Rating: 
Summary: vivid characters
Review: Ann Patchett's style, which is demonstrated vividly in Bel Canto, is very engaging. The book, although having no definite climax or even a very eventful plot, can't be put down. The deep and twisting love stories which flow from its pages were enough to keep the book entertaining from cover to cover. At the beginning of the novel we are introduced to the characters one by one as they enter the vice presidents house for Mr. Hosokawa's birthday party. Roxane Coss, the opera singer, immediately becomes the interest of the novel. The men in the story come from many different backgrounds, although very different they come together in this novel for their love of music and inevitably Roxane Coss. Soon after the terrorists take the party hostage the books' plot begins to slow down. Although we learn alot about the characters in the book the novel moves nowhere, day after day they are stuck in the house together while the reader learns more about them and watches as their differences slowly melt away.Without action packed pages one might think this book is waste of money but within the pages there is something even more interesting to read, the building of relationships. There are many friendships that form between terrorists and prisoners alike but the most interesting of these are that of forbidden love. Roxanne Coss and Mr. Hosokawa have an open but controversial relationship. Roxanne, the love of all the men in the house, sees Mr. Hosokawa differently than the rest of the men because he shares her love for music. Mr. Hosokawa is a married, older, Japanese-speaking man. They communicate only through a young translator named Gen, but their love is guided mainly by their passion for music. In the beginning of the novel, Gen is an overlooked character and known merely for his translating abilities. He seems dry and very mechanical; this changes when he begins to fall in love with one of the two female terrorists named Carmen. Their love is a secret because of the different sides they represent and almost becomes a parallel of Romeo and Juliet. These two love tales, along with an excellent twist in the end, allow Bel Canto to claim it's title as an outstanding novel. Instinctively on starting the novel the readers hate the terrorists and pray for the prisoners' release, but as the book progresses one develops almost an understanding and sympathy for the terrorists. This tactic suggests the idea that there is good in all of mankind, a very controversial topic, especially now around the time of September 11. Characteristics like this explain why Patchett was awarded the Pen/Faulkner Award for this work. Memorable characters and childlike tales of love make Bel Canto a noteworthy book. Although the plot moves slowly the book is interesting and the lethargy of the story line is easily overlooked. For readers who enjoy a quick read filled with vivid characters, this is an excellent choice.
Rating: 
Summary: The Universal Language
Review: Music is the universal language and Ann Patchett proves in 'Bel Canto' that she knows how to speak it fluently. The book opens with the "other" universal language: a kiss. But I won't give the details away. The Vice-President of an unnamed South American country is throwing a birthday party for a wealthy Japanese businessman. Why? The Vice-President is hoping that businessman Hosokawa will build one of his businesses in this poor South American country. But Hosokawa has no such interests. He attends the party only because his favorite soprano, the world-renowned Roxanne Coss, will be present to sing. The recital/party is literally shattered by the invasion of a group of terrorists who take the entire house hostage until their demands are met. Hosokawa's secretary/translator, a young man named Gen, steps forward to help negotiate with the terrorists. Between the terrorists and the guests, several languages are present: English, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, German, and more. Since Gen can speak them all, he becomes the official spokesman for just about everyone. 'Bel Canto' is all about two things: Communicating and the power of music. Patchett takes a wide assortment of characters and shows us how much they really do have in common as they are linked by soprano Coss and translator Gen. But the book is about much more... Patchett's imagery is so stunning and so fresh, you almost feel like you are right there in the middle of the action, hearing several languages and, of course, the music. 'Bel Canto' superbly explores the things that we hold precious in our lives: love, friendship, loyalty, honor, courage, committment, and duty. Ann Patchett has given us music that literally reflects our own lives. Some readers have said that the progression of events in 'Bel Canto' is too unrealistic and far-fetched. I don't think so. Everything happens in 'Bel Canto' for a purpose and if you allow its events to soak in, I think you'll find an incredible story and maybe a lesson or two on what it is to be human. Highly recommended. 318 pages
Rating:
Summary: If music be the food of love...
Review: Spellbinding! Ann Patchett's "Bel Canto" employs a hostage-taking in an unnamed South American country as a departure point for one of the most original and affecting romances I've read since Michael Ondaatje's "English Patient." As the story begins, Roxane Coss, America's most beloved soprano, has been invited to perform at the home of the country's vice president in order to lure an opera-mad Japanese CEO into opening a factory there. No sooner is her performance over when the house is stormed by revolutionaries, who lay siege to the house for weeks and months to come. As might be expected, such captivity promotes the unlikeliest of alliances... To say more would be to spoil what follows. Suffice it to say that, much like the character of Roxane Coss herself, Ann Patchett exhibits such facility with her art as to extract all of the beauty and insight from this ludicrous, unappealing, and frankly unromantic scenario. Upon reading the first fifty or so pages, skeptics (myself included) will doubt whether Patchett can sustain her high-concept high-wire act to arrive at a suitable finish. They needn't worry; this is altogether an amazing and amazingly-written book. Brava!
Rating:
Summary: Fairy tale or just a fantasy?
Review: A third world country in South America with hopes of drawing investment dollars decides to throw a birthday party for wealthy Japanese businessman, Mr. Hosokawa. To lure him to the party Roxanne Coss, opera diva is performing. Because Mr. Hosokawa is enchanted by Roxanne's voice and presence, he cannot miss the opportunity to see her in person. Local revolutionaries also see this as an opportunity to force the President to release political prisoners. Unfortunately they did not consider the president's addiction to his favorite soap opera. The president declines to attend this very important party, and hands the duties of host to his vice president. So starts Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. It is not so much a book about revolutionaries and terrorists as it is an examination of human frailties in times of stress. It examines how the Stockholm Syndrome might work with music acting as a magic wand to break down conflicts and boundaries between hostages and kidnappers. The vice president's mansion works as an enchanted castle which the party-goers dwell in suspended animation. Within the book are romances that are so perfect and innocent that they remind the reader of the fairy tales of childhood. Can this fairy tale continue when the prisoners leave the enchanted castle? Throughout the book there are indications of things to come. Patchett deftly creates interesting characters that the reader begins to care about. There is Gen, Mr. Hosokawa's assistant and translator, gifted at languages and a servant to his work ethic. There is Carmen illiterate villager and revolutionary who falls spell to the mansion and dreams of living there forever. Vice President, Ruben Iglesia finds his space as the perfect host, caring for hostages and hostage takers alike. One wonders is this likely to have happened? While the book mirrors events at the Japanese embassy in Peru several years ago, does it adequately explain what happened there or is it merely a fantasy. Does the Stockholm Syndrome work reciprocally for both hostages and kidnappers until the lines ultimately break down? Bel Canto is a book I enjoyed reading very much and I found myself falling under its spell.
Rating:
Summary: Novel based on a real incident...
Review: Joined at the hip with nothing in common not even in language (that is except for the love of music and opera) fifty-eight international hostages and their captors form unexpected bonds and feelings for one another, as the weeks slowly turn into months during the talks for the hostages release. "BEL CANTO' remains the one true reminder of the beauty in love. Rich in worded imagery so colorful one can almost hear the music being sung, "Bel Canto" by talented writer Ann Patchett delivers another wonderful story based on a real incident! "BRAVA" Ms. Patchett on no-doubt another Best-Seller...
Rating:
Summary: Literary Opera
Review: Once in a blue moon, a novel comes along that sings such a beautiful song that one must stop and listen. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett is one such novel. Even its title, which means beautiful song, suggests of the beauty and magic found within this book.
The story begins with much fervor and excitement. It is the birthday of Mr. Hosokawa, the CEO of a very large Japanese electronics corporation and a small, poor country in South America is throwing him a birthday party in hopes that he will build a plant there, bringing in much-needed jobs. Mr. Hosokawa is not interested in going to this affair at all, but in hopes of enticing him to come, they have hired Roxanne Coss, an American soprano that has taken the opera world by storm. Hosokawa, an opera buff since he was a young boy, agrees to attend in order to hear Ms. Coss in a more intimate, live setting. The lavish gala brings people from all over the world to scope out any business opportunities and to hear Ms. Coss sing. After her final song, the electrical power to the vice-presidential mansion is cut and men with guns flood the house and order the guests around. The realization slowly begins to sink in... they are being held hostage by terrorists. The terrorists herd the people with their guns to use the bathroom and in the midst of all the confusion and chaos; the accompanist for Roxanne Coss goes into insulin shock and dies. This sets a very heavy mood for the rest of the night as people are forced onto the carpet for the night.
The morning brings some relief when it is announced that the infirm and the women are being allowed to leave but all the men plus Roxanne Coss must stay in house. Ever so slowly, the days begin to pass and the house begins to settle into a routine, albeit one under hostage conditions. The beauty of the house and its surroundings with its distinguished guest starts to seep into the atmosphere. Love between hostages and hostages and captors begins to blossom. As the weeks pass, the rules become less and less harsh as the terrorists begin to realize that their demands will never be met and their best bet is to go down with a fight and in the process become a folk hero.
The ending of the novel ends as these types of novels must end, even though as a reader, you do not want it to end as it is supposed to end. You want these characters to stay in this house, because they learn so much about themselves, about each other that you want these characters to live out their hopes and dreams after the standoff is over.
One of the aspects of this novel that really stood out was the dream-like quality that permeates the novel. Even though the hostages spend several weeks in the house, it seems that they are only there for a few days. In some small way, it is magical realism. It is not traditional magical realism, the kind of story in which supernatural beings and doings are considered normal, like something you would read from House of Spirits by Isabel Allende. Rather, it is the aspect of this place, almost suspended from time and the real world outside that gives its magical quality. But, like politics, art and love, it cannot promise anything, nor can it last for any length of time because it is so magical.
It is this same magical quality that can allow over 60 people to live in one living room for almost three months without killing each other. In some ways, it shows its answer to the basic question of human decency and whether humans are basically good or not. It is a great irony that this almost utopia was created by being held hostage. Patchett shows that humans can have the ability for great love and compassion, but also that they have the capabilities for great suffering and violence. She doesn't give any pat answers, but like any good opera it is bound to be a romantic and tragic, yet lyrical plac
Rating:
Summary: terrorists as--GASP--people!!
Review: I loved this novel. Her writing is angelic, and her story so relevant today when we are--forever--at war with terrorism--or just terror as W likes to say. While I generally dislike love stories as irrelevant and difficult to believe, these love stories are neither. Because they occur in a single moment in time, a time outside of the real world, they are absolutely believable. That's the only kind of romantic love that exists--short-lived. Because they show us terrorists who are real people, confused, frustrated, poor, and desperately in need of understanding, these stories are more relevant than the daily talk show blather. I'd recommend it to anyone with an open mind and heart, and a delight in beautiful writing.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Books I have ever read
Review: I loved this book. I just finished it today and although, as many people have pointed out, the ending leaves one puzzled and unfulfilled, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. I would recommend it to everyone. The author writes an intriguing tale that draws the reader into world of the book. Each character is amazingly real, full of beauty and truth. This book is about so much more than opera; it is about art, humanity and self. It is one of the best books I have every read. A lovely and touching novel.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely Start to Finish
Review: In this book, Patchett creates a beautiful microcosm, a world outside the world, in which all that is best about human beings flourishes. Even as the complex network of friendship and loyalty and affection and love is woven, the reader knows that it cannot survive. Like the hostages themselves, we get barely a glimpse of what is happening outside the mansion where the hostages are held captive, yet we know plans must be underway for a "rescue" (despite the fact that most of the hostages no longer want to be rescued). It takes just three and a half pages to bring the whole lovely world down. It's brilliantly done, especially the epilogue, which is so accurate about how these terrible things happen and, unbelievably, luckily or horrifically (I'm not sure which), the world goes on. Even the survivors are nudged on to other things, even on to other loves. Unlike others who've written here, I think the epilogue, with its necessary letdown, is perfect. The dream world created by the hostages and terrorists, and held together by opera, cannot be sustained, yet it hints at the possibility of transcendence, even if it has to be momentary.
At the end, one of the survivors says (about the opera singer): "When I hear Roxane sing I am still able to think well of the world....This is a world in which someone could have written such music,a world in which she can still sing that music with so much compassion. That's proof of something, isn't it?" Yes, I think it is.
Rating: 
Summary: Repeat After Me: Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
Review: I thought at first I had a wonderful book, a blend of lyricism, love of music, and romance. Then the absurd happened. The plot plodded along. I felt bludgeoned by the repetition of everything in chapter after chapter. Uggh. Life is too short to read this stuff. If you want something in a whole different class and a hundred times better, read "An Equal Music," by Vikram Seth.
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