Breakfast at Tiffany's (Signet) [Paperback]

Truman Capote (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: Signet (November 1, 1959)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451147308
• ISBN-13: 978-0451147301
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,690,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lost Pair of Kites, November 5, 2005

By 

Banana Fudge "Sam" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breakfast at Tiffany's (Signet) (Paperback)

Breakfast At Tiffany's, a book by Truman Capote, is a short novel that is very well-written. The book consists of four short stories, and although the plot of the four stories have nothing in common with one another, they are tied together by a central theme. Capote also demonstrates superb use of symbolism throughout his book.
The main idea of each short story revolves around the loss of someone or something loved. The first story, "Breakfast at Tiffany's," is about two close friends, but after a series of dramatic events are forced to leave each other forever. "House of Flowers" tells of Ottilie, a girl who chooses to leave her rich, easy life and marries to a poor boy who works in the fields. In "A Diamond Guitar," one friend betrays the other, leaving Mr. Schaeffer watching "the face of his friend, suspended above him...it was so distant, judging." And finally, "A Christmas Memory," is perhaps the saddest of all four stories. Here, two lifelong friends who have spent every Christmas together, eventually grow apart due to a sudden change in lifestyles. Capote says that loss is something all must endure, and the only way to deal with a loss is to grow from it.
The author relies on symbolism to bring more life to his stories, and no doubt he uses this element well. For example, the Houngan in "House of Flowers" explains to Ottilie that if she catches a wild bee and it "does not sting, then [she] will know [she has] found love." The bee represents Ottilie's heart, something wild and free. Yet if she allows herself to be tamed, then she will find true love. It is instances like this that make Capote's stories timeless.
Capote engages the reader's attention in each story. His language is simple, and the reader never becomes bored with what he has to tell. But perhaps what brings his book together is the message he communicates: loss of love is unavoidable, and by overcoming it comes learning and knowledge that love will come again.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lost Soul, March 6, 2003

By 

Laura Caffee (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breakfast at Tiffany's (Signet) (Paperback)

Truman Capote has a great imagination. Every story I have read by him has held my interest. I am anxious to read his other novels. Although this novel is a short read, it held my attention very well. Breakfast At Tiffanys is a novel filled with a love interest, a little suspense, and scandalous affairs; its a little racy for the time this story takes place.
Lulamae Barnes wanted to re-invent herself. She picks a new name, Holly Golightly. I feel she has picked this new name to reflect the persona she wants to project; someone who was always on the go-someone not too easily tied down. She is a little gullible, a little naïve, and also outspoken. Holly Golightly is someone you love intensely for the short while she is in your life and someone you long for long after she has exited. I also feel that everyone could relate to her at some point in her life (all the way from the pain in her childhood, when she felt like she never belonged anywhere or to anyone, to the time she lost her brother, Fred).
Holly was a young woman who had quite a few gentleman callers. She seems to fall for the older men in her life. Holly suffers from this father complex.
My favorite character is the narrator of the story. He is an older gentleman as well. He is in his sixties and a writer. As they developed their friendship, he also developed a fascination with Holly. He reminds her of Fred, so she asks if she can call him Fred, and he graciously accepts. As the two interact as friends, Fred quietly falls in love with her.
I was most disappointed that Holly never quite knew of his love for her. I think that if she had known then maybe she could have had a better life with him.
I rated this novel with five stars because I could not put this story down until I had finished it. I am not an avid reader so that is saying a lot for this story. If I cant wait to finish a book, then I feel the author had captured my heart for the length of time it took me to put it down. It is almost like getting a kiss from a long lost lover.

4 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book, August 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Breakfast at Tiffany's (Signet) (Paperback)

Story of a young woman unsure of what she wants in life. She surronds herslef with and assortment of charaters hoping to find that for which she is searching.