I’m supposed to be on vacation. Stupid hurricane. The upside is I’ve been staying up late and getting caught up on my reading. It’s almost like being at the beach. Next up: I’ve finished reading Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood.

In Cold Blood cover

It is the chilling true story of the murder of an innocent Kansan family in their home by two killers with no apparent motive who left virtually no clues on the scene. It’s documentary noire, gritty and unsentimental.

The book was written in the early sixties, at what I assume was a more innocent time. However, two of the most shocking facts, for me, were found on the first page of the book, which is about the author. It turns out that Truman Capote was a native of New Orleans. As am I. Yet I had no idea. NOLA is a more literate city than most, I would wager. How come no one hipped me to this, or said, “dude, you totally gotta read this”. I mean I was made to read The Moviegoer by Walker Percy, which I only remember as being really boring for my tender age. No one could spare any love for Truman Capote? In Cold Blood would have gone down much easier for a young teen than Walker Percy. The second bomb shell, for me, was that Capote also wrote Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Everyone that I’ve mentioned this to says, “well……., yeah”. Where have I been? Under a rock?

I recommend this book if you feel the need to get your gritty true crime drama on.

Update: It was timely of the New York Times to get on board with my post today and run an article about two upcoming movies about Truman Capote and this book. Thanks boys.