Music for Chameleons

If Capote ever wrote an inexact word or a clumsy phrase or a sentence that wasn't full of meaning, it never saw print. Beyond the great stories and the way he travels through these characters' lives with himself as an observer/interpreter, I was just impressed with the writing style. Rarely do I encounter writing that clear or that poetic. As for the stories - they mix fiction and narrative with aplomb. The Marilyn Monroe scene probably didn't take place as written, but there's a definite insight into her character that you don't see otherwise. The scene with Charles Manson's friend is scary in the way Capote's subject combines self-righteousness with utter lack of morality. Hand-carved Coffins is one of the best crime stories since, well, In Cold Blood (whether its fact or fiction is something I'll have to look up, but it's chilling.) Truman Capote was one of the best writers of the 20th century and you owe it to yourself to read his prose even as his star celebrity icon status fades (bouyed up by Philip Seymour Hoffman) because it's his writing that we will remember decades from now.

From each country I visit, I buy a book as a souvenir. While on interrail this summer, I stumbled over the "Music for Chameleons" in Prague. I have not read a lot of Capote, but nevertheless, this must be Capote at his best.His writing is simple and direct, yet beautiful and elegant. In a way, his economic writing style reminds me of Hemingway. Eloquent, with not one word out of place. "Music for Chameleons" had my attention from the preface to the very last page. The author has this amazing ability to grab the reader's attention and hold on to it. When reading this book, I was a part of it. I was there; I could feel the emotions of each of the characters in the different stories.The book contains several short stories and one non-fiction novel. I don't normally like short stories, but after reading this book, I am now a great fan of short stories. At least Capote's short stories. They are extraordinary! My favorite among these stories is the story of his dope-smoking cleaning lady. A truly wicked story. The longer piece in this book, the novel, "Handcarved Coffins", is about his investigation of a murder case in Kansas. Great mystery, many details, and I read the whole story in one sitting. "Music for Chameleons" is one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read and I read it in 50 page gulps. A compelling read. Highly recommended!

This is Capote at his best. His observations are beautiful, written with some of the cleanest writing I've ever encountered. This book has been my companion for many years. I'm not particularly concerned about his drug and alcohol problems or how true his claims were. From the preface to the end of the book, I'm still fascinated by his ability to put together such beautiful sentences.

This book cleverly displays Capote's most interesting short fiction works and a finely crafted true murder story entitled "Handcarved Coffins." Capote once again shows how illustrative his words and phrasings can be from the author's only book dedicated completely to his short works.

Music For Chameleons, a collection of short non-fiction pieces, is an example of Truman Capote at his finest. Whether he is documenting a bizarre murder case, relating a day spent with Marilyn Monroe, or describing divine intervention in the form of Pearl Bailey, Capote is always captivating. His prose is simple and direct, yet rich in imagery, and simply beautiful.