Jack Dunphy's literary career was doubly cursed: first by his tendency to write hard, dark, and often bleak stories, the kind that rarely stand much of a chance with general audiences; second by his long relationship with Truman Capote, which had the effect of putting the far lesser-known Dunphy even further into the shadows. Those few who bother to seek out Dunphy's work now usually do so because they are Truman Capote fans and are curious about Capote's long-time paramour; but the fact is, unless a reader's taste in fiction is unusually wide-ranging (as I like to think mine is), the reader who likes Capote is very unlikely to enjoy the fiction of Jack Dunphy. Two more different writers, indeed, can hardly be imagined. Where Capote is lyrical, Dunphy is hard-edged; where Capote is sweet, almost sentimental, Dunphy can be merciless.

And "Dear Genius" is exactly the kind of brilliant Dunphy fiction that is practically guaranteed to alienate Capote fans. Yes, fiction: "Dear Genius," though billed as a memoir, is actually a *novel.* It does include Dunphy and Capote as characters (Dunphy narrates some sections), and one can safely assume that there is a good deal of factual material in the sections describing their lives together (or, more often, not together). But, in a move so audacious that one can hardly find words for it, Dunphy has interlaced a purely fictional narrative into the material, the story of a doubting priest, Father Synge, whose faltering faith is given a boost by a random encounter with an aging and drunk Truman Capote. But Father Synge is not really fictional: as Dunphy's headnote indicates, Synge is really himself, another version of himself. And Capote appears in a different guise too: as a brilliant young black boy named Robert Deveraux whom it will be Father's Synge's job to save from a dysfunctional mother. Truth and fiction, fiction and truth are interwoven here in scenes that can be so moving they bring tears to one's eyes---never more so than in the devastating final pages, as Father Synge comes to Dunphy's house to tell him that Capote has died. The final paragraph of "Dear Genius"---heartbroken, heart-breaking---deserves to rank right up there with Joyce's description of the falling snow at the end of "The Dead." Yes, it really is that good!

But "Dear Genius" is probably doomed to remain out of print and unread. The book irritates Capote readers, and in part they are justified in this: emblazoning the cover with the words "A Memoir of My Life With Truman Capote" is clearly false advertising, and it should be known that the subtitle was not Dunphy's but his publisher's (Dunphy had subtitled the manuscript "A Tribute To Truman Capote," which is vastly more accurate). But, over and above this, Dunphy is simply too demanding for many readers; he asks too much of those who are looking in his writing for something "like" his vastly more famous friend. Dunphy was like no one but himself. But if you are a reader who can rise to the challenge of difficult and utterly unique writing, do yourself a favor: find, read, and re-read a copy of "Dear Genius." (And while you're at it, do the same with Dunphy's "John Fury" and "Nightmovers.")

This is a comment, rather than a review, so please ignore the star rating.

As an admirer of Capote, I immediately purchased this book when it first appeared in 1985. According to the jacket, it was "rediscovered" in 1984 and was published with, what I consider, lovely illustrations. However, according to Gerald Clarke (Capote's biographer), Capote's aunt, who offered the book for publication, did not provide proof that Capote was the author. I was one of many readers who assumed the book was genuine. Although it is a hoax, I cannot part with it--I consider it part of my "Truman" trivia.

Truman Capote is perhaps most well-known for his novel, In Cold Blood, and his novella, Breakfast at Tiffany's. While these two works are excellent, his short stories, though not as famous, should not be overlooked. "Miriam," for example, is only about ten pages long, yet it is such a compelling story that I found myself thinking about days after I had read it. It tells the story of Mrs. Miller, a widowed woman who is completely isolated from everyone except herself. She lives a standard life that rarely deviates from her usual chores and occasional treat of going to see a movie. One time when she goes to the movie theater, alone as usual, she sees a striking girl ahead of her in line. This girl, who is dressed primly and who has almost white hair, approaches her. She introduces herself as Miriam. It turns out Mrs. Miller's first name is also Miriam. The young Miriam asks Mrs. Miller to buy her a ticket to the movies, as she has never been before. When Mrs. Miller asks where Miriam's mother is, Miriam evades the question. This is the first introduction Mrs. Miller has to the character who eventually consumes her thoughts and interrupts her lonely life. Miriam comes to Mrs. Miller's house a few days later, late at night. Mrs. Miller is frightened and confused when she hears the doorbell ring; naturally, she is not expecting anyone. Miriam tells Mrs. Miller she is hungry and asks for cake and candied cherries. Appalled by Miriam's gall, and suspicious as to how Miriam knew where she lived, Mrs. Miller begs her to leave and wishes for her to not come again. The next day, however, seemingly inexplicably, Mrs. Miller finds herself buying the cake and cherries Miriam had wanted. For the first time in a long while, Mrs. Miller feels happy, though she is not quite sure why. Miriam once again comes to visit Mrs. Miller. She is pleased yet not surprised to see that Mrs. Miller bought the foods she requested. As the story progresses, Mrs. Miller confronts Miriam and herself. "Miriam" is a true classic and is consistent with Capote's admirable ability to write. I highly recommend it.

Truman Capote once said that he loved talking more than anything else. Inge's book is a collection of interviews with the great talker himself, covering the period from 1948, when Capote burst on the literary scene with his first novel, "Other Voices, Other Rooms," to a 1980 self-interview from "Music for Chameleons." It includes the complete texts of George Plimpton's important "New York Times Book Review" interview upon the publication of Capote's masterpiece "In Cold Blood" and Eric Norden's lengthy 1968 "Playboy" interview, both involving Capote's claim to have invented a new literary form, the "nonfiction novel." These interviews make clear why we must sometimes take Capote with a grain of salt, and why we must take his work as seriously as he took it himself.

I think the test of Truman Capote as a writer is the section of this book called 'Portraits', sketches and longer pieces on the famous: actors, writers, photographers, fashion designers etc. These are generally priceless. The long article on Marlon Brando, for example, captures the enigmatic restlessness of this extraordinary actor in a way no writer (and few directors) has ever done, mostly by observation. However, even here, there are passages, such as when Brando is on the phone, and Capote looks out the window and tries to describe local Japanese atmosphere, that are pure phoney baloney, an attempt to inject art into 'mere' reportage that mocks the latter while failing in the former. His portrait of Marilyn Monroe is, again, the best I've ever read when it is merely observation, or a conversation between the auther and a real, believable, very likeable woman, but sheer bunkum when he tries to mythologise her, etherealising her on the beach. At other times, his prose reads like something from Vogue in its arch superficiality. These are genuine problems, but these portraits are highly readable - the piece on Gide and Cocteau is a little comic masterpiece.

Truman Capote could write dark drama and high comic fiction with equal skill. The charisma of his personality translated to the page. His fame eclipsed his actual writing, and diminished the seriousness of his reputation, and I recommend any reader to read this as an introduction to Capote's genius, if they have only heard of him, but haven't read him. "A Jug of Silver" is an especially charming short story. And Capote's interview with one of the Manson family is fascinating, in that it relates a different (than Bugliossi's), and believable theory for why the Manson murders went down. Capote is/was one of America's greatest writers, of any era.

This is a great anthology of the late Truman Capote's work. It includes almost everything he ever wrote. It is a magnificent work. What struck me most was Capote's versatility. He could write beautiful short stories, travel pieces, non fiction, essays, and novellas. I had a difficult time finding this book, but the writing in it is so wonderful that it was definitly worth it. It is a joy to read. Capote's masterful ear for the English language was a wonderful gift that made him one of the greatest writers, and he deserves to have this anthology in print again.

One of the most purely enjoyable books I've ever read. Capote can paint a great image in just a few words. His economy is what I like most about him.

This collection kicks off with a few fascinating short stories, then the main course: his 100 or so page novella 'Handcarved Coffins', his alleged investigation of a multiple murder in Kansas. Great stuff, a compelling read, but I'd take it with a pinch of salt.

After that come a few pen portraits, including one of his dope-smoking cleaning lady which is very funny. There is also the revealing account of an afternoon with Marilyn Monroe (Capote is a shameless but fascinating namedropper, so be warned).

In some ways the UK version has a better cover, a great photo of the author dancing with Marilyn Monroe!

This is Capote at his best. His observations are beautiful, written with some of the cleanest writing I've ever encountered. This book has been my companion for many years. I'm not particularly concerned about his drug and alcohol problems or how true his claims were.
From the preface to the end of the book, I'm still fascinated by his ability to put together such beautiful sentences.

Music For Chameleons, a collection of short non-fiction pieces, is an example of Truman Capote at his finest. Whether he is documenting a bizarre murder case, relating a day spent with Marilyn Monroe, or describing divine intervention in the form of Pearl Bailey, Capote is always captivating. His prose is simple and direct, yet rich in imagery, and simply beautiful.

Capote does a great job of showing the horror of the real life murders in a small town in Kansas. He takes us through the lives of the Clutter family and the criminals in alternating chapters until they meet. Capote also shows how the murders caused neighbors to be suspicious of each other in this small town. Shows all sides and aspects of the case.

Truman Capote, a controversial author at the time, writes an incredible story in the novel, In Cold Blood. Capote creates a chilling, exciting and astonishing true account novel of the murders of the Clutter family in 1959. He uses deep tone, language and real accounts from witnesses of the family to create these gruesome details. Deep tone, language and real account passages create a disturbing mood throughout the novel. These strategies are used frequently in the story. Truman's language throughout the novel leaves a haunting and lasting impression in one's mind. Capote's use of strong tone, "There's too much blood. There's blood on the walls.", is one example of the unsettling attributes of his writings. "He'd been shot, all right, the same as Kenyon-with the gun held right in front of his face."; this passage paints an appalling picture in the mind, which is another example of the gruesomeness of his writings. Real account passages and first person interviews give the book a more personal aspect. Capote once told that the killers asked him, to be present at the time when the hangings were done. This method of being a live witness helped create the authentic tone and mood set for the book. Capote uses conversations that took place during the investigation as another example of real accounts. One example is the conversation between Mrs. Hickock, a mother of one of the killers, and a private investigator. "That's his gun. Dick's. Him and David go out once in a while. After rabbits mostly. It was a .12-gauge Savage shotgun, Model 300; a delicately etched scene of pheasants in flight ornamented the handle." This example is a good one because it first points out the murder weapon and the one break that the police needed to catch the killers. These strategies are extremely useful because they give the book it's true mood and tone. Capote's use of deep tone, ghastly language and real accounts from witnesses of the family help create these gruesome details. In Cold Blood is one of the greatest and one of the first true account novels ever written.

Truman Capote saturates his work with details and employs a cinematic approach with two-dimensional characterizations in order to artistically recreate the infamous crime and punishment of two cold blooded killers. Capote uses in depth details when describing persons of the Clutter family to create a strong contrast emphasizing the horrifying murders. Due to Capote's details the reader is taken on an excursion through the criminal's minds and comes upon many realizations of how a heartless criminal thinks and feels. Capote's structure is also very important because it gives a cinematic feel. The whole first part switches back and forth from the Clutter family and the killers to set up suspense until finally the two stories collide in a twisted way. Capote presents a story that everyone in that time period probably already knew most of the details but he invents a new way of looking at it that no journalism article could do. Throughout his book Capote makes some of his opinions apparent such as his opposition to the death penalty and he produces many themes. One theme encompassed in his novel is that of the American dream. Herb Clutter has made a perfect life that all Americans desire and like the majority, the dream gets shattered by two ridiculous criminals. This shows exactly how fragile the American Dream is. Overall this book meets all of my personal requirements. It has great suspense, which made it a book I didn't want to put down because I wanted to see what was going to happen.

The book, A Christmas Memory, by Truman Capote, is an exremely emotional book. It is full of great characters and sad situations. I put myself into Buddy's shoes and imagine if I was him and being sent away to military school, how would I feel? I would feel like I was not wanted and I was being sent away. Sent away from the people you love and make you who you are. This part of the book made me think about how difficult it would be to leave everything you love. Buddy and Sook spent all their time together and suddenly Buddy was being sent away and Sook felt like she was losing him like her old friend who died also named Buddy. This book is a very strong and moving novel that I would recomend to anyone.

Truman Capote is a successful author, especially in the novel The Christmas Memory. This novel is guaranteed to bring strong emotions! If you ever read the novel, you'll even agree that this writing will point out to all the audience that it teaches us something about grown ups need to spend more time with younger kids and all ages. Older people can always inspire kids if they try. Sook is a old woman that has no friends. Buddy being around helps her out more than it does him. The old woman being around Buddy helps him learn to be a good young boy. Buddy keeps Sook company. So she doesn't get depressed and lonely as much. It made me realize how important it is for all families to get along and get close. Everyone is a better person that way. They're no arguements in the family then. The other part of the family does care about others, but dont take time out to understand others. The proof of others not caring anymore is when they want to send Buddy off. He could do just as good there. They just wanted to get rit if of and to be rude to Sook. I think this novel is a perfect novel to show others how important your family can be to you.

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote is sure to teach you to cherish life and the people that make you who you are. Sook was always there for Buddy and with her childish behavior and personality it made Buddy love her that much more. Exciting parts in the story include the scenes where Sook and Buddy went to Mr. HaHa Jones' house to get the whiskey for the fruit-cakes. Sook showed her love for Buddy by being by his side throughout his life with her. Sooks childish personality took over my mind. It was amazing that she was so intelligent yet she was a child at heart. The incident with Mr. HaHa Jones was frightning because of the grumpy attitude he had toward other people. A Christmas Memory is a novel that will surely make you make oyu understand the how wonderful it is to have a best friend that loves you a lot.

Okay, I admit there is a fair amount of gossip in this book, but it is worth reading to hear what Capote has to say about his own work. And I found myself marking spots where he speaks highly of certain other authors...now I want to read those books as well!

An intriguing look at one of America's most respected and shunned literary icons. Probes both his writing as well as the fantastic social life for which the author was famous. A unique portrait that will stand as the difinitive book on Capote.

This is a great bed-side reader. Well, maybe not, because, once you start reading, you may not be able to put it down. Truman Capote started out as a celebrated, controversial writer, became the "enfante terrible", and spent his final years as a sad, outrageous, drug addicted talk show guest, more known for his scathing celebrity, his writing glory a thing of the past. He first achieved renown for his breakthrough novel, "Other Voices, Other Rooms", which was one of the first books to dare have a homosexual undercurrent, but is probably most well known for his classic bestseller, "In Cold Blood", about the brutal slayings of a midwest family, and, just as much about their slayers, two loser drifters whom Capote unjudgingly befriended. By the time these interviews were conducted, by "Playboy" interviewer Lawrence Grobel, Capotes literary fame had preceded him, and he had become, to many, an outrageous joke. While his public deterioration was sad and shocking...he often appeared on television or at appearances "under the influence", during his more lucid times, his observations were still unpredictably entertaining. How much actual writing he did during the last ten years or so of his life is widely speculated, his ability to do so maybe ended. But, back to this book....During these conducted interviews, Capote talks about the things he has done, and those he has known... he socialized with the most famous of his day, though how much of what he said was fact or fiction has been questioned by many. To say he is sometimes mean spirited is an understatement. If he liked you, he really liked you, but, if not, oh my....watch out. You would be verbally splayed for all to see. His comments were meant to shock, and they certainly achieved their desired effect. But they are done so brilliantly and outrageously that you can only cackle at his daring to say what no one else dared even think. He had no problem, when asked here about certain fellow writers or acquaintances by name, in describing them as "ghastly", "lousy", "talentless", "dull", etc..and his elaborations are scathingly, wittily entertaining. Ex: About Jack Kerouac. "That's not writing, that's typewriting." Jackie Susanne: "She looks like a truck driver in drag". Georgia O'Keefe: "I wouldn't pay 25 cents to spit on a Georgia O'Keefe painting!". What saves him from maybe just being viewed as a "not nice" person, are his extreme intelligence, wit, humor, and his always brutal honesty. This fascinating book is so entertaining that I am hard pressed to give just a few examples or excerpts from it. But I loved his response when Grobel poses the question to Capote, who in his lifetime had befriended (and later was publicly alienated by) many of the super wealthy, "How are the rich different? Is it just that they have more money?" Capote responded "No, no. The real difference between rich and regular people is that the rich serve such marvelous vegetables. Little fresh born things, scarcely out of the earth. Little baby corn, little baby peas, little lambs that have been RIPPED out of their mothers' wombs. That's the REAL difference!". Truman had a long, drawn out, public demise, and died what was apparently a welcome death after years of suffering. While many would have him being remembered as just a sad, malicious , social climbing, venemous celebrity, it is his record of brilliant writing and his incredible wit which will stand out. And the realization that, underneath it all, was just a sad little boy, trying to make alot of noise. Of all the books written about Capote, I have found this the most revealing and fascinating. Why read ABOUT him, when you can hear him, in all his outrageous splendor? As little Truman says, when asked to define himself: "I am a homosexual. I am a drug addict. I am a genius."