Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Why do I find it hard to write the next line?

In an oblique homage to yesterday's deserved nomination of Capote for best picture, I wanna share this little snippet that I loved from Breakfast at Tiffany's. OK, it's really got nothing to do with the nom, I just like this (rather aggressively punctuated) bit. It reflects a theme on my mind that's been reinforced wherever I go. Here's Holly Golightly poignantly speaking to our narrator:
It's a bore, but the answer is good things only happen to you if you're good. Good? Honest is more what I mean. Not law-type honest--I'd rob a grave, I'd steal two-bits off a dead man's eyes if I thought it would contribute to the day's enjoyment--but unto-thyself-type honest. Be anything but a coward, a pretender, an emotional crook, a whore: I'd rather have cancer than a dishonest heart. Which isn't being pious. Just practical. Cancer may cool you, but the other's sure to. Oh, screw it, cookie--hand me my guitar and I'll sing you a fado in the most perfect Portuguese.
Have you readBreakfast? Do it. Thank me later. 100 pages of near bliss.

7 comments:

freakgirl said...

I love that book. I love the jacket, I love the typeface on the front, love it all.

Bodhi said...

Last weekend The Kid and I had breakfast at Barmuda, and then went to Tiffany's in the city. Does that count, sweetness?

Lots of shiny sparkly, gay man likes shiny sparkly.

Kid eventually had to drag gay Dad away from store. But not for long, we then cruised into Cartier ...

If there are any single rich trust-fund Twinkies out there - call me, M'kay ...

The Other Andrew said...

This dovetails in nicely with your comment recently about living an authentic life, no?

I have never read any Capote, I must fix that one day soon.

Bodhi said...

Seriously, I too was being, like, soooooo authentic and stuff too.

Call me, Rich Boy. YE$!

[ok, that bit didn't quite work cause I can't figure out how to make a Yen and Euro - yay for Dollar - sign on this stupid keyboard, but you can imagine it, right?]

Michael said...

Isn't it great, freakgirl? That picture is of the first edition, which of course I don't have, but it's cool. So you've read it? The other short stories with it are great as well.

When you're angsty (suffering from the mean reds like Holly) shiny things in pretty cases is a tonic, huh? {{Mental note: wave something glisteny in front of Bodhi's face when we meet.}}

Andrew, yeah, dovetails with the comment...my current obsession. If you are gonna dabble in Capote, "Breakfast..." is a great place to start, but "In Cold Blood" is like a MUST read in my book. The movie is so tied to that, it'd be fun to consume them together. I forget, have you seen "Capote"? PSH is da bomb.

Anonymous said...

Every. Sentence. Is. A. Work. of. Art.
Here's one of my favorites:
Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?
Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues?
Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?

The Other Andrew said...

I don't think Capote has started in Oz yet, but I will go see it when it does. Which reminds me, I must buy a DVD copy of "Magnolia". I really love that film and PSH is fantastic in it.

I've heard that "In Cold Blood" is an amazing book.