Because of the Ryan Murphy series, I had high expectations for this work, but it only had me asking more questions. Mainly, about the author, Laurence Leamer. I mean, he says he is straight, but, darlings, have you seen that picture on the back? Give me a break. If he is straight, then I am that Travis guy dating Taylor Swift!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lee gets covered in this book, as well as C.Z. Guest (the one I would like to be!) Slim Keith, and, though I don't think she was part of the inner circle, Ann Woodward, who murdered her husband by accident, back in 1955. This led to Dominick Dunne writing "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles," which resulted in a wonderful TV movie with Claudette Colbert, and an Emmy-winning turn by Ann-Margret.
Girls, keep an eye here on Slim Keith. She is proof that a girl from the wrong side of the tracks can make it in this world, if she plays all the right moves.
And poor, perfect Babe Paley. I never thought she suffered the way she did. And she was a very private person. It is easy to see, from Leamer's portrait, how Capote's piece rocked her world, causing her to cut herself off from him.
As for, Truman, well he out bitches The Swans any day. They were gracious, compared to him. Did he really think they would be too dumb to figure out who was who? Was this a case of his ego or alcohol fueled delusion? Maybe a bit of both?
Even as a gay man, the question must be asked--Did Truman Capote shave? Not his legs, darlings; my, what a terrible picture that conjures up. But even in middle-age, with death approaching his face, while withered, still had a cherubic kind of quality. So, I have to wonder if he had enough facial hair to make it necessary for him to shave.
The book is entertaining enough, but how much real research did Leamer do? It reads like he cribbed from other sources. One thing he does that is good--by so much mention of Gerald Clarke, Capote's biographer, I have been inspired to read Clarke's work.
"Capote's Women" is unquestionably a page turner. But the book to give one the real information is "The Power Of Style."
If only we could still lunch at La Cote Basque!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
how I would Love to meet you there for a classy lunch!!!
ReplyDeleteVictoria,
ReplyDeleteSo would I. Unfortunately, those restaurants no longer exist. The end of an era.