Reviews

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

fantine525's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

  Going into this book, I had a rather different image of it in my mind. Having seen some scenes from the movie (I still haven’t watched it) I had an impression, that this is going to be more of a love story; it  (unless you count platonic love) and I’m so glad about it! I don’t think I would like this book half as much as I did if it was a romance. 
  I loved the style of writing, even though I read a translated version. The translator managed to keep Capote’s beautiful way of writing (I looked up the original quotes to compare them with the translated ones and they still convey the same charming tone).

autismandniamh's review against another edition

adventurous relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This is a bit unusual but I actually GREATLY preferred the short stories included in this edition (particularly “House of Flowers”) than I did the main event… Holly was a frustrating character with incredibly dated views, and the characters in the story “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” often fell into racist cliche. Sure it was written in a different time, but it still gave me the ick.

mon_'s review

dark hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

janamcwhirter's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

marjoriehuang's review

3.5

This novella short story collection, as a whole, was just okay to me. I think by far my favorite story is the house of flowers, the short story about ottielee and her husband who ties her to a tree. I think the only theme between all of these stories is connection between two people (and a reflective recollection of the short period of time these two people are in each others lives).

I didn't really like breakfast at tiffany's as much as I'd hoped: I felt like I didn't really get much out of it other than understanding that its about a girl who's surrounded by incels and how her unsustainable, slightly fairytale like lifestyle eventually catches up to her. I think i'm probably going to get rid of this book even though I've annotated it pretty heavily because I don't think I loved it, and I don't know if I would ever try to reread it (as i have so many books that I want to read and also books that I want to reread).

juliavandenanker's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-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

3.0

nerdpastornate's review

dark funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

e_millie's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

You can always reinvent yourself and change your life for the better.

sidharthvardhan's review against another edition

5.0

"Anyway, home is where you feel at home. I'm still looking."

Ok, I no longer believe in 'never Judge a book by its cover'. I read this one mainly because of it's cover. Have you ever feared being trapped by love and similar demons? It is basically about that fear.

"You've got to be sensitive to appreciate her: a streak of the poet. But I'll tell you the truth. You can beat your brains out for her, and she'll hand you horseshit on a platter."

There are some people who, in their easy-going and wanting-to-include-everyone-in-their-joy ways become highly likable to sensitive souls, the sensitive folks find themselves emotionally invested in them only getting indifference in return. The indifference is not always because of malice. Sometimes, these people, just as Holly was, are as sensitive as others but have decided that they won't let themselves caged down even by love.

"Never love a wild thing, Mr. Bell,"

It is a kind of life that most people are often tempted to lead. We look at the birds flying in the sky and are envious of their so-called 'freedom':

"Don't wanna sleep, don't wanna die, just wanna go a-travelin' through the pastures of the sky."

but:

"and believe me, dearest Doc -- it's better to look at the sky than live there. Such an empty place; so vague. Just a country where the thunder goes and things disappear."

And so, Holly learned her lesson - freedom,as we wish to see it, is an illusion. The only real freedom we can have is freedom to choose our own cage - and, what we need is to find a cage where we can feel at home. Unfortunately, it was too late.

kimmaloo's review against another edition

3.0

I'd like to watch the movie now. I know many people love the movie but I'm curious to know why. Holly Golightly is not an unlikeable character in the novella but she's not likable either.