Rating: 
Summary: Back to the River Kwai, but in song
Review: I chose to read this book because it won the PEN/Faulkner Award and The Orange Prize (for women writers), along with being a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, not to mention that it received the raves of numerous book critics across the nation (hardly the novelist's relatives). I was not disappointed. It was not until I reached the end and closed the book that I realized I had the same feeling I had after watching the movie, Bridge over the River Kwai. There was the danger posed at the beginning and then the same helpless, claustrophobic feeling of captivity, followed by a period of cooperation and growing respect between captor and captive that could only end in disaster because outside forces would eventually intervene. But in Ann Patchett's wonderful opus, instead of two nationalities there are many. And females are among the captives and captors this time, which naturally brings on love stories. The true magic of the book is the author's talent in getting into the heads, and hearts, of so many of the characters. Motivation drives characterization, and it is fascinating how Patchett is able to locate the driving force in each of so many diverse captors and captives. Of course, they are all captives, really, since the captors themselves are also contained within the walls of their own conquest, giving the book a Russian doll irony. When the opera singer adds her voice to the mix, I was reminded of another fine book, "Shadow Song" by author Terry Kay, in which an opera singer also mesmerizes a whole town. "Bel Canto" is Italian for "beautiful singing." And the book is a beautiful song. I read Bel Canto after reading The Girl With The Pearl Earing by Tracy Chevalier, which centered on a famous work of art. It has been a pleasure to read two books back-to-back where art and music formed the core. Normally I don't enjoy reading books by women, I am reluctant to admit in public, but these two books have been two of my most most enjoyable reading experiences...ever.
Rating: 
Summary: Under developed and disappointing.
Review: I was really excited to get this book after reading the great reviews. However...it just dragged on and on. I simply could not connect with the characters. I just didn't care about them. The author has a beautiful style of writing, but lacks the ability to fully develop the characters in this book. The plot was thin and could have been written by anyone. Perhaps if I was an avid fan of opera I might have enjoyed it more. Many parts were just a bit over the top of reality. I could believe a translator who fluently spoke five languages, but when Gen speaks in eight or more, that strikes me as a bit far-fetched. I finally made it to the end, only to be disappointed again. That type of ending would have happened realistically within the first week or two. But 4 1/2 months later?? It was a very disappointing book from a very talented author.
Rating: 
Summary: Love Music; Love Literature; liked this book.
Review: Based on the reviews, awards, and the back-cover, I thought this book would be fantastic. The writing is good - it's not the most brilliant turn of a phrase as many of these reviews are claiming - it's just good, sometimes very good. The plot is ridiculous, but it's fiction! You need to suspend reality a bit when reading fiction - that's half the point. It's a fun read, well-written, with good character development. It's not going to show up in any modern literature classes anytime soon, but it's good escapist fun.
Rating:
Summary: Quite amazing really. A beautiful, beautiful book.
Review: Nominally about a kidnapping in an unnamed South American country, a description of the plot really tells you nothing of the story. In fact, the story really doesn't matter. This book is about the beauty of the English language, and how in the hands of a master (or mistress), words can draw upon your deepest emotions. It's also the kind of book that makes you realize that you can never be a writer, because your own sentences are pallid and flat by comparison. Trust the many great reviews of the book and read it for yourself. You won't be quite the same afterwards. You'll look at your wife or husband with a little more love, you'll find yourself browsing the opera aisle, fingering a CD or two and thinking about taking the plunge. Most of all, your own life will seem a little more urgent. The fragility of it once again reinforced. Most of all, you'll feel alive. And isn't that what the best fiction is about?
Rating:
Summary: Got me from the start
Review: This book engrossed me from the start and I could not put it down. Although this book is about a group of hostages and their trials, the story is about something completely different. Lovely and well written, I highly recommend it. I strongly disagree with other readers who thought it was over rated.
Rating: 
Summary: Subtle and intriguing
Review: There is a flair in this work that compels the reader to look into the minds and hearts of the best and worst of us. We are shocked at how everyone in the book is so deeply human. A touching but remarkably light read.
Rating:
Summary: WOW- so amazing
Review: WOW. This was such a great summer reading book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it on the train home everyday. I will have to admit, though that the first part of the book was the most exciting and sort of went down a small hill from there. But even with that decline, Ms. Patchett kept me interested all the way through. It is not a heavy book, nor one that makes you think but it is simply a great light, summer reading book that will be hard to put down. Did I say "WOW??"
Rating:
Summary: opera bouffe
Review: This is a masterpiece, but I do not want to scare prospective readers because it is a light-hearted one. Roxanne Coss is an opera star. She is loved. People have all of her recordings. Katsumi Hosokawa had eighteen performances featuring Roxanne Coss. A birthday celebration is arranged in another country and Roxanne Coss is to perform. Mr. Hosokawa has his employee and translator, Gen Watanabe, attending his party too, along with Ruben Iglesias, the vice president of the country. President Masuda fails to attend at the last minute. The party is overrun by terrorists. Mr. Hosokawa bears a terrible burden of responsibility. All of the people came for his birthday. The hostage that pained him the most was Roxanne Coss. She had been brought to this dismal jungle to sing for him. Roxanne Coss is sure she will escape. Simon and Edith Thibault have been sent to the host country, the country they referred to as a God forsaken country, to assume a diplomatic post. Edith sees that the terrorists do not seem to be in a hurry to kill the guests. A representative of the International Red Cross shows up. Two priests are among the guests. One is a very young priest who was put on the guest list for the party through the machinations of a favorite cousin of the wife of the vice president. He is an opera lover, but knows it only through vinyl. The hostage-takers seek to release the women, the workers, and the priests, (the young priest refusesd to leave), to the Red Cross representative. The name of the group is Familia de Martin Suarez. Mr. Hosokawa had never even considered bringing his wife to the country. As the women file out, Roxanne Coss is told to wait. The accompanist is dying. The young priest gives him last rites. The accompanist dies from diabetic coma--he had needed insulin. The hostage-takers develop a fondness for the Red Cross representative. The hostages are given food and begin to move around more easily. Some of the men are slated to leave to reduce the number of people remaining. Mr. Hosokawa is grateful for all the Spanish he is learning. Previously he had failed dismally with tapes. The house yields lots of interesting things to the hostage-taker teenage soldiers. The guests, hostages, of many nationalities talk about overpowering the soldiers. Two of the soldiers are girls. Roxanne Coss remains in captivity since she is considered a big fish. Gen finally finds a man who can play the piano. All of the hostages use Gen for translating and the generals, leaders of the hostage-takers, use Gen as a secretary. They like waking him up in the middle of the night to take down dictation of their demands in the negotiations. When Messner, the Red Cross representative, leaves there is a lingering sadness in the house. One of the generals feels the hostages are like terrible children, always wanting more for themselves. A box of music is delivered. Negotiations are stalemated. Adequate food is being sent in. The French ambassador oversees the cooking of the meals for fifty eight people. Some of the soldiers assist in the slicing and dicing since they are in possession of the cutlery. The sticking point in the whole thing is the growing reknown of Roxanne Coss. There is a fear that any action jeopardizing her safety will bring down the government. Messner tells her she is making Callas look like a spear carrier. The hostages are being held in the official residence of the vice president, and he busies himself cleaning and tending the guests in the manner of a competent concierge. The Frenchman reads ONE HUNDRED YEARS IN SOLITUDE in Spanish. He says it will take him forever, but he has the time. Gen says that being kidnapped is like attending a university.
Rating:
Summary: Overrated
Review: Lured into buying this book by all the positive reviews, I was greatly disappointed after reading it. The plot line could have been taken from any cheap thriller, the characters remain strangely flat and underdeveloped, and the references to opera music could only be classified as pretentious and superficial. If you are looking for good writing rather than plot driven melodrama you are better off reading Jonathan Franzen, Jeffrey Eugenides or Michael Chabon.
Rating:
Summary: What Beautiful Music Can Do!
Review: I got a copy of this book at the airport on my way to visit my family, thinking it was a good way to spend countless hours on airplanes or waiting for them.... Well, after finishing reading it on my way back, I must say it is an almost excellent read. I liked the way the characters gradually change in front of your eyes with the turn of each page -- you discover aspects in each of the characters you never thought possible just a few pages before. It is fascinating the way the music AND the singing moves the characters and the reader (I must say I cried a few times while reading this book -- many passages moved me so). I cannot wait long enough for a movie AND a soundtrack of this book, perhaps with Renée Fleming as the main character. Now, the second part of this review is not positive for the epilogue really does not go with the rest of the book (luckily it is only a few pages long). What a downer! Just get rid of that awful epilogue and I will give this book 5 stars!
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