A review by andriawrites
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

4.0

In Cold Blood is regarded as the first, original non fiction novel. Capote takes real life events and meticulously documented facts and turns them into a mesmerizing, haunty and yet gripping narrative of a murdered family, their killers, and the after math the murder had on the small, close knit town of Holcomb, Kansas. What's so striking about this book (aside from Capote's masterful talent of story telling) is that so much thought and emotion was put into describing the killers and their lives. They weren't in no way demonized, but given a sense of humanity, and as you read the book you understand that these feelings stem from the townspeople themselves and certain relatives of the murdered victims. Ultimately, the novel is a comment on violence in America, how perpetrators of crimes are also victims of a system that left them behind, and that continuing a system of hate, revenge (and therefore capital punishment) only feeds the hungry, burning machine of violence that seems to be tearing America apart. All in all, a great, interesting and thought provoking read. Defintely not for the light hearted, but such a great depiction of people's lives, minds and emotions. True to the style and legacy of Capote.