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Ann Patchett: Bel Canto (Paperback, 2002, Harper Perennial) 3 stars

PerfectBound e-book exclusive: "Friendship and Love," an interview with Ann Patchett.A prolonged hostage crisis in …

Review of 'Bel Canto' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

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.