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bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
Does this book have literary merit? Yes absolutely. Would I recommend it to anyone? No I would not.
Holly is definitely a compelling character and I understand why she’s had such a lasting cultural impact (though that’s mostly just people’s images of Audrey Hepburn). I felt like this book was getting at something interesting in its depiction of a glamorous but tragic woman who’s been LITERALLY GROOMED to think that all of this should be normal for her. And her friendship with the narrator (no, that are not any romantic undertones, thank goodness) has a lot of compelling moments.
But, in addition to the grooming, this book contains so much lesbophobia and SO MUCH racism that it was really hard to get through. You expect me to care about characters who are just constantly using slurs to describe everyone they know? No thanks.
Holly is definitely a compelling character and I understand why she’s had such a lasting cultural impact (though that’s mostly just people’s images of Audrey Hepburn). I felt like this book was getting at something interesting in its depiction of a glamorous but tragic woman who’s been LITERALLY GROOMED to think that all of this should be normal for her. And her friendship with the narrator (no, that are not any romantic undertones, thank goodness) has a lot of compelling moments.
But, in addition to the grooming, this book contains so much lesbophobia and SO MUCH racism that it was really hard to get through. You expect me to care about characters who are just constantly using slurs to describe everyone they know? No thanks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Miscarriage
valeriaboom's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Homophobia
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
doriangrayscale's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Racial slurs
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
linddykal's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Adult/minor relationship
a_polyglots_bookshelf's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Found this one seriously underwhelming after hearing so many things about it. The only one I liked was A christmas memory - the last short story in the book. Breakfast and Tiffany's and the other 2 stories were good but extremely slow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Racial slurs
alaskaisnotdead's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
camille_fatalfloor's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Revisiting this one, it's been a long time since I read it and I'm glad to find it much better, and grittier than its film adaptation, which I find vastly overrated. My notes on that one read "absurdly charming in a flimsy way", which I still find to be a good descriptor of Holly as a whole.
That film was definitely propped up by the strength of Audrey Hepburn being her usual lovely self, though I'll give it bonus points for Moon River. I always think that people who idolise that photo of Hepburn have clearly never seen the film or watched it with an ounce of reading comprehension. Perhaps I can cut them some slack, for the usual need for Hollywood glamour meant that a lot of Holly's worser traits were skimmed over.
Make no mistake, Holly's a terrible person who wouldn't be so endearing to the people around her if not for her charm. The novella brings this out much more clearly, and Capote's prose is incisively effective in painting a pitiable portrait of a lost and naïve girl. I was equally struck by how concisely and competently Capote fleshes out the personalities and urban landscape surrounding her.
I do think Holly's monologues are the star of the story, rendering her compelling to the reader despite our awareness of her flaws. Part of the fun about reading about Holly Golightly is to be enchanted yourself, because she is one of those people who draw you into their orbit.
That film was definitely propped up by the strength of Audrey Hepburn being her usual lovely self, though I'll give it bonus points for Moon River. I always think that people who idolise that photo of Hepburn have clearly never seen the film or watched it with an ounce of reading comprehension. Perhaps I can cut them some slack, for the usual need for Hollywood glamour meant that a lot of Holly's worser traits were skimmed over.
Make no mistake, Holly's a terrible person who wouldn't be so endearing to the people around her if not for her charm. The novella brings this out much more clearly, and Capote's prose is incisively effective in painting a pitiable portrait of a lost and naïve girl. I was equally struck by how concisely and competently Capote fleshes out the personalities and urban landscape surrounding her.
I do think Holly's monologues are the star of the story, rendering her compelling to the reader despite our awareness of her flaws. Part of the fun about reading about Holly Golightly is to be enchanted yourself, because she is one of those people who draw you into their orbit.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
Homophobia: period typical use of 'dyke' Adult/minor relationship: Holly was
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