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by: Ann Patchett  List Price: $13.95 Amazon.com's Price: $11.16 You Save: $2.79 (20%)Prices subject to change. Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Binding: PaperbackDewey Decimal Number: 813 EAN: 9780060838720 ISBN: 0060838728 Label: Harper Perennial Manufacturer: Harper Perennial Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 352 Publication Date: August 01, 2005 Publisher: Harper Perennial Release Date: August 02, 2005 Studio: Harper Perennial Related Items:
Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display Editorial Review: Amazon.com Review: In an unnamed South American country, a world-renowned soprano sings at a birthday party in honor of a visiting Japanese industrial titan. His hosts hope that Mr. Hosokawa can be persuaded to build a factory in their Third World backwater. Alas, in the opening sequence, just as the accompanist kisses the soprano, a ragtag band of 18 terrorists enters the vice-presidential mansion through the air conditioning ducts. Their quarry is the president, who has unfortunately stayed home to watch a favorite soap opera. And thus, from the beginning, things go awry. Among the hostages are not only Hosokawa and Roxane Coss, the American soprano, but an assortment of Russian, Italian, and French diplomatic types. Reuben Iglesias, the diminutive and gracious vice president, quickly gets sideways of the kidnappers, who have no interest in him whatsoever. Meanwhile, a Swiss Red Cross negotiator named Joachim Messner is roped into service while vacationing. He comes and goes, wrangling over terms and demands, and the days stretch into weeks, the weeks into months. With the omniscience of magic realism, Ann Patchett flits in and out of the hearts and psyches of hostage and terrorist alike, and in doing so reveals a profound, shared humanity. Her voice is suitably lyrical, melodic, full of warmth and compassion. Hearing opera sung live for the first time, a young priest reflects: Never had he thought, never once, that such a woman existed, one who stood so close to God that God's own voice poured from her. How far she must have gone inside herself to call up that voice. It was as if the voice came from the center part of the earth and by the sheer effort and diligence of her will she had pulled it up through the dirt and rock and through the floorboards of the house, up into her feet, where it pulled through her, reaching, lifting, warmed by her, and then out of the white lily of her throat and straight to God in heaven.Joined by no common language except music, the 58 international hostages and their captors forge unexpected bonds. Time stands still, priorities rearrange themselves. Ultimately, of course, something has to give, even in a novel so imbued with the rich imaginative potential of magic realism. But in a fractious world, Bel Canto remains a gentle reminder of the transcendence of beauty and love. --Victoria Jenkins Product Description: Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country's vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honor of the powerful businessman Mr. Hosokawa. Roxanne Coss, opera's most revered soprano, has mesmerized the international guests with her singing. It is a perfect evening -- until a band of gunwielding terrorists takes the entire party hostage. But what begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different, a moment of great beauty, as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different continents become compatriots, intimate friends, and lovers. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - A Song of LoveAs winner of the PEN/Faulkner award, Ann Patchett's Bel Canto possesses beauty, lyricism, and elegance. From the first page, the author commanded my attention and held my interest. The plot wasn't one that enthralled me as I read the back cover of the book; yet, I could not cease reading once I opened this treasure. Beyond her sophisticated style--a captivating song itself--Patchett's talent lies in her ability to challenge our preconceived notions, our prejudices. Had the final scene ... Read More Rating:  - Loved the book, just not the endingI thought that Bel Canto was beautifully written. It's an original, elegant novel about a group of strangers held hostage by a group of kidnappers. I thought that the characters were excellent. The plot moved well, and the writing was just fantastic. My only gripe has to do with the last three pages, which I felt weren't realistic. I won't spoil anything, though. Rating: - Awesome! You won't be able to put it down!This small book is a wonder - a beautiful character study and a story that grabs you from the first sentence. The author's attention to detail is wonderous, yet the story never bogs down. I loved it all, but must agree with some reviewers that the ending was a bit of a let-down. High recommendation for book discussion groups. Rating: - Almost spectacularFor me this was one of those books where the story did not match the brilliance of the writing. That opinion, however, may have been influenced by the fact that, just as I began reading, someone gave me a very good idea what to expect at the end. It's hard to know how I would have felt about the story without that unwelcome advance knowledge (Spoilers should have their mouths taped shut!!). The writing was indeed beautiful, and the story was compelling, but there were a few parts that seemed ... Read More Rating:  - Such a disappointing readI am an avid reader; currently living in an unnamed South American country. I could wax poetic about the beautiful writing and character development in this book, but let's be honest. I was reading it on a nine-hour flight without another option, otherwise this book would have been passed over quickly. It took numerous attempts to even keep going. It was unrealistic, superficial and I feel the ending was disrespectful to the people who made it that far. It was unbelievable and I feel the author lost ... Read More 
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