Powers inserts this entertaining and imaginative story into the realities of Capote’s and Lee’s lives; as Powers writes in the Author’s Note: “A surprising amount of the book is based on real events.” He captures Capote’s beloved cattiness and Lee’s legendary loner status, fashioning fully-realized characters that engage the reader by coming alive on the page. Fans of Capote and Lee will learn some interesting facts about their lives and the inspirations behind their greatest works. However, this is fiction: Though Powers uses the real lives of Capote and Lee to frame his narrative, the essence of the book is more ghost story than literal history. The events—including the hauntings and the slapstick hijinks of Truman and Myrtle—are occasionally farfetched, but Powers clearly respects his subjects and never resorts to easy jokes at the expense of characterization. Every action is embedded and supported by the narrative. Capote in Kansas allows readers one last adventure with the creator of Boo Radley and one last waltz around the Black and White Ball with Truman and his caustic wit.
http://www.hipsterbookclub.com/reviews/copy/0108/capote_in_kansas_kim_powers.html
