Learn how to Bel Canto
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Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country's vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honor of Mr. Hosokawa, a powerful Japanese businessman. Roxanne Coss, opera's most revered soprano, has mesmerized the international guests with her singing. It is a perfect evening -- until
… More »Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country's vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honor of Mr. Hosokawa, a powerful Japanese businessman. Roxanne Coss, opera's most revered soprano, has mesmerized the international guests with her singing. It is a perfect evening -- until a band of gun-wielding terrorists breaks in through the air-conditioning vents and takes the entire party hostage. But what begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different, as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different countries and continents become compatriots. Friendship, compassion, and the chance for great love lead the characters to forget the real danger that has been set in motion and cannot be stopped.
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When terrorists seize hostages at an embassy party, an unlikely assortment of people is thrown together, including American opera star Roxanne Coss, and Mr. Hosokawa, a Japanese CEO and her biggest fan. 318p.
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Add a QuoteAll of the love and the longing a body can contain was spun into not more than two and a half minutes of song, and when she came to the highest notes it seemed that all they had been given in their lives and all they had lost came together and made a weight that was almost impossible to bear.
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Add a CommentBel Canto has a well-imagined, intriguing premise, but it very quickly devolves to an insipid romantic fairy tale. Where Patchett could go for the jugular--engaing with questions of politics and class and human connection--she instead cultivates an almost saccharine love story. The one thing I'll say for her is that she writes some gorgeous sentances.
Makes you laugh and cry. You know it can't end well, and yet you hope it will have a happy ending. Spoiler alert: it doesn't end happily.
What a wildly different novel! Our club devoured this and had much discussion afterwards. if you're looking for something contemporary and different, give this a try.
Frankly, I found the premise of the story completely unbelievable. The nicest terrorists in the world capture the most obedient hostages ever and we're supposed to be surprised when it all goes to hell after pages and pages of operatic boredom? Everyone is too naive to exist.
The premise of this story is totally unbelievable and is a misleading and dishonest depiction of a hostage situation. This is not a case of Stockholm syndrome - the relationships are based entirely on the personal with no hint of the political. This is an unworthy winner of the Orange Prize.
Magical realism one critic wrote and I thought the description apt. Fascinating book, great read!
Read this during vacation, quite enjoyed it, and was sorta surprised by the ending
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I didn't know much (anything?) about opera, and you don't need to. It has the feel that, if you told someone the premise, they would say "That would never happen!"; yet, when you read the book you end up feeling that it MUST be based on a true story. I particularly liked the two Japanese characters. If you appreciate beautiful writing, you will enjoy this book.
varied characters. but too sugar coated.
A spectacular and beautiful book; Ann Patchett 's writing is very emotional and suspenseful as she tells the story of the beautiful opera singer who, along with perhaps a hundred other people, is taken hostage by local guerrillas. The story happens within the confines of a grand house in an unnamed country. Patchett brings to life many, many interesting and arresting characters.