Swan Song

SWAN SONG

by Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott

 

Nomination: Orange Longlist 2019

 

Date Read: September 20, 2021

 

I have to admit that I was drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover (yes, I am that shallow) and because of the fallout over broken trust. I also knew that that broken trust was something Capote never quite overcame. Using his circle of friends as fodder for a novel seemed like laziness and betrayal, honestly. I think only after he published the article in Esquire did he come to realize that too.

 

As privileged and elite as this parade of characters is, they lack some of the fundamental, life-sustaining authenticity such as purpose, true connection and true love. They are able to indulge in purchasing whims and luxurious vacations to enviable locations but there is something vacant about their existence. I wouldn’t trade places with any of them for a minute.

 

My heart really went out to Tru, who with a child-like countenance still cannot grasp how hurtful his violating his group’s trust really was. He never fully anticipated being surgically excised from their lives like he was. Tru believed that the love between them would carry them through and in the end, it didn’t. Post-Esquire, Tru falls apart more than before, increasing his self-medicating, stumbling through his life in a bad dream of liquor and Quaaludes. He was still just a little boy looking for a pat on the head and loving acceptance.

 

In sum, vapid rich white people gossip about one another behind their backs and in front of a writer who then uses that gossip to betray the rich white people. Then they shun him. Then he seeks revenge. Then it’s over.

 

As time marches on the alcohol and drugs begin to erode Tru’s mind he begins seeing people that are no longer alive, still name dropping friends who will no longer speak to him, even losing the respect and affection of his long-term partner, Jack. Without even realizing it, Tru has become a “has been,” his talent and connections all dried up and the only thing left is the husk of a man that once had the world in the palm of his hand.

 

Overall, I had hoped to enjoy this book more than I actually did. After a while, I became somewhat disenchanted with all these society women buzzing to one another over their perceived injustice. Perhaps they needed to create all the drama in their lives to stave off boredom. Who knows? I did, however, feel bad for Capote, a wounded child living in a man’s world who really just wanted beauty, love and a sense of belonging.

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