Monday 2 April 2012

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

In an unnamed South American country, a world-renowned soprano sings at a birthday party in honour of a visiting Japanese businessman. In the opening sequence a group of 18 terrorists enters the vice-presidential mansion, they are after the president who has stayed home to watch a favourite soap opera and thus things go awry.

The hostages are made up of an assortment of Russian, Italian and French diplomats as well as the Opera singer and the Japanese business man and as the days stretch into months a couple of surprising love stories blossom within the house.
Bel Canto has quite an unrealistic, far-fetched plot but Pratchet does somehow make it work, the unnatural and pressured situation the characters find themselves in does make their decisions and their love stories believable. The story shifts constantly from the hostages to the terrorists and after a while the line between them becomes more and more blurred. What is happening outside the house is not mentioned and their only contact with the outside world is a great character in the more and more wary and exhausted red cross man.
The novel is very well written and is told in an elegant, unhurried and easy manor. Reviewers do quibble about the ending but I was ready to accept whatever ending the author was prepared to give me.
Overall I didn’t love Bel Canto but I did enjoy reading it and I cared what happened to the main characters (on both sides)
Posted by Jess

7 comments:

  1. I didn't dislike Bel Canto, but it is my least favorite of Patchett's novels. Have you read any of her other books? My favorite is The Magician's Assistant, with State of Wonder second.

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  2. Honestly, this one has never really appealed to me, but I'm glad you enjoyed it :)
    I'm reading State of Wonder soon for the Orange prize longlist.

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  3. Jess,
    I've heard many people express that they just didn't care for this one and is one reason I haven't taken the plunge. I loved State of Wonder, so may visit it at some point. I think I'll pick up The Magician's Assistant first.

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  4. I didn't dislike it either, I think you have captured the essence of it well in your review.

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  5. I have been meaning to read this one for years after my mom and cousin raved about it! I am not sure I'll ever get to it though. The plot description doesn't interest me at all.

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  6. I'm not a fan of this book and thought it was rather ridiculous, which is why I'm always stunned when someone mentions it as one of their all time favorite books. Really? I don't get it.

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  7. I'm not a fan of this book and thought it was rather ridiculous, which is why I'm always stunned when someone mentions it as one of their all time favorite books. Really? I don't get it.

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