What readers think of Bel Canto, plus links to write your own review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this lyrical and wonderfully written novel. The theme of music is transmitted through the content and the form of Patchett's prose. The characters were well-developed, surprisingly so considering their number. Of course, a certain suspension of disbelief must be maintained when considering the plot, but (here's the music theme again) just act like you're at the opera (no one goes around singing their life story, right?). In the interview with the author, she describes this book as "operatic fiction" (not completely realistic). I think if you keep that in mind while reading you will be able to enjoy this novel as much as I did!

I agree that the picture of radical terrorists being won over by one woman singing a song from an opera (weeping, forgetting their mission, falling in love with her) is almost offensive. The political cause of the terrorists certainly is insipidly painted by Patchett - their committment to it is almost non-existent. Of course, we should remember that when Patchett was writing this, it was pre-9/11 and the idea of terrorists might have a more threatening quality now. What is shocking is how close to the actual events Patchett kept the story line - the hostage-taking, the long period of "negotiating" for a release, the involvement of a less radical group of Peruvian terrorists than some political groups there, the sympathy of the hostages for their captors, the participation in the terrorist group of two teenage girls, and the final outcome (at least, before Patchett chose to add that incongruous epilogue...Why do Americans continue to require such reassurances?) Patchett herself said that this book was "operatic fiction" - meaning, she did not try to make it entirely realsitic, she heightened certain elements into melodrama. But I thought it was a little saccharine. And the idea that only one person could speak English in a group of well-educated international businessmen and diplomats is just silly. You can't get out of high school in most countrys now without having taken a few years of English language instruction. You wouldn't get a good job in today's globalized business world without being fluent in it. Still, the book generated a good conversation among our book group members.

Boring, boring, boring. Please don't waste your time. This book had absolutely no tension in it. First graders learn that to write a good story they have to put tension in their story. It was also an unremarkable and unbelievable story. The ending was terrible and had no continuity with the rest of the story. It is also appalling that the author tried to make the TERRORISTS in this story warm, lovable and unfortunate folk instead of barbaric, hatemongers who kidnapped and terrorized people and held them hostage for four months. I'm sure that the real story of the hostage takeover in Peru is much more interesting than this poorly written romance nove.

I loved this book! I am not at all musical so I don't know how plausible the extreme effect of music on the characters is but the book is a beautifully rich look at a variety of individuals in a unique situation.

Charming, powerful, and lyrically written. I could hear the music, embrace the lovers, share the hopes of the terrorists, both individually and collectively. As I got closer to the end, I tried to devise a positive outcome for all. The brutal ending was inevitable.

I've only just finished this book and perhaps I should give some time and reflection before commenting on it, but no. I thought the book was beautifully written. Even scenes that held very little artistic importance such as the one when Gen is looking for someone to cook dinner and he says "This is your man" upon Simon's enthusiasm to make dinner. I don't know why, but that scene stopped me as so simple and beautiful after the complicated, uncomfortable and funny conversation about Roxanne helping with dinner.

Even though I know nothing of the Lima incident that inspired this book, I think you have to suspend your disbelief a bit about the whole hostage situation. I think in reality others might have gone off the deep end in the confinement, no matter how changed they were becoming. But this is a story and a rich one at that, and I can easily forget about what might happen or not. Though I have to say that I have read this only a week after the Theatre in Russia was taken over, and so many died, that it gives the story a deeper sadness an yet perhaps takes it even a bit more from reality for me.

I gave this book a 4 only because I never know when I will find a 5.

The book was a page-turner of no significance. It did hold one's attention most of the time, but the same story could have been told in half the number of pages. The outstanding part of the book was the description of the characters. For that alone, it is worth reading.

This was a wonderful book -- well written by Ann Patchett -- catching the true personalities of the characters. The situation described was unusual and captured your interest from page one! There was no second guessing the ending -- and you almost wished it would never end. A tale of intrigue, passion and humor -- it caught your attention made you want to "participate" yourself. By all means -- READ IT!