Bel Canto (P.S.) | Ann Patchett | Beautiful Writing, Captivating Story

Bel Canto (P.S.) | Ann Patchett | A MUST-read

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Bel Canto (P.S.)

	Bel Canto (P.S.) Ann Patchett Harper Perennial, 2005 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 590 reviews view larger image
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Beautiful Writing, Captivating Story

I loved this book. I didn't think I would though. I had to read it for a group book read and the topic, hostages, did not appeal to me. But this book is not about hostages at all. It's about who or what you would be if you were taken out of your present role and set free to revision yourself. The writing is beautiful, and Patchett's insights are spot on. I didn't want it to end.

A MUST-read

WOW. I loved this book, and I think you will, too.

In an unnamed South American country, government officials are throwing an elaborate birthday party for Mr. Hosokawa, the CEO of a vast Japanese electronics company. The officials are hoping to dazzle him into locating a factory within their borders, bringing jobs and prosperity to the nation. To lure Mr. Hosokawa to the party, an exclusive live performance by famed opera singer Roxana Coss has been scheduled. (Hosokawa is a huge opera fan, and Coss is his favorite soprano.)

The evening is on its way to a successful conclusion when a group of armed terrorists storm the party, looking for the country's president as a high-profile hostage. Unable to find him in the raid (he unexpectedly did not attend the evening's festivities), the terrorists are forced to concoct Plan B, which involves taking everyone hostage. This plan is eventually amended to trading the most valuable hostages (re: top government officials, diplomats from other countries, leading businessmen) in return for the satisfaction of the terrorists' demands.

As negotiations between the authorities and the terrorists drag on, the hostages (all type A personalities) begin to learn how to do, well, nothing. They form bonds with one another and get to know their captors. They look out windows. They leaf through magazines. They learn new languages, play and listen to music, and cook. The hostage situation becomes a rather unique vacation from their normal lives, and the characters begin to adapt to the situation.

A Japanese businessman surprises everyone with his talent for piano. One of the terrorists can sing, and the opera singer sets about teaching him proper technique. A French diplomat relishes his time in the kitchen, chopping up onions and roasting chickens for the assemblage. Some of the characters find love in one another's arms. Their time together becomes the beautiful song of the book's title. A time for reflection, beauty, love, and friendship. But it is also a time of forgetting. Everyone avoids thinking about how the situation must end and what the government will eventually do to force the hands of the terrorists and get the hostages released. Because, as both the characters and the readers know, all songs must come to a close.

I know it sounds like a far-fetched premise for a book, but you will love every minute of this story. The characters are wonderfully drawn, and Patchett's soaring passages about music and careful sketches of human relationships will leave you refreshed and inspired. Don't miss this one.

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Makes me want to go and listen to Opera!

I have been coming across Bel Canto for several years, either here at Amazon or through my local bookstore - and i always passed it because the story didn't appeal to me, i didn't want to read about terrorists taking over hostages in a house, but finally i caved in and bought the book. I read it in a few days. I loved it. It's about love and beauty and music - oh the music in this book makes you want to listen to Opera and classical music, just so you can capture the essence of what the writer is describing. If you are looking for something different to read, this is the book for you.

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Bellissimo

Bel Canto is a lyrical book about relationships and power and language and opera.

Set in an unknown South American country, a Japanese industrialist is there to celebrate his birthday, lured by the chance to hear a world renown opera singer sing just for his gathering. When terrorists break in to kidnap the President, and learn that the President did not attend the event, the story commences.

It's not strong on plot, but it does have beautiful descriptions and it was a lovely world to spend time in. I particularly liked the priest and his insights, and also how the various leaders were stymied by not having a common language, which made the one translator Gen, a man who would not otherwise put himself forward, a central character. My only quibble is that the ending, after such meandering, is too abrupt. I would have liked a different epilogue - either one with more detail or with a different resolution, but I did like the book very much. It's a keeper.

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Beautiful Wiritng Horrible Execution of "Plot"

This is a very hard book to review because as others have said .. The writing is so beautiful and lyrical and just sweeps you along. For that I give 3 stars. It was truly a pleasure to bask in.

The story ... A hostage taking ... is so very poorly done that it is actually silly! There is no tension. There is no feeling of doom or danger. There is no feeling of suffering. Nobody gets cabin fever and goes crazy and tries to escape and gets shot. Not even after months of monotony. The Russians are content to play cards for 4 months. I have no idea what the dozens of other people did day after day.

The general plays chess with one of the hostages. The opera singer gets lemon scented shampoo flown in, especially for her and opera music brought in for her and other special treatment.

I really lost it when Gen fell for Carmen.

It's like they are having a picnic basically and they all, hostage and terrorist become brothers. And then it's wrapped up in a slap dash ending. The terrorists don't even make a plan of escape after 4 months. ?
There are so many holes it is ridiculous. It could have been so much better. What a sham that this book won awards.

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