Tag: Classics

Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote

~ Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader ~ 35 Comments
Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote
Publisher: Vintage
Publication Date: September 1993 (50th Anniversary Edition) 
Categories: Classics, Literary
Source: My own copy (A Christmas gift!) 
Description:
In this seductive, wistful masterpiece, Truman Capote created a woman whose name has entered the American idiom and whose style is a part of the literary landscape. Holly Golightly knows that nothing bad can ever happen to you at Tiffany’s; her poignancy, wit, and naïveté continue to charm.

My Thoughts:

I came to this a virgin of all things Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I hadn’t read the book, I haven’t seen the movie! I was glad to dive in without any bias. I had no expectations.

Ah ha! It turns out that I did have expectations. I just didn’t know it. 

Maybe it’s her name that did it to me? Holly Golightly. Now, doesn’t that sound like a name that belongs to a very sunshiney girl in a sunshiney story? 

Maybe the pictures and clips of Audrey Hepburn in the film version gave me the impression that this was an easy breezy tale? 

Whatever it was I certainly got more than I bargained for from this novel.


I wouldn’t call Breakfast at Tiffany’s dark but it was deeper and more reflective than I expected. I enjoyed the mood of this book and I adored how complicated the characters were. 

Bravo Mr. Capote. Now? I have to see this film!

The Classics Club

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

~ Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader ~ 25 Comments

Once again I’ve been knocked over the head by a book that I should have read long ago. Knowing that there are other books out there that I’ve missed is the kind of thing that keeps me up at night! This was a stunning read that made me bawl like a baby. If you haven’t had a chance to read this yet please do so. Please!

Flowers for Algernon
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Short story published in 1959
Novel published in 1966
progris riport 1-martch 5, 1965
         
            Dr. Strauss says I shud rite down what I think and evrey thing
         that happins to me from now on, I dont know why but he says its
         importint so they will see if they will use me. I hope they use me.
         Miss Kinnian says maybe they can make me smart. I want to be
         smart. My name is Charlie Gordon. I am 37 years old. I have
         nuthing more to rite now so I will close for today.


“I was her bestist pupil in the Beckman School for retarted adults and I tryed the hardist becus I reely wantd to lern I wantid it more even then pepul who are smarter even then me.” 


“How strange it is that people of honest feelings and sensibility  who would not take advantage of a man born without arms or legs or eyes-how such people think nothing of abusing a man with low intelligence.” 

“Dr Strauss said I had something that was very good. He said I had a good motor-vation. I never ever knew I had that. I felt proud when he said that not every body with an eye-q of 68 had that thing. I don't know what it is or where I got it but he said Algernon had it too. Algernons motor-vation is the cheese they put in his box. But it cant be that because I didnt eat any cheese last week.” 
― Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon
I read this book in celebration of Banned Books Week and as part of The Classics Club challenge.
The Classics Club