper. Why? Perhaps, for his story purposes, that was all he needed. Going into every detail of the Clutter's lives would have gotten complicated, might have offended the living family -- the Clutter's two oldest daughters, and would have changed the overall focus of the book, which was to show what had happened to the Clutters on their last day alive. 

Horrifying as it might seem, his center became the killers: Dick Hickock and Perry Edward Smith. Although Capote touched base with the townspeople in the beginning, and even though he showed the strain and determination of the officials on the case, he brought the focus back to Dick and Perry as the book continued. Why? It seems evident that his knowledge of that night and the reasons for the murder could only be fully explained by the two who had committed the crimes. 

So, we see the progression of how this murder ever came into being. Dick became acquainted with a former employee of the Clutters. Although this convict didn't have any personal vendetta against the Clutters and seemed to respect them, he couldn't help sharing about them while he was behind bars. His words about the Clutters being wealthy and how Mr. Clutter had a safe in his den seemed to spur Dick on into discussing how he would one day get out and rob the Clutters. 

Throughout, even though we know the end of the story, Capote builds suspense by breaking down the crime part by part. He doesn't hurry through his narrative, but instead, gives us a picture of the Clutters, weighs in the world of their neighbors and town as a whole, discusses the efforts of the officials in charge of the case, and brings in Perry's story and then Dick's in turn. He doesn't share the tragic circumstances surrounding the Clutter's demise until Perry and Dick are caught. This gives the reader a sense of gaining more insight with every word typed across the pages. Capote waits until he has Dick and Perry's explanation of what happened that night to fill in the gaps for those who have no idea what happened or how. 

Our author also gives us a background to the killers. He shares each one's growing up years, appearance, and invites us to view these men as more than murderers. Capote gives us perspective on how hard Perry's life was and the abuse he sustained through the years, his active service in the armed forces, and his appeal that he never meant to kill the Clutters. That he alone pulled the trigger, and Dick had nothing to do with it. 

We're presented with a similar background of Dick. We're told he was a happy, sweet boy with a poor but sustainable childhood. He married his high school sweetheart before having an affair, divorcing, and marrying again. We're told that he had an accident from which he sustained a brain injury. We're told he wasn't the same after that incident. 

Both sides are represented, but none moreso than Perry's. In fact, Perry talked to Capote and stayed in contact with him throughout the years of his trial and conviction and attempted appeals. Somehow, he became the main character in Capote's story, and it's easy to see why. He was willing to share. Perry opened up and hoped that telling his side of the story might save him from the noose. It didn't. However, readers throughout the generations have been able to read his account of his own life and ability to commit four acts of violence. 

The great part of reading this book were the events you could attend. Recall I mentioned this was read as a common read at the college where I work? This allowed me to hear the points of view of several students and faculty. 

Voices weighed in on how Perry obviously had mental health issues, and that if this had taken place nowadays, he wouldn't have received the death penalty but would have gotten the mental health assistance he needed. In the discussions, it felt as though a great portion of readers were disposed to view Perry as a victim himself. They felt sympathy on his behalf and wished he would have gotten the help he needed.  

Likewise, many of these same readers viewed Dick as a pathetic figure. He didn't have the background or attitude to paint him as a sympathetic figure. Many seemed to overlook the obvious realization that Dick had mental health issues as well. Even though his background wasn't as harsh or despairing as Perry's, he showed clear signs of not being mentally stable. This realization didn't seem to change the point of view of readers that he was a complete bad guy. Dick's behavior and lack of sharing with Capote affected this point of view as well. 

Gaining this perspective, I weighed my thoughts. Having just read Nobody's Victim by Carrie Goldberg and Red Flags by Wendy Patrick, Ph.D., I felt as if I had a different viewpoint about what had happened. I could see where other readers made a valuable argument that there were mental health issues represented here within the killer(s). I could see that their desire to sympathize and get this character the help he needed was a legitimate claim. However, I certainly feel as if both men needed help and not just Perry. 

On that same note, I can see how these two men fit into the categories shared within the other two books I've read. I think this colors my view of them to a degree as well. I don't feel the sympathy as much as others might. That doesn't mean I don't sympathize at all. I could find myself feeling for Perry as Capote described his childhood and the horrible things that happened to him. Although Dick didn't share as much as Perry, and his childhood seemed to have been much more of an "All-American" upbringing, I could still see the mental health issues that he had. As a result, I couldn't dismiss Dick as completely evil (although there is good argument that he was), and Perry just susceptible to influences and easily manipulated. 

Instead, I felt that Perry had a better grasp on what he was doing than other's might have suspected. I also took into account that this biographical exposition was given with the hope of gaining sympathy. Perry's character definitely shows manipulation tactics. We're being told what his perspective is and how he viewed things. I won't argue whether these things did or didn't happen to him, nor will I spend time weighing how these situations impacted his mental state. What I will say is that I look at all sides of the story, and I realize we can only take Perry's word, through Capote's writing, at face value. 

The bottom line for me is that it is an instructive view of two villains through the eyes of an American writer. We don't know to what extent Capote himself is influenced by Perry or others in his writing. We can see Perry became a vital and main character because of his willingness to divulge "all" to Capote. And in the end, I remember there are four people dead. My sympathies come to a standstill when I recall there are lives that will never have the chance to grow, change, and live. While I can concede that both men needed mental health services, I can't say that I feel bad for one or both of them completely when they were well-aware of what they were doing when they first walked into the Clutter home. 

Their planning, decision not to divert from their original course, the conversations they had on the topic, and the revelations of how the Clutters were killed make me feel there is a clear indication of intent. Therefore, in reading this book, I think it reaffirmed the lessons I've learned within the other two books I've read and blogged about last week. I think the combined knowledge gives me a little more to think about and helps inform my blog review of this book a little more clearly. 

Capote is a talented writer who brings the lives of those who died and committed murder to life. His research is well-documented throughout this work of narrative nonfiction. No matter my views on the murder or the murderer himself or the situation itself, I still have to commend this author for his efforts. His attempt to humanize the characters, the representation of the impact of the murders on the community, the suspense, narrative, and overall connection Capote built with Dick and Perry help drive the story forward and lend a journalistic voice as well as a point of view the world may not have had. Not to mention, his ability to humanize the murderers through his words make him a solid writer. 

3. Hooks/Attention-kept: 4/5
The murders themselves and the slow unfurling of the reasons why the murders were committed are enough of a hook to keep anyone reading. Likewise, the voice of the author - which is indistinguishable within the written word but subtle in its influence, the biographical content of the killers, and the how are all sure hooks and reasons why the reader's attention will remain with this book. Crawling into the minds of the men who committed crimes and acts of violence will help the readers have a new perspective of those willing to participate in such crimes.


4. Overall enjoyment of the story based on the genre: 4/5
I don't suppose this is an easy book to read with enjoyment. I think analyzing the why's and gaining insight into the lives of the criminals is important and transformative and doing so in the narrative style the author took on, while sharing his exposition, helped to maintain interest. However, I can't say the genre itself lends me to rate it as amazing. The writing is extraordinary and atypical, and I can certainly appreciate the writer's twist. 


5. Overall enjoyment of the story based on the content: 3/5
Yeah. I can't say I enjoy the content of this story either. I do appreciate the knowledge, points of view, and understanding gained from this book and its content. I think the author helps the reader take something tragic and delivers the opportunity to gain awareness. He shows us that no one is immune and that appearances can be deceiving. Although these might seem like cliches in the long run, I believe Capote provides us with a clear understanding that nothing can show us truth more than a cliche. 


6. Overall Story Rating: 4/5
Despite the content, I find I liked the way Capote wrote. I enjoy the narrative style that Capote gives this nonfiction work. I can appreciate his ability to bring information to the world in a story form, while imparting his hard-earned brand of truth. 

Definitely a book worth reading to gain perspective, insight, and to see the personalities of criminals shared within the context of an easy-to-read writing style. Even if you're not a fan of true crime, I would highly recommend giving this book a read, and I'd encourage you to take your new discernment gained from reading Nobody's Victim and Red Flags and apply that knowledge to this book. 

What do you think of the two men after reading the other books? Does it change your perspective? Do you also sympathize with the murderer? Do you feel any sympathy toward Dick, especially since he isn't the one who pulled the trigger? Do you think both men were served justice? Why, or why not? 

This is what makes a good book great. The ability to talk about it, break it down, gain new insight, and update your opinions. Capote gave us something to think about, and he did it in a way that will affect generations to come. Therefore, the overall rating of this work, for me, is a 4/5. 

Thanks for joining me, and as always, Happy Reading!!

~Rebecca Reddell