Bel Canto

Rating:
Summary: The reader of this audio book detracts
Review: I heard great things about this book from friends, but the reader, Anna Fields, detracts from the story. Her voice is too strident, making it difficult to enjoy (or judge) the writing.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable light reading
Review: This book was an enjoyable read. Very romantic setting and some beautiful imagery. I have to concur, however, with a number of other reviewers that it took quite a bit of suspension of disbelief to get into the story.
From some reviews I had read, I also had the expectation of a deeper book that would be beautiful while maybe exploring some serious ideas, but was disappointed. It was much better written than most "fluff" novels, but never went very deep.
If you're looking for a fun book that would also make a good popular movie, you'll probably enjoy this one. Just don't expect anything all that serious (or believable).

Rating:
Summary: Enthralling...
Review: This book brought you to another place. It was a gift of learning and experiencing something you would not normally know.
I almost wanted a sequel. I couldn't let go of the characters when it was done.
Someone told me this was based on a true story - if so, perhaps there is more to the story.

Rating:
Summary: What a story!
Review: BEL CANTO by Ann Patchett

One of the more unusual books I've read lately, BEL CANTO by Ann Patchett takes place in an unnamed South American country during a hostage situation. Its tale is one that will have the reader shocked, and surprised. It is definitely not what I had expected, but I liked it a lot better than I had thought I would.

The premise of the story is a highly important businessman from Japan, whose business this South American country needs desperately, is flying out from Japan to celebrate his birthday. The enticement to bring him here is a very famous opera singer that is the obsession of this Japanese man, Mr. Hosokawa. The opera diva is named Roxanne Coss, and together they become the focal point of this book.

During the middle of the birthday party, where the guests are dressed in black ties and fancy dresses, terrorists appear out of nowhere to take the President hostage. What the terrorists failed to verify is that the President was nowhere to be found. Instead, he was at home watching his favorite soap opera. (The terrorists later on acquiesce that this was highly understandable, as the soap opera was going through some interesting story line that had the entire country riveted. Of COURSE the President would rather be at home instead of this boring party! Who could blame him?)

Instead, the terrorists find the Vice-President at their disposal, but they want the President. And they refuse to release anyone until the President is presented to them. But now they have this hostage crisis on their hands and too many hostages to deal with. It is a nightmare for these terrorists and it's the start of one blunder after another that leads the hostages into a four-month living arrangement along with the terrorists at the house of the Vice-President, whose house was used for this elaborate party.

BEL CANTO was a finalist for the NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD as well as the winner of the Pen/Faulkner Award, and was deservedly so. Patchett writes a story that does not follow the news stories of our day. It is almost unbelievable of what happens to these hostages, the lives they lead for the four months they are held prisoner. Yet I found the ending shocking and true to life. She pulls the reader in, making us believe in one ending, when it's another that happens. I highly recommend BEL CANTO. It will most likely appear on my top 30 list of books read in 2004.

Rating:
Summary: Blah
Review: This novel was unbelieveable for me. I loved the translator's character and his lover/girlfriend. But everyone else in the novel falling in love like this is some 1960's protest - just ridiculous. All these hostages are in love - ridiculous. It is like Love Actually - all the stories by themselves would be good for a movie but all together - too much - unbelievable. Especially this book - all under a terrorist situation - not happening.

Rating:
Summary: Hogan's Heros updated
Review: The soft, sentimental terrorists of Bel Canto are so much like the inept, bumbling Nazis of the old tv show Hogan's Heros that I'm expecting a tv serial to be made from this book!

The turning point in relations between terrorists and hostages comes when the famous soprano, Roxanne Coss, belts out a famous Puccini aria. How many of you readers are familiar with that beautiful aria, "O Mio Babbino Caro?" There are a number of sites on the internet that have the entire aria (don't miss the last two lines that are often omitted). Sarah Brightman's web site has the words in both English and Italian. Listen to it a few times and you will find yourself with tears rolling down your cheeks.

The book is a bit slow and not too believable, but enjoyable as a light read (just like Hogan's Heros). The marriage between translator Gen and soprano Coss at the end of the book was incongrous, but there were enough insights into marriage and life to keep my interest to the end.

Rating:
Summary: Bel Canto in Slow Motion
Review: Very slow mid portion of book. A stretch to imagine this really happening - a fictionalized account of a real event (the embassy take over in Peru or Chile). A few gems in the first chapter. SLowwwwwwww!

Rating:
Summary: Delightful read
Review: A delightful story that I couldn't put down even though I know nothing about Opera!

Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing, actually
Review: While I can read those reviews that are negative, and on an intellectual basis see their point(s), the book itself was mesmerizing for me.
There are so many fine, small gems of observation--about love, work, family, time, and more--that resonate with me still. Whatever one's take on the plot, the book is worth reading for those quiet bits of wisdom.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written, meaningless story
Review: Was taken immediately by the beauty of the prose. Ann Patchett is a literary craftsman of the highest degree. Her descriptions are unmatched. However, did not come to truly care about any of the characters. They did not seem real or fully realized. Also, the story takes strange, unsupported twists. Why does the opera star have an affair with the Japanese businessman? Why does she marry his assistant? None of it makes any sense. And after the storming of the performance by the terrorists, there is no action for page after page. It was a painfully difficult read toward the end; and it was a great disappointment that such a beautiful writer did not have a better imagination.