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Matthew's Reviews > In Cold Blood
In Cold Blood
by
by
This book is one of the first, if not the first, true crime novel. According to Wikipedia, only Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders has sold more copies in the True Crime category than In Cold Blood. While true crime fans might read this today and think that it sounds like your basic true crime story, at the time it was groundbreaking to detail a crime in this much detail and in a format as big as a novel.
One of the things it appears that this novel set the precedence for, and that I have seen in other true crime novels, is that the author is not only researching the story, he is getting in the mix and talking face to face with the criminals (example - Ann Rule). Sometimes this leads to relationships and feelings that are reflected in the retelling. After you finish reading this, it is interesting to look this up online and see some of the theories about how Capote approached this crime and the people involved.
Speaking of Capote, I have never seen any of the movies about him, but it sounds like all of them focus on this part of his life � and there are at least 3 of them! I may need to check them out to see what I think. Also, I need to check out the
One think I found very, very interesting (view spoiler)
One thing I forgot to add when I originally wrote this review was that having read this and Breakfast At Tiffany's, it is hard to believe it is the same author. Probably the most diverse writing from the same author I have ever encountered.
True crime fans! Non-fiction fans! Fans of must read classics! You must add In Cold Blood to your list.
One of the things it appears that this novel set the precedence for, and that I have seen in other true crime novels, is that the author is not only researching the story, he is getting in the mix and talking face to face with the criminals (example - Ann Rule). Sometimes this leads to relationships and feelings that are reflected in the retelling. After you finish reading this, it is interesting to look this up online and see some of the theories about how Capote approached this crime and the people involved.
Speaking of Capote, I have never seen any of the movies about him, but it sounds like all of them focus on this part of his life � and there are at least 3 of them! I may need to check them out to see what I think. Also, I need to check out the
One think I found very, very interesting (view spoiler)
One thing I forgot to add when I originally wrote this review was that having read this and Breakfast At Tiffany's, it is hard to believe it is the same author. Probably the most diverse writing from the same author I have ever encountered.
True crime fans! Non-fiction fans! Fans of must read classics! You must add In Cold Blood to your list.
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Reading Progress
July 30, 2016
– Shelved
July 30, 2016
– Shelved as:
to-read
June 15, 2017
–
Started Reading
June 15, 2017
– Shelved as:
2017
June 15, 2017
– Shelved as:
audio
June 15, 2017
– Shelved as:
library
June 15, 2017
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
June 15, 2017
– Shelved as:
true-crime
June 18, 2017
–
51.0%
"Thousands of leads - looking for the right one - like a needle in a haystack"
June 22, 2017
–
Finished Reading
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One I've always been curious about - but a little hesitant due to the gruesome factor
Joe wrote: "One I've always been curious about - but a little hesitant due to the gruesome factor"Only one or two gruesome chapters. I have seen much worse in true crime!
Great review Matthew! I'm glad you got to finally read this as well!
Ginger wrote: "Great review Matthew! I'm glad you got to finally read this as well!"Thanks, Ginger! Yes, good stuff!
This is such an interesting book, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I watched "Capote" when it came out, and thought it lent itself well to "In Cold Blood."
Chelsea wrote: "I cannot wait to read this!!"Go do it now! :)
Wendi wrote: "This is such an interesting book, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I watched "Capote" when it came out, and thought it lent itself well to "In Cold Blood.""Another vote for "Capote" - going to have to watch it sooner than later.
Terrific review. I hate crime, true or made-up. When I read this book, I was absolutely blown away, I couldn't stop reading and couldn't comprehend how I was reading that type of book and loving it. And then it hit me: it was the amazing writing! The only other time when I felt bamboozled by a book was when reading 'Lolita'.
Bianca wrote: "Terrific review. I hate crime, true or made-up. When I read this book, I was absolutely blown away, I couldn't stop reading and couldn't comprehend how I was reading that type of book and loving it..."Thanks! So, bamboozled by Lolita because you liked it but felt like you shouldn't? If so, I can agree with that!
Matthew wrote: "Bianca wrote: "Terrific review. I hate crime, true or made-up. When I read this book, I was absolutely blown away, I couldn't stop reading and couldn't comprehend how I was reading that type of boo..."Exactly! How could I like that kind of book, with such a horrific but oh so well drawn character? I love it when my preconceptions are challenged, when something discomfits me.
Great review Matthew. I haven't read any thing other than this by Capote but I hope to.
Great review, Matthew!One thing I forgot to add when I originally wrote this review was that having read this and Breakfast At Tiffany's, it is hard to believe it is the same author. This got me all the more interested since I have read the latter.
Ankitaa wrote: "Great review, Matthew!One thing I forgot to add when I originally wrote this review was that having read this and Breakfast At Tiffany's, it is hard to believe it is the same author. This got me..."
Thanks!
Yes - a totally different experience than Breakfast at Tiffany's -
kind of amazing!
Fantastic review, Matthew. This is one I keep meaning to get to.
Excellent review Matthew.
Mike wrote: "Fantastic review, Matthew. This is one I keep meaning to get to."Lars wrote: "Excellent review Matthew."
Thanks, Mike and Lars!
i bought this one recently on a whim!! glad to hear it's a good one :)
emma wrote: "i bought this one recently on a whim!! glad to hear it's a good one :)"Definitely worth the price of admission!
I will add it thanks to your review. Not Lolita, though. Nope, can't do it. I have always wondered about Capote, so maybe I'll add Breakfast at Tiffany's as well for some contrast. Reading them back to back could be interesting!
Having finished this book, I consider this, one of America's greatest works. I still have very vivid memories of the Manson murders,when they occurred. no thanks, I have no interest in reading Helter Skelter.
Did Capote specifically interview the murderers before they died?
Levi wrote: "I will add it thanks to your review. Not Lolita, though. Nope, can't do it. I have always wondered about Capote, so maybe I'll add Breakfast at Tiffany's as well for some contrast. Reading them bac..."Hey Levi! Looks like I missed this comment years ago - glad this book popped u in my feed so I finally saw it!
I hope you enjoy this one. It is a pretty huge contrast between this and Breakfast at Tiffany's - hard to believe it is the same author!
Beth wrote: "Having finished this book, I consider this, one of America's greatest works. I still have very vivid memories of the Manson murders,when they occurred. no thanks, I have no interest in reading Helt..."Yes - Helter Skelter is pretty vivid and I imagine it would be a difficult read for some.
Beth wrote: "Did Capote specifically interview the murderers before they died?"
Interesting question . . . I am not sure????
Thanks for the recommendation!