Book – Summer Crossing by Truman Capote

Truman Capote was introduced to me by my writing teacher, not, surprisingly, through my style icon Audrey Hepburn in the iconic Breakfast at Tiffany’s.I had to read out a passage from In Cold Blood which was so good that I had to read it twice and there began the hunt for Capote classics.Summer Crossing was discovered some 16 years after the author’s death in 1984 and was written before Breakfast at Tiffany’s so they say it’s the prequel.It has an interesting reference to being able to fly to the moon, some years before the reported moon landings and I can see why the free spirited heroine Grady McNeil could be a forerunner for Holly Golightly. Miss McNeil is from a New York society family whose parents made the mistake of leaving her alone in New York whilst they sailed for a summer in Europe.As is still customary if they can afford it, New Yorkers do not stay in the city during the unbearable hot summer months but this year, our heroine decided to hang around and see where her relationship with Clyde, a Jewish parking attendant from Brooklyn takes her. As you can imagine, everywhere her family wouldn’t want it to. Throw in a married sister and a childhood friend who is a more likely suitor and there are some happenings worth reading about.As Capote’s first novel, it is not as polished as he would have liked but as inspiration for the writing style that makes you feel like you are there, he is the master.It is nice and short and therefore an easy read.7/10        Inspiration 8½/10