Review: ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ by Truman Capote

Yesterday I started, and finished, ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ by Truman Capote. This is an incredibly short novel, but even so I really enjoyed it, and I liked the fact that I could read it in an afternoon!

‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ is based on the exploits of Holiday Golightly, a young socialite living in an apartment in New York. I never realised just how young she is meant to be, with the book starting a couple of months before her nineteenth birthday.

Her job is never precisely labelled, but she surrounds herself with rich men, and she uses her charms and good looks in order to build up the money she needs to live- and afford expensive shopping trips. I think she is meant to be more of an escort than a prostitute, although this is never specifically stated. She is portrayed as a woman of mystery, with everyone around her loving and admiring her.

The book is told from the point of view of a young man, who lives in the apartment above Holly, and he recounts the brief time in which she lived below him. With her bright blonde hair and crazy antics, he is instantly drawn to her- and he is fascinated by the parties and glamour that goes on downstairs.

He soon becomes swept up in her world, going on trips to the local bar, and acting as a confidante for her, as she reveals her various clients, including Sally Tomato, the notorious criminal who she visits every week in prison in order to give him some company.

Whether she realises that he is secretly using her to give messages to others outside the prison is debatable, but it made for an interesting plotline. The narrator also gradually finds out about Holly’s life before she came to New York, and the various things she was running away from.

I really liked this book. It was light-hearted and funny, but also had some deeper and darker undertones that made it an interesting read. Holiday Golightly was a fantastic main character. She was spirited and funny, and her world was so interesting to delve into. However, when it becomes clear that she just wants to feel at home somewhere, and this is why she cannot settle, I could see a sadder tone to her character.

On the one hand, she is a flighty but strong woman, supporting herself and creating no ties for herself. But on the other hand, she is not truly happy. It seems to me that her frivolous lifestyle hides a deeper sadness. She may have been successful in escaping her old life, and made something of herself, but she is also very troubled.

This book really reminded me of ‘The Great Gatsby‘ by F. Scott Fitzgerald, as the main character is similarly haunted by their past. The narrator of ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ also reminded me of the narration of ‘The Great Gatsby’ by Nick Carraway, and the awe of the narrator as they watch the glamour from afar.

The setting of this book was also brilliant. The book is set in 1940s New York, and I thought this really added to the atmosphere and feel of the book. The fashion and glamour of Holiday Golightly really made the book, as well as the film.

The film of this book is very famous, mainly because Audrey Hepburn plays the main character. In fact, Truman Capote himself was against this casting. The character in the book is meant to have blonde hair, whereas Audrey is a dark brunette. Despite this, I cannot imagine Holiday Golightly any other way, and Audrey Hepburn’s portrayal of the character is really something special.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I thought the whole feel of the book was brilliant, and the glamour of the main character made for an interesting read. You cannot help but fall in love with Holiday Golightly, and her world is just so odd and wild that it sweeps you in, just as the narrator gets swept in.

The deeper tones of the book were also interesting to read, and the way in which Capote considers the life Holly escaped, and whether her life is better now, is fascinating. I would definitely recommend this book to any Great Gatsby lovers.

‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ has recently been analysed as to its relevance for modern viewers, find out more here.

What do you think of my review of ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ by Truman Capote? Have you read this book/watched the film? Would you ever give this book a go?

Let me know any thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x

29 thoughts

  2. I think I’ll add this book to my reading list. I thought it sounded a lot like “The Great Gatsby” as well. Is the narrator as unreliable as Nick Carraway?

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    1. Great, I hope you enjoy it! I would say so, as we only ever get his point of view on events, and the narration style is certainly very similar, in terms of the narrator being in awe of the main character.

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  4. DAMN, Ihave been wanting to read this one for EVERR!! It kinda slipped from my mind though! BUT, god, BLESS YOU FOR WRITING SUCH A FABULOUS REVIEW and reminding me the absolute need to read it! And the comparison with Gatsby! WOW! That is my ALL TIME FABOURITE story! All the passion, betrayal, and subtle secrets! LOOOVED IT! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you so much, I really recommend it <3<3 Gatsby is a good book, I hope you can see the similarities in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' when you get round to reading it! I think with Gatsby, the time period also emphasises all those aspects, and makes for an interesting read. Thanks for dropping by!

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  6. I read this an age ago, but agree that it’s a very good book. For me, the film adaptation was awful, with both Hepburn and Peppard miscast. (And that singing!) I consider it to be desperately overrated, but I know it has legions of devoted fans, so what do they care about my opinion? 🙂
    Thanks for following my blog. It is much appreciated.
    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I actually am slightly inclined to agree with you, although for me the appeal is that I love Audrey Hepburn! I think the film itself is slightly over-rated, but the hype and whole feel of the film just make it so much better for me… The book definitely offers much more depth 🙂 No problem, thanks for dropping by

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