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Moving from party to restaurant to glittering social event, Truman Capote and his flock of glamorous socialite "swans" rule 1960s New York, and Stephen Greco brings this gossipy, backstabbing, celebrity-filled world to life in a fascinating recreation of the tumultuous friendship between Capote and his most elegant swan, Lee Radziwill, sister to Jackie Kennedy. On a Thursday morning in May 1961, a well-mannered twenty-one-year-old named Marlene enters the Fifth Avenue apartment of Lee Radziwill to interview for the position of housekeeper and cook. The stylish wife of London-based Prince Stanislaw Radziwill, Princess Lee is intelligent and creative, with ambitions beyond simply jet-setting. But to the public, she is always First Lady Jackie Kennedy's little sister. As Marlene becomes a trusted presence in the Radziwill household, she observes the dazzling array of famous figures who flit in and out of Lee's intimate circle, including Gloria Vanderbilt, Rudolf Nureyev, Jackie and the President, Ari Onassis, Gore Vidal, Andy Warhol, and, most regularly, celebrated author Truman Capote. At the height of his fame following the success of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman has granted Lee place of honor in his flock of glamorous socialite "swans." Their closeness stems from an unexpected kinship. Both know too well the feeling of being second-best. Seeing his shadow in the woman he refers to as his most unconventional swan, Truman uses his influence and talent to try and make Lee a star. Their bond deepens through the decade's extraordinary events, from JFK's assassination to the era-defining Black and White Ball. But Marlene, who Truman has taken under his wing as an aspiring writer, can see Truman's darker side-especially his penchant for mining his friends' private lives for material. And there are betrayals on either side that may signal the end not just of a friendship, but of the shared expectation that wealth and fame can shield against every heartbreak.… (more)
User reviews
This is a perfect book club choice. You will love this book if you love lush, never-ending descriptions of clothing,
Frankly, I just don't have what it takes to enjoy books of this caliber. I need something that takes me away from this world. I need something that will make me think, laugh, cry, and use my imagination, something that will pique my curiosity. This book did none of those things for me. It felt as if the longer I read it, the longer the book became until I felt that it would never end.
The era that is the basis for this book will make it a little awkward for those of us who were born in the late 50's and only know some of these people when they were already past their prime. But, on the other hand, if you are much younger than me, then you might find this an exciting slice of mid to late-20th-century history. But, of course, it is history about the wealthy jet-setters and only touched briefly on anything significant that was going on in America at the time.
I should have realized that I would likely not love this novel when I realized it was similar to "The Swans of Fifth Avenue."
I did find it interesting that this book focused on Lee Radziwill and Truman Capote and not so much on the other Swans. However, I was disappointed not to hear more about Jackie Kennedy (at least by the 50% mark).
At times the author would use 21st-century language instead of what apropos of the 'women who lunch' in the mid-19th (1969) century would use, which would drag me out of the story.
This was not the perfect choice for me. I just never got the attraction of Truman Capote and most likely never will. However, I think many out in Bookland will enjoy this look into the rich and famous.
ARC was supplied by the publisher Kensington Books, the author, and NetGalley.
The Story of the friendship between Truman Capote and Lee Radziwill as told through Lee's assistant (Servant) Marlene. Truman and Lee are well known to me, but I found them both to be unlikable. Truman with his arrogance
Although I had a strong distaste for the two, it did not take away from the story. The people they knew and events they attended were interesting. A lot of famous and wealthy people were mentioned which at times were intriguing. I did like Marlene and her part in this (story). Her Cuban ancestry was compelling, would have liked to learn more.
What I found a bit distracting was the endless dialog, at times I was at a loss for who was speaking. I also found repetitiveness throughout, which again, was a bit of a distraction. Overall I found Such Good Friends: A Novel of Truman Capote & Lee Radziwill interesting enough to finish. It was not a bad story, just not quite for me. Others may find it enjoyable.
A novel illustrating the turbulent friendship between two prominent historical figures during the 1960s and 1970s. An enjoyable book if you are interested in the time period or influential NY socialites and bigwigs. The book is interesting, a sort of extreme highs and dark lows of the
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