Bel Canto

By: Ann Patchett

Narrated by: Anna Fields

Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

“Blissfully Romantic.... A strange, terrific, spellcasting story.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Bel Canto...should be on the list of every literate music lover. The story is riveting, the participants breathe and feel and are alive, and throughout this elegantly-told novel, music pours forth so splendidly that the reader hears it and is overwhelmed by its beauty.” (Lloyd Moss, WXQR)

“Glorious.” (The New Yorker)

Ann Patchett’s award winning, New York Times best-selling Bel Canto balances themes of love and crisis as disparate characters learn that music is their only common language. As in Pratchett’s other novels, including Truth & Beauty and The Magician’s Assistant, the author’s lyrical prose and lucid imagination make Bel Canto a captivating story of strength and frailty, love and imprisonment, and an inspiring tale of transcendent romance.

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©2001 Ann Patchett (P)2001 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

• 2002 Orange Prize for Fiction
• Book Sense Book of the Year Award Winner, Paperback, 2003
• PEN/Faulkner Award Winner, 2002

"Patchett can be counted on to deliver novels rich in imaginative bravado and psychological nuance. This fluid and assured narrative...demonstrates her growing maturity and mastery of form." (Publishers Weekly)
"Mixing art and politics can have unexpected results, but rarely are they so poignant....[Anna Fields'] performance is the essence of Bel Canto, easy, pure of tone, with an agile, precise vocal technique." (AudioFile)

Mesmerizing! A bit surreal.

What made the experience of listening to Bel Canto the most enjoyable?

The narration is quite dreamy, omniscient voice seems impossibly hard to do well, and it works here. Everyone is kind of floating through this crazy, insane traumatic event. I really found I couldn't stop listening, even though I kept wondering why I was so compelled.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bel Canto?

The unraveling that finally--after so much tension has built up in the small space they all inhabit--happens. The climax.

Which scene was your favorite?

The way the chips fell. Except the epilogue was quite cheesy and could be removed entirely from the book and do no one any harm.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did feel emotional at the end, after all that time invested in these people whose lives are so weirdly intertwined in this stalemate for so long, in such close quarters.

Wow. Just Wow!

This is not a topic or storyline that I would normally choose, but I recently finished (and enjoyed) Commonwealth so I thought I'd give it a try. I am SO glad I did. Enjoy this one, folks. It's beautiful and sad and wonderful all at once. I dare you not to love it.

beautiful literary fiction<br />

Patchett has a wonderfully nuanced eye for life and ear for language. And this is a perfect reading. Brava!!!

Anna Fields can do all accents!

The narrator was my hook with her perfect diction in so many languages.
Then the idea of an entire book about hostages "somewhere" in South America was hard to imagine holding my attention. How wrong was I? The descriptions are lyrical. The characters interacting in so many languages with one translator was daunting. But it so worked. The love that bloomed was surprising when you tried explaining the characters to others. But as they unfolded, it made perfect sense.
Now I can't wait to read every book Ann Patchett has written. She obviously loves the perfectly worded narrative. I plan to seek out articles and interviews to understand her genius. Treat yourself, you won't regret it!

Should have been categorized as a fantasy fiction.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. It's a story about a terrorist take over of a politician's home. While I've never been in that situation it is known that terrorists create terror. This is a fantasy of terrorists who love opera, can pick up chess brilliantly by just watching a few games, of women who after months of being held hostage still are able to maintain hair that smells of lemons. There's plenty of food, no rape and torture, no murder.

What could Ann Patchett have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I think the focus was much more on writing over lush sentences rather than telling a story with a ring of truth.

What does Anna Fields bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Perfectly narrated.

Lovely

It was a lovely winding together of words and lives. It made you want to look up the main character in hopes of a you tube video.

Loved this!

Everything about this book was wonderful. Thrilling and full of beautiful detail and description. I was fully engaged from beginning to end.

Rich Complexity of Humanity

A story of how a beautiful singing voice amongst a long drawn out hostage situation transformed or reawakened all involved. From the very poor seeking justice, realizing unknown potential or the affluent faced with fear then a renewal of personal purpose, this story has many facets. I enjoyed it. The symbolism is rich in areas. Started slow but its complexity finally grabbed me to finish it. The reader did a great job expressing emotions especially for the Russian character. I liked some of the characters. The opera singer I felt behaved as though she was always on stage. Because of this her character was captivating but least likable in my opinion.

It starts out slowly, but stick with it

Ann Patchett's style reminds me of an old master painting. She starts with the grounding, and then gradually adds the lights, the darks, and the mid-values. Ultimately, after many semi-transparent layers, an intricate and beautiful image emerges. You will fall in love with the characters and the story.

I Wish I could give it Ten Stars

After listening to "The Dutch House" I asked a friend what other Ann Patchett books I should listen to. Without hesitation or even taking a breath, she said, "Bel Canto." This book is great on all levels. The story. The MORAL of the story. And hands down one of the best readers ever, Anna Fields! It showed me that we all have a niche in any situation. We all have a place despite the challenges we face. What a profound story, enhanced by a brilliant narration. Kudos to all. Don't hesitate to listen to this one.