Paperback, 336 pages
English language
Published April 16, 2002 by Harper Perennial.
PerfectBound e-book exclusive: "Friendship and Love," an interview with Ann Patchett.A prolonged hostage crisis in the lavish home of a South American politician turns into something quite different as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and passionate, ill-fated love blooms. Winner of the 2002 Pen/Faulkner Award for Fiction and the 2002 Orange Prize for Fiction.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. …
PerfectBound e-book exclusive: "Friendship and Love," an interview with Ann Patchett.A prolonged hostage crisis in the lavish home of a South American politician turns into something quite different as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and passionate, ill-fated love blooms. Winner of the 2002 Pen/Faulkner Award for Fiction and the 2002 Orange Prize for Fiction.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.
I expected to like this much more than I did. If I remember correctly, it's an award winner, and quite popular. I wasn't wowed. However, I'm glad I read it, as we visited the indie bookstore Patchett co-owns in Nashville, where I purchased a signed copy of Bel Canto (and DH purchased a couple of other autographed books, one of which he's already enjoying)(and I picked up some fun book swag).
I expected to like this much more than I did. If I remember correctly, it's an award winner, and quite popular. I wasn't wowed. However, I'm glad I read it, as we visited the indie bookstore Patchett co-owns in Nashville, where I purchased a signed copy of Bel Canto (and DH purchased a couple of other autographed books, one of which he's already enjoying)(and I picked up some fun book swag).
I found Bel Canto heavy lifting: not because it's dense, nor has it a lot of pages, but I have scarce enthusiasm for it. A soprano is hired to perform for a Japanese businessman on a trade visit to a South American country. Enter eighteen gun-toting terrorists to hold them, the Vice-President of the country, and over a hundred others, hostage. Relationships happen, complications ensue. It's an award-winning, oft-reviewed book, but not one of its touted elements (theme, plot, characterization, supposedly some comedy) fires my curiosity.
