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Review of "Answered Prayers" by Truman Capote 
Truman Capote’s "Answered Prayers" is an infamous, unfinished novel that remains one of the most controversial works in American literature. Published posthumously in fragments (the first chapters appeared in "Esquire" in the 1970s), it was intended to be Capote’s magnum opus—a scathing, Proustian dissection of high society. Instead, it became the project that alienated his elite friends and contributed to his downfall. 
The book follows P.B. Jones, a fictionalized alter-ego of Capote—a cynical, bisexual writer who navigates the glittering yet vicious world of the ultra-wealthy, exposing their scandals, betrayals, and hypocrisies. The most notorious chapter, "La Cote Basque, 1965," thinly veils real-life socialites (including Capote’s former "swans" like Babe Paley and Slim Keith), revealing their darkest secrets with brutal precision. The fallout was immediate: Capote was ostracized by the very people who had once adored him. 
Stylistically, "Answered Prayers" is dazzling—Capote’s prose is razor-sharp, dripping with wit and decadent detail. Yet the novel feels incomplete, both structurally (it was never finished) and emotionally. Unlike "Breakfast at Tiffany’s", which balanced satire with heart, this book leans into pure, merciless dissection. Some readers find it exhilarating; others, hollow. 

Verdict: A fascinating, self-destructive literary artifact. Capote’s talent is undeniable, but Answered Prayers is less a cohesive novel than a glimpse into a genius’s unraveling. 
Rating: 3.5/5 
Brilliant but flawed, like its author. Essential for Capote devotees, but not his most accessible work.