Frukost på Tiffany’s (1958)

Perché il mondo intero sembra innamorato o propenso ad innamorarsi di Holly Golightly? Per la sua bellezza? Per la sua eccentricità? Non credo. Più probabile che, conoscendola, rimanga ammaliato dalla sua assoluta libertà, da una vita condotta senza regole apparenti (o non certo secondo quelle imperanti), che oltre la sua apparente frivolezza sa nascondere profondità e tanta fragilità. Per chi conduce la propria vita lungo binari prefissati e ogni singolo giorno sente il peso del giogo che si è posto da solo sulle spalle, un simile richiamo, le prospettive che sembra schiudere non possono che essere irresistibili. Holly ha trovato la chiave per la felicità? No, perché oltre la sua travolgente energia, spesso trapelano insoddisfazione e smarrimento. Si può amare Holly sino a farla propria? Non più di quanto si potrebbe racchiuder il vento tra le proprie mani. Non più di quanto si potrebbe imbrigliare la tempesta. Come lei stessa disse: ci si può fare male ad innamorarsi di un animale selvatico. ( )

I usually never watch the movie first. In fact, I avoid doing so, but in this case I did, for what reason I am not sure. I am an Audrey Hepburn fan; I loved her in the role of Holly Golightly. For me she was Holly, although I have heard that she found this role difficult. Reading this novella for the first time many years after first watching the movie, I found the character of Holly as portrayed by Hepburn much richer than the Holly developed in the story. But the story itself, the relationships described and Holly's independence, seem radical for its time and foretelling of the future. I almost felt as if I was reading a script for a movie, which would depend on the actor to bring the character to life. ( )

She's chic, she's charming
(and casually racist)
all the men love her. ( )

I cannot and probably should not judge this according to the time it was written. To do so may or may not deepen the impact of it. If I wanted a slightly lighter tone, I could always watch the old movie.

As it is here and now, I feel like I should only judge it by my own sensibilities of this day and time.

The novella is breathless and anxiety-ridden, full of self-aware sexuality and hypocrisy, and it's also a purely whimsical fantasy. That is to say, I fell in love with these flawed characters and my heart broke for them.

Everyone loves Holly. She gives of herself so freely. She's so energetic and playful and outgoing.

And that is her tragedy. She gives away everything. Even her cat. And yet, according to one postcard, she will always be okay. It's really fascinating and heartbreaking because she will never have anything of her own. She lives on the largess of everyone around her and they all love her to death.

I can't give a crap about the fact she sleeps around. She is what she is, and that's what we're meant to see clearly. I love it.

She's very bright. Even her gift of a birdcage to the writer-narrator is astute as hell. She could be talking entirely about him or about his love for her. The point is... there is no bird.

So pretty. So understated. So heartbreaking. ( )

Incredibly different to the film, you end up intermittently hating and loving Holly. The plot is far darker and the humour is clever. Would highly recommend it but it mightn't necessarily be what you expect. ( )