Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

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.

Without the demands of the world to shape their days, life on the inside becomes more beautiful than anything they had ever known before. At once riveting and impassioned, the narrative becomes a moving exploration of how people communicate when music is the only common language. 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.

Ann Patchett has written a novel that is as lyrical and profound as it is unforgettable. Bel Canto engenders in the reader the very passion for art and the language of music that its characters discover. As a reader, you find yourself fervently wanting this captivity to continue forever, even though you know that real life waits on the other side of the garden wall. Bel Canto is a virtuoso performance by one of our bestand most important writers. It is a no novel to be cherished.

Average Customer Rating:

Rubbish	Customer Rating:
Page 15 - "Instead he listened to Maria Callas sing a collection of Greek songs on his Nansei headset, ...." Exactly when did Callas record these little Grecian treasures? John Ardoin certainly makes no reference to them is his terrific book "The Callas Legacy" Flung Bel Canto out the window with disgust at page 15 as unresearched rubbish. Obviously written by a philistine.

A Song of Love

Customer Rating:

As 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 at Ruben's home taken place in the second chapter, I honestly would have rejoiced. However, through her gradual character development, I found myself opening my heart to new characters--just as the individuals in the book welcomed others into their hearts and families. I admired Carmen for her newfound confidence and love of learning; I appreciated Beatriz's unexpected kindness; and I applauded General Benjamin's orders to take the captives outdoors. These characters overcame all odds--fears, language barriers, and confinement. Reaching out to others for companionship, they also learned to love something new about themselves. Ruben took pride in menial work; Roxane taught her skill to another; and Cesar found his voice. And, of course, some found love in the most unlikely places and people. Like many others, I found the epilogue needless. Not only was it unexpected, but it did not further my understanding of the new lives of the characters. Yet, I forgive Patchett; I savored each word before the epilogue, and I must accept those four pages as part of it. If I take something from the ending, I take hope. Life goes on, and so does the love that grew in an unlikely place. These relationships--these lives-- will be remembered. This was an unforgettable story--both tragic and heroic. I highly recommend this book.

Loved the book, just not the ending	Customer Rating:
I 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.

Awesome! You won't be able to put it down!	Customer Rating:
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.

Almost spectacular

Customer Rating:

For 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 just a bit too preposterous and the ending was too abrupt for my taste (no spoilers here!). For one thing, I think she would have been better off focusing on fewer characters and developing them a bit more. Still, I would recommend this book without reservation to those who love contemporary literary fiction. I will certainly read more of her books.