Some of us of a certain age first came to know Truman Capote as a celebrity rather than an author. Back in the day, he was a frequent talk show guest, known largely for his outspoken comments, acerbic wit, high-profile feuds with other personalities, and flamboyant, over-the-top style. In time, a variety of addictions and personal demons rendered him a caricature of himself and ultimately led to his early demise. What a shame that was because the memory we were left with at the time was one of a rather silly man who was responsible for his own destruction. Fortunately, those memories faded with the years, but the legacy of the remarkable fiction Capote produced—including such notable works as Other Voices, Other Rooms and In Cold Blood—survives to remind us of what a talented writer he was.

In Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Capote produced a collection of four works of short fiction that do not share any unifying themes beyond being strong and affecting stories. For me, the clear standouts in the group are “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, the title story that really is more of a novella in terms of its length, and “A Christmas Memory”. Both are superbly paced and well written, despite the nature of the tales they tell being drastically different. In the first, we spend a season in the New York City of the 1940s getting to know Holly Golightly, a quixotic young socialite with no apparent means and a shady past. As seen through the eyes of one of her neighbors, a would-be writer who may well be in love with her, we come to realize that beneath the external glamour, she is a fragile and troubled person. Despite its pervasive sadness, this is a deeply poignant tale and in Holly the author has created an iconic character for the ages.

The other gem in the collection is an elegiac story of the last Christmas a young seven-year-old boy spends with his sixty-something cousin. They are dirt poor, but the sweet and loving nature of their relationship makes them rich in other ways. The two are at opposite ends of their lives—the boy just beginning and the older woman not far from the end—but the bond they share sustains them and the memories they make form the foundation of the young man’s future essence. While nothing dramatic happens, this is one of the most touching and emotionally satisfying stories I have read. The other tales in the book—“House of Flowers” and “A Diamond Guitar”—are solid, but far slighter in both ambition and impact. There is nothing especially wrong with either, but they do suffer somewhat in comparison to the stronger entries. Overall, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is an excellent example of how splendid Capote’s writing could be. ( )

Not my cup of tea ( )

This was just brilliant from black glasses to orange tabby. And the little stories at the end left me breathless with all the feels.

Key to liking Breakfast at Tiffany's (the book): don't think of the movie. ( )

You really have to feel sorry for the other stories that are in the same book as Breakfast at Tiffany's ( )