I had never intended to read this book. I don’t read many romance stories particularly not popular ones made into movies starring Audrey Hepburn, however I saw my wife had put it on the pile of books to go to the charity shop and I rescued it. I agree with donating books to charity but at the same time I resent giving away books when they could belong in a beloved collection. I decided to give Breakfast at Tiffany’s a go to see what the fuss was about. I’m very glad I did.
The story isn’t a typical girl meets boy, boy messes it up, girl leaves town, boy catches up to her and patches things up before it’s too late. I think this is original for a romance story (even though it was written in the 50s) and not conventional at all. At the same time it is very accessible and not elitest. The narrator is a frustrated writer living in New York who meets a young girl named Holly who moves into the appartment below his. They form an unlikely friendship and soon the reader is caught up in the dizzying social complexities of Holly’s life with the narrator caught up in the middle of it.
Most people know someone a little like Holly, attention seeking, a little fake, desperate to be liked and at the same time manipulative. Despite her faults she is a very likeable character and although not above spreading lies about someone to outshine them a pretty decent person and as the story progresses we learn more and more about her but not enough that her character becomes boring
Funny in places, sad in others it is a wonderful literary journey and a nice length too.
We don’t learn much about the narrator which is ironic as Holly describes him as being on the outside looking in on others lives but I still liked him as a character and the narration style of the book really works well.
The version of the book I own also includes three short stories House of Flowers, A Diamond Guitar and A Christmas Memory which were all very good.
Overall rating 5/5
Chris
I thought it was a really interesting story, and it's quite unconventional. As I remember it, there was a sad ending? The other stories were quite sad too. I really liked A Diamond Guitar, for some reason.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I've never seen the video and I don't have a copy of this, but I suppose I should do one or the other eventually. It does sound like something I would enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI really liked this one too. I was surprised by it, even though I saw the movie (the ending is different). Supposedly Capote based the story on a real neighbour he knew.
ReplyDeleteI've yet to read Capote, but the more blogger reviews I see the more I'm convinced I need to. This one sounds good!
ReplyDeleteI liked this one too. It's not really a boy meets girl story, it's more of a lost girl trying to find her balance. I like the unconventional romance.
ReplyDeleteI've got a copy of this with the other stories too, and I really loved them, the writing style really struck me, as well as the content of the tale for the time. It's the only Capote I've read, but I liked them so much I really should read more.
ReplyDelete@ Toni: I guess the ending is quite sad and the movie ending is apparently very different (I've not seen it yet) but it was one of those books I couldn't see ending any other way really. A diamond guitar was interesting to read.
ReplyDelete@ Allie: Give the book a try first then see the film, thats the order I'm doing it in!
@ Chrisbookarama: I don't know much about Capote and this is the first of his books i've read (although I was suitably impressed enough that it won't be the last) it wouldn't surprise me to know it was a book based on something that really happened to him, I guess all stories like that are based on some sort of experience(s)
@ Melody: This was my first Capote book and it was excellent so I will definately look for more in future!
@ Melissa: I agree, it is definately not an ordinary romance story, I think thats what I liked the most about it, it kept you guessing.
@ Mummazappa: I found the writing style of it very easy to get on with and I think the novel has aged really well, one or two bits are very 1940s but on the whole it was excellent I thought
Chris
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. Holly was such an amazing character, and while reading the book, I could actually envisage Audrey Hepburn as her. I saw the movie a few months later, and it really is worth a watch. It captures the book beautifully.
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