Gay Talese's contributions to American nonfiction span the latter half of the 20th century, all the way to the present. To give interested readers a small taste of this extensive body of work, Bloomsbury has published High Notes, a collection of pieces from the 1960s to 2011. At 250 pages, it is not an exhaustive look at Talese's various subjects (or his own personal peccadillos), but a great start for anyone who knows his name but not his work.
Hopping from personal recollections to mob stories to profiles about the New York Times newsroom and stars such as Frank Sinatra, High Notes consistently showcases Talese's keen eye for detail and insight into his subjects, sometimes without having met them. "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold" is a perfect example of the latter. Charged with writing but shut out by the famous singer, Talese interviewed everyone in Sinatra's entourage and whoever else was willing to talk. That led to a piece in perspectives, using many viewpoints to paint a full picture of Sinatra.
The collection ends with an echo of the Sinatra piece: a short article written 40 years later whose name serves as the title for the collection. In it, he observes a recording session with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. As famous as he is, Talese disappears when describing the two singers, playful with each other as they perform, once again a fly on the wall for the reader's enjoyment. --Noah Cruickshank, adult engagement manager, the Field Museum, Chicago, Ill.