Rating: 
Summary: Heavy Romanticism Helped by Fine Writing
Review: There is no disputing the pull of Bel Canto, the acclaimed novel by Ann Patchett. The book grabs the reader from the start and never quite lets go. The author lets one know, to some extent, the ending (and, for all intents and purposes, I am ignoring the off-putting eqilogue which feels tacked on and just simply wrong) so it is not entirely suspense that carries the reader along. Instead it is the wonderful world view the author creates. As many have suggested, it is an anti-Lord of the Flies in that this forced separation from society at large brings out the best, in often surprising ways, of both the hostages and terrorists. This sunny side of life tale-telling can get a little too romantic for my taste at times but the wonderful writing helps ease the way along and prevents it from becoming heavy or burdensome and creates a very powerful, hopeful view of the world. A very pleasant novel to escape into for a while.
Rating:
Summary: A good try
Review: Bel Canto was a fun read. It had an excellent premise, but sort of lost touch with reality near the end of the book. It just feels like it runs out of steam. Near the beginning of the book, she's developing the characters and the themes, and then near the end, she realizes that it can't go anywhere, and ends it. Still worth a look; I enjoyed it.
Rating: 
Summary: MODERATELY BEAUTIFUL SONG
Review: i read a few of the customer reviews here and was surprised by the number of all-out raves (five stars) and the number of low-down pans (one star), but, having just finished the book, i can understand both reactions. during the first 200 pages, it was a book i looked forward to finishing more than a book i looked forward to reading. the story itself was just so ridiculous, as ridiculous as the libretto for an opera, i suppose. during the last 100 pages, however, i started to read the book for what it is, i think: an allegory about the possibility (and the importance) of escaping the world (and politics) through beauty/art/music. i love that idea so much (and even more in better novels like THE HOURS) that i softened the one-star review i planned to write.
Rating:
Summary: Great story, mediocre ending, seize the moment to love!
Review: Ann Petchett's Bel Canto is about seizing the moment in life and making the best out of the most adverse situation. In the vice presidential mansion of a South American country, a lavish birthday party is being held in honor of Mr. Katsumi Hosokawa, chairman of the prestigious Nensei Corporation in Japan. Mr. Hosokawa takes up the invitation (despite turning down a dozen similar ones) to a birthday party thrown by people whom he barely acquaints with in a country thousands of miles away from home only because Roxanne Coss, the most revered soprano in opera, will perform at the dinner party for a price that is considerably more than the entire cost of the rest of evening. While the elegant American soprano mesmerizes her international guests with arias, a band of armed terrorists break into the ballroom from air-conditioning vents and in a split of a second divide up and take the whole party into hostage. After all the women, children, workers, and the sick are released, 58 guests including the soprano remain in the mansion while the terrorists maintain a standoff with the government which adamantly refuses to meet the terrorists' demands to free political prisoners. To my surprise, the standoff turns out to be something I never expect-having kept such close quarters for so long (almost five months), the guests and the gun-wielding terrorist forge a bondage, if not friendship, that later evolves into a seize-the-moment romance, an overnight chess game, a vocal lesson on singing opera, and a hostage-against-terrorist soccer tournament. Guests from different continents befriend with one another and become compatriots despite the language barrier. Gen, Hosokawa's personal translator who speaks all the Anglo-Saxon and Germanic languages in addition to several Asian tongues, plays a key role to bring these people together and clarifies any misunderstanding (speakers of different languages do get on the wrong foot sometimes) as all conversations, important or paltry, urgent or laid-back, have to go through him. Gen, though does not belong to the rich-and-famous elite group of diplomats and business gurus, immediately deems the most crucial member of the hostage as he takes the responsibility of a secretary and serves as the bridge between the terrorists and the guests. As the rule of thumb I will not give away the story but the novel has in store unpleasant surprises. This novel, which fictionizes the 1996 Tupac Amaru takeover of the Japanese ambassadorial mansion in Lima, Peru, explores the state of mind and the changing attitudes of the hostage in a siege that spans almost six months. Some might have deemed the book unrealistic but not until a closer look at the characters are we able to make out what motivates the characters to forget the real danger that has set in motion. For Hosokawa, it's the re-discovery of the true meaning to love. His relationship with his wife has been nothing but a form of efficiency. He cannot even be sure if it is love between him and his wife, who serves as an attentive wife and a caring mother. Music, not his family nor his business, is the mark by which Hosokawa gauges his ability to love. Love imbues in him the courage to seize the moment to pursue the love of his life (which I will not give away). For Gen, it is Carmen whom he teaches English and Spanish and eventually with whom he falls in love. For Roxanne Coss, it is Caesar whom she teaches how to sing opera and Carmen whose hair she brushes in the morning. For the vice president Rebuen, it's the reminiscence of his family, the second chance to live his life, to appreciate the lush garden with its verdant shrubs and the velvety leaves, to come home early and spend time with his children instead of walking through dark silhouettes of plants into the house late at night from his civil responsibilities. For Simon Thibault the French ambassador, it is his reaffirmation of his love for his wife Edith. For the Russian businessman Fyodorov, it is the meaning of giving kindness. It seems very sarcastic to me that in this house where they are confined and stripped of their freedom, the guests begin to reach the essence and truth of life. Caesar has yet to show the slightest hint of finding the edges of what he is capable of, that he is finding the depths in singing. Maybe true life is indeed something that is stored in music. And true love is only revealed when you really get to know someone. While Patchett paints the story with impeccable details and anecdotal records of the individuals involved, I'm not resolved with many questions. What has happened to the President who says he will attend the party but cancels at the last minute? Has he known of the terrorists' attack? Why does it take the government three months to send the first imperative letter to the terrorists? While these questions still whirl through my mind the book has taken a sharp turn and has rushed into an abrupt ending that leaves me quite disappointed. Patchett tries to sew all the threads together in the epilogue but the effort has only downplayed the beauty of the novel she has meticulously created. 4.0 stars.
Rating:
Summary: A pleasure, although slow at first
Review: I wanted to read this book for a while and had very high expectations. I found the book to be very slow in the beginning. At first I didn't care what happened to the characters, but that changed around page 100. It took me about a week to get through the first 100 pages and a day for the remaining 200. What I loved about this book was the evolution of the terrorists. They varied in their intelligence, talent and ambition, like any cross section of society. What was different about them was the conditions in which they lived and the things they were exposed to. Some of the terrorists had worlds open up to them through this experience. Others chose to sit in front of TV. It was interesting how they got under the skin of their hostages. I loved how they ended up coexisting and even thriving in harmony. When they went out on the grass I wished I was with them. I have no problem with the ending. The epilogue was a surprise, but I was able to digest that as well. This book was well written and gave me plenty to think about. Anyone who can trudge through the frist 1/3 will be rewarded.
Rating:
Summary: Opera not the operative factor
Review: While opera provided the structure and the background, opera did not in and of itself effect the changes in the characters of Bel Canto . People were transformed because they had the time, the space and the invitation to step out of their rather narrowly defined roles, calling forth untapped gifts and insights. People who not only spoke linguistically different languages but lived equally alien lives came to see that in truth there were countless similarities and opportunities to tell and to connect their stories. As other reviewers mentioned, the story line was predictable, the resolution unsurprising. But the same can be said about every opera, Greek or Shakespearean tragedy. Maybe a better title would have been "cantus firmus" ~ that fixed melody of the human condition around which the different elements were brought into play. My greatest regret about the book came from the way it tapped into my ongoing frustration with the truth that as a society we are so unwilling/unable to put aside our illusions and delusions so that we can really honor the goodness that is within each human being. Given the current state of the world, with its emphasis on economic gain, social status and power, it was a timely read.
Rating: 
Summary: This novel held ME hostage!
Review: I loved this book, and I couldn't put it down. It was a beautiful confluence of fascinating plot, intriguing characters, and rich descriptions. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I do love opera, and though I am no expert whatsoever, I have had the transforming experience of hearing Ruth Ann Swenson sing Gilda in Rigoletto at the Met (very similar to Mr. Hosokawa's own childhood experience in the book!), so I could relate to the role music played to the hostages and terrorists in the story. I also noticed some of my fellow reviewers were disappointed with the ending, but I honestly can't imagine what they expected instead. Of course it played out tragically. These situations almost always end tragically in real life. If Ms. Patchett had written a happy ending it would have been utterly ridiculous and unbelievable. I even found the epilogue poignant and credible -- I think people who endure such an experience inevitably gravitate toward one another for understanding and validation. I am thrilled this novel has received the critical acclaim it deserves, and I hope it also is widely read and appreciated.
Rating:
Summary: I expected more...
Review: Looking at the many awards listed on the cover page, I think I started to expect a bit too much from this book. Not to say it was bad - I thoroughly enjoyed the opera references, and learned a lot in that subject area - but there were certain parts that I just felt were complete let downs. I was annoyed at what I felt were cliche and somewhat-melodramatic romantic relationships, the climax was beyond disappointing, and the epilogue made no sense whatsoever. But for good parts...It was a quick read, and though I had an idea about the ending, I still found myself eager to see what happened. The characters were well-drawn, and I found myself picking favorites; I liked their little nuances and personal stories. Overall, I don't regret reading it, but I don't think I will be picking it up any time soon.
Rating:
Summary: Sadness and hope
Review: I just finished Bel Canto and I am filled with so much sadness yet so much hope for the world. I wish the hostage standoff had not ended as it did yet I still feel so much compassion for the hostages and the terrorists, alike. They formed a community within the walls of the house, finding common ground in so many unexpected places. I love this book and recommend it to anyone who is thinking right now about our world and how we can come together, instead of being torn apart.
Rating:
Summary: Bel Canto
Review: This is a beautifully written, smooth read. I got lost in it. I cared about the characters and could not put this book down. It has wonderful thoughtful sentences and a very original plot. I am not an opera fan but I enjoyed it immensely. It's a study of people in a microcosm and how they relate when their normal lives are completely turned upside down and they are able to discover parts of themselves that they were not able to explore in their usual worlds. This is an amazing, unforgettable book.
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