Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote
Who would like this book? Fans of Truman Capote and readers with an interest in American literature of the late 1950s and the lifestyle of sophisticated New Yorkers in the late 1950s. Adult or teen, if you find yourself in one of these three categories, read this novella!
Why? In only 105 pages, Capote develops a remarkable character – Holly Golightly – and gives the reader a cativating glimpse into the life of this New York “girl about town.” It’s a book that needs to be read within the context of its time, both in terms of literature and location. The fame of the movie by the same name, starring Audrey Hepburn and directed by Blake Edwards, has eclipsed the fame of Capote’s novella. It’s been age since I saw this film; reading the novella makes me want to see what Hepburn does with the Golightly character. I encourage you to read the book first; Capote’s descriptions of setting and character, the rhythm of his prose, and the construction of the plot are a sumptious feast.
Details: 105 pages; originally published in 1958