Bel Canto

De: Ann Patchett

Narrado por: Anna Fields

Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award • Winner of the Orange Prize • National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist • New York Times Readers’ Pick: Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

"Bel Canto is its own universe. A marvel of a book." —Washington Post Book World

New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett’s spellbinding novel about love and opera, and the unifying ways people learn to communicate across cultural barriers in times of crisis

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 gun-wielding 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.

Patchett's lyrical prose and lucid imagination makeBel Canto a captivating story of strength and frailty, love and imprisonment, and an inspiring tale of transcendent romance.

Good Book...Believable Characters

I enjoyed this book very much. The story line was unique and the characters were all very believable. The reader was appropriate to the story...completely objective whether speaking from the point of view of the terrorists or the hostages. All in all a very good listen!

romantic and inspiring

This was a little different for me but I am glad I stumbled onto it. The poem at the begining set the stage for a wonderful mix of love and tragedy. I am sure others would love it as I have. I will read it again.

Fascinating and haunting

Although there were parts of this book that seemed to move too slowly, I was glad I persevered. In fact, I got up in the middle of the night to listen to the last hour and a half.

Although the ending of the book (epilogue)might seem to wrap up a little too neatly and conveniently, there actually was a tragedy in my own community that 'ended' much the same way. While I think I might have enjoyed something more complex in terms of a resolution to this story, the book was still a very good read, and I enjoyed it immensely.

If you become interested in opera after listening to this book, check out the print edition. In the back of the book, the author addresses how her own interested in opera developed, and she includes specific references.

I waited too long for action

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Did not like being told how it was going to end and then waited a long long time for the 2nd shoe to fall.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It should have been a shorter book

Have you listened to any of Anna Fields???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, she is great as usual.

Any additional comments?

I did love the characters, flawed and quirky.

Well worth your time!

A really good story. The author develops each character completely and puts you inside their head. The emotions are developed and palpable! You can't wait to see what comes next!