Music for Chameleons (Paperback)

by Truman Capote (Author)

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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Customer Reviews

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.

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!

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.