Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award • Winner of the Orange Prize • National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist
“Bel Canto is its own universe. A marvel of a book.” —Washington Post Book World
New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett’s spellbinding novel about love and opera, and the unifying ways people learn to communicate across cultural barriers in times of crisis
Somewhere in South … learn to communicate across cultural barriers in times of crisis
Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country’s vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honor of the powerful businessman Mr. Hosokawa. Roxanne Coss, opera’s most revered soprano, has mesmerized the international guests with her singing. It is a perfect evening—until a band of gun-wielding terrorists takes the entire party hostage. But what begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different, a moment of great beauty, as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different continents become compatriots, intimate friends, and lovers.
Patchett’s lyrical prose and lucid imagination make Bel Canto a captivating story of strength and frailty, love and imprisonment, and an inspiring tale of transcendent romance.
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Stupid plot. Unrealistic ending. Wasted time.
After several months of starting and stopping with a series of lackluster books (highly hyped current novels) I was craving a real good read. Bel Canto satisfied! Ann Patchett’s earlier novels are far superior to the latter ones and this certainly didn’t disappoint with its wonderfully developed characters and subtly developing storyline. Throw in …
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, perhaps more so as an opera singer myself and one whose fach and repertoire match the heroine. Fascinating story, based on true events.
I have read all of Ann Patchett books and loved every one of them.
This is just one of those great books. I think I checked almost every adjective /descriptor. It is such an original story with a unique setting and plot. I just loved it.
I’ve come very late to the party. Many people have read and loved this book. I’m not, actually, drawn to stories about terrorist kidnappings or true-love romance or true-love romance that happens in a terrorist kidnapping. Somehow that summary of this novel put me off for years. But now I join the other admirers. This is well-written, bittersweet, …
I liked this book very much. The characters were well drawn and the story was very realistic for our times.
Pretty tedious to me. Took too long to get where it was going and, when I got there, I didn’t care.
Superb
Top notch character development and dramatic situation loosely based on real events.
The ending is not realistic or satisfying
This was my first Ann Patchett book. I hold all her others up to this one. Some measure up, some do not.
I love Ann Patchett’s writing but I’m not sure I like the ending of this one. Not a great explanation of how things developed. However, Ann Patchett is always worth the time.
beautifully and elegantly written
A gentle, life-affirming book that’s very much not your standard hostage drama thriller. Great descriptions and a wonderful sense of what draws us together as human beings, be it shared experiences, the love of learning, or most of all, the love of music.
One of my favorite books.
Outstanding book
One of my favorite books! One of my favorite authors! Loved the story – very original!
Lyrical prose, delicate handling of growing relationships among the characters, the sense of hope and joy that builds gradually—even as it is obvious that the idyll must end.
Maybe her best book, although it is hard to choose. A gifted writer.