Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Bel Canto- Book Review

Bel Canto Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
A botched kidnapping attempt of a South American President, at a lavish birthday party for a Japanese business man, results in an unlikely hostage situation.

I really enjoyed soaking up every word of this book slowly and thoroughly. It is written so well and every part had some little detail I didn't want to miss.

I loved the relationship between the hostages and the terrorists and how it evolves over the months they are together in the grand house of the vice president. I loved how the music works as a way to communicate feelings and resolve tensions. Such a beautiful and tragic love story. How could anything good come out of a hostage situation? I imagined this as a movie directed as only Robert Altman could, in the manner of Gosford Park.

4/5

New Classics Challenge

4 comments:

  1. I've got to make a point of reading this one next year-maybe for the Library Challenge. It's one I've wanted to read for a long time. Glad you enjoyed it.

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  2. I enjoyed every page of this book until the ending, which slightly disappointed me. But I would still recommend this book to readers.

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  3. Matt: Yes, it was so abrupt and shocking. The epilogue was a bit off, too. Is that the part you meant?

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  4. Matt and Mari—you capture my response precisely. It seemed a hurried ending to a story so thoroughly well crafted.

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! :)