Sam Strives for 55 - Week 25

Here is week 25 of Sam's reading journey, the metrics and first week can be found here

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

1. Intrigue 
   
   1. How many true crime fans we got on in the building tonight??? Oh right, this is a written medium and I can’t see you. Well, the good news is if you like true crime anything then In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is an absolute must. A truly horrific crime that seemed to happen out of the blue must be solved and solved quickly. 
2. Writing Style
   
   1. True crime may be non-fiction, but it’s only a shiny wrapper. In essence true crime awakens our darkest fantasies and delves into our worst nightmares. There is a sincere sense of falling into true crime stories and that can be a wonderful sensation when you’re reading. To be truthful, it is not my cup of tea, but I understand the feeling. 
      
   2. This book is a must for true crime fans because of it’s masterful writing. Capote does an excellent job of methodically painting the picture, only showing you a bit at a time until, whether you want it or not, the whole ugly truth has to come out. And boy, it ain’t pretty. 
      
   3. Juicy quote 
      
      1. “The kid and the girl. And maybe the other two. But it’s Saturday. They might have guests. Let’s count on eight, or even twelve. The only sure thing is every one of them has got to go.”
3. Flow of Storytelling 
   
   1. Capote does one of those rare writerly things where the writing style is wrapped up 100% with the flow of the storytelling. I don’t mean they are the same thing, whatsoever. I mean it’s like tying two scarves together from end to end. They are intertwined and cannot be separated. Capote’s sentences are clear and necessary. They don’t flourish and they don’t sparkle. They are utilitarian and they fit what the book is - something to write home about for sure - and with that they convey the story in the exact way Capote wants to do so, which is, wonderfully. 
4. Re-readability 
   
   1. If, and only if, you like ready about real-life murders, this is an absolutely re-readable book. On the other hand, if you’re like me and came away from this book googling home safety systems, then no this is not re-readable. But I’ll tell you the extra-something-special this book has: power. It reaches the reader in a way that the dark can, and that’s a powerful weapon. 
5. T.E.S.S.
   
   1. See above. 

★★★★ = For Sure Absolutely Read This - but you might not like it. That’s okay too! I did.

J. Sam Williams is an illustrious black-tailed hawk, longing to eat as many vegan mice as possible. In his human form, he is a High School English Teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he lives with his wife, one dog and two cats. A somewhat retired breakdancing teacher, he is now a co-host on the Alohomora Podcast! He has been published on Lunch Ticket, immix: a journal for justice, Mugglenet, and a slew of small sports journalism publications. You can find him on twitter @Jabbernator.