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Music for Chameleons (Paperback)

by Truman Capote (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Review
"An incomparable stylist and entertainer...clean and cool...[with a] superb, near-perfect pitch with dialogue." --The New York Times Book Review

"Everything is displayed in this book: insights and recollections of the famous and the obscure; old jokes and fresh wit...These stories and vingettes will endure." --New Republic -- Review

Review
"An incomparable stylist and entertainer...clean and cool...[with a] superb, near-perfect pitch with dialogue." --The New York Times Book Review

"Everything is displayed in this book: insights and recollections of the famous and the obscure; old jokes and fresh wit...These stories and vingettes will endure." --New Republic

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage (March 29, 1994)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0679745661
  • ISBN-13: 978-0679745662
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #351,071 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #21 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( C ) > Capote, Truman

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Customer Reviews

35 Reviews
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 (23)
4 star:
 (6)
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (35 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Whether true or imagined, he tells a good story, September 28, 2004
By Reader Col (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
  
I see much skepticism in the other reviews of this book about Capote's trustworthiness in representing a story as truth or fiction, but I have to say that I was able to put my own judgment about those matters aside, and enjoy the highly entertaining way in which he writes. Was the conversation with Marilyn Monroe real, partly real, or totally an invention of what others have said was a drug-addled mind - who cares? We will never truly know, and that is the beauty of it. Both parties have departed this earth; both are regarded somewhat mythically, and I do not believe that Capote was doing anything other than attempting to entertain, which he does in a sensational, shocking, but addictively readable way. I have to confess that there were only a few of the "fictional" stories at the beginning that I truly enjoyed, but I was thoroughly entertained by the short pieces - episodes with Truman Capote and his unusual band of friends and acquaintances - in the latter third of this book. The central story of the Handcarved Coffins had much that anyone attempting to discredit factually would likely have fun with. I have not researched the story, so do not know if it was indeed a factual series of murders, or merely presented as such by Capote. I was not concerned with that, either here, or when I read In Cold Blood, by the same author. That piece was obviously more of a factual account, a highly publicised crime, but written in enjoyable prose. Handcarved Coffins was so much more compellingly written than much in the "detective" genre (which I try to avoid) today. Capote had a talent for storytelling that I have only recently discovered, but have quickly grown to appreciate.
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32 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This must be Capote at his best, October 4, 2003
By Hilde B (Norway) - See all my reviews
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!

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars New Writings by Capote, July 9, 1999
By A Customer
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Capote at His Best
I am a fan of Truman Capote but was very disappointed in the quality of this book. I won't go into a lot of details as the other reviews have done so. Read more
Published 4 months ago by B. Brody

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful writing, great storytelling, but lack of message
This is a quick, fun book to read: Truman Capote's writing, essentially exaggerated nonfiction (which makes for good storytelling), is crisp and concise and his stories... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Daniel Mackler

5.0 out of 5 stars Music for Chameleons

Music for Chameleons and Hand Carved Coffins is a diverse collection of short stories written by Truman Capote. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Tom Barnes

2.0 out of 5 stars This must be Capote at his worst
I'd been teaching In Cold Blood for two semesters and used the preface to this to introduce In Cold Blood, so I figured I might as well read the rest of the book. Read more
Published 16 months ago by John Proctor

5.0 out of 5 stars In his own words
In the truest sense of the word, Truman Capote is a wordsmith. Even before looking at the context of a story, I am amazed by Capote's ability to to craft words together in a... Read more
Published 24 months ago by JMack

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous after thirty years
I read this the first time when it was first published in the 1970's, but, after re-reading it, I really didn't get the message. I got it this time. Read more
Published on January 11, 2007 by Fred Armstrong

5.0 out of 5 stars I Read and Enjoyed Every LIne of Every Page
This is a good collection of short stories that entertains while his writing reveals a lot about the writer himself. Read more
Published on July 10, 2006 by J. E. Robinson

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty entertaining, but not entirely factual
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS A SPOILER.

I read Music for Chameleons when it first came out and enjoyed the vignettes. Read more
Published on July 7, 2006 by Wajo

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Writing
This is a collection of Capote's shorter non-fiction works first published in 1979. The contents include:

I. Music for Chameleons
One. Read more
Published on July 4, 2006 by Diego Banducci

5.0 out of 5 stars great collection
This collection of short stories by Truman Capote is excellent. I especially enjoyed Capote's interview with a well heeled, rich and well connected serial killer who even killed... Read more
Published on March 11, 2006 by John Bowyer

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