Bel Canto
3 journalers for this copy...
BOOK RING: This ring is currently open. Members are as follows (if you wish to join, please PM me and I will add you!):
How it works:
Amazon Review
In Ann Patchett's Bel Canto, an unnamed South American country, a world-renowned soprano sings at a birthday party in honour of a visiting Japanese industrial titan. Alas, in the opening sequence, just as the accompanist kisses the soprano, a ragtag band of 18 terrorists enters the vice-presidential mansion through the air-conditioning ducts. Their quarry is the president, who has unfortunately stayed home to watch a favourite soap opera--and thus, from the beginning, things go awry.
Among the hostages are not only Hosokawa and Roxanne Coss, the American soprano, but an assortment of Russian, Italian and French diplomats. A Swiss Red Cross negotiator named Joachim Messner is roped into service while on holiday. He comes and goes, wrangling over terms and demands, and the days stretch into weeks, the weeks into months.
With the omniscience of magic realism, Ann Patchett flits in and out of the hearts and psyches of hostage and terrorist alike, and in doing so reveals a profound, shared humanity. Her voice is suitably lyrical, melodic, full of warmth and compassion. Hearing opera sung live for the first time, a young priest reflects:
Never had he thought, never once, that such a woman existed, one who stood so close to God that God's own voice poured from her. How far she must have gone inside herself to call up that voice. It was as if the voice came from the centre part of the earth and by the sheer effort and diligence of her will she had pulled it up through the dirt and rock and through the floorboards of the house, up into her feet, where it pulled through her, reaching, lifting, warmed by her, and then out of the white lily of her throat and straight to God in heaven.
Joined by no common language except music, the 58 international hostages and their captors forge unexpected bonds. Ultimately, of course, something has to give, even in a novel so imbued with the rich imaginative potential of magic realism. But in a fractious world, Bel Canto remains a gentle reminder of the transcendence of beauty and love.
- CaterinaAnna
- with lindaj07 since 13 July 2006
- stalled: all ring members after this point will receive a different copy of the book (watch this space for details; thanks, tabby-cat-owner!
- soulbalmUSA:
- UTdaisy - TX
- atnaturesmercy - NJ (ships US/Can)
- Satnam - NH
- mlbishBack to me
How it works:
- If you wish to be added to the list, please PM me with your details.
- We will kick off once we have 5 members.
- You will be sending the book to the person who appears after you in the list, so you need to PM them to get their address!
- It's not a race, but please read and send the book on as speedily as you can, other people are dying to read it too.
- Please journal the book once you have received it (so we all know where it currently is) and again when you have read it (so we know what you thought of it!)
- If you're the last person on the list (i.e. we run out of members) the book comes back to me until there are more interested parties...
Amazon Review
In Ann Patchett's Bel Canto, an unnamed South American country, a world-renowned soprano sings at a birthday party in honour of a visiting Japanese industrial titan. Alas, in the opening sequence, just as the accompanist kisses the soprano, a ragtag band of 18 terrorists enters the vice-presidential mansion through the air-conditioning ducts. Their quarry is the president, who has unfortunately stayed home to watch a favourite soap opera--and thus, from the beginning, things go awry.
Among the hostages are not only Hosokawa and Roxanne Coss, the American soprano, but an assortment of Russian, Italian and French diplomats. A Swiss Red Cross negotiator named Joachim Messner is roped into service while on holiday. He comes and goes, wrangling over terms and demands, and the days stretch into weeks, the weeks into months.
With the omniscience of magic realism, Ann Patchett flits in and out of the hearts and psyches of hostage and terrorist alike, and in doing so reveals a profound, shared humanity. Her voice is suitably lyrical, melodic, full of warmth and compassion. Hearing opera sung live for the first time, a young priest reflects:
Never had he thought, never once, that such a woman existed, one who stood so close to God that God's own voice poured from her. How far she must have gone inside herself to call up that voice. It was as if the voice came from the centre part of the earth and by the sheer effort and diligence of her will she had pulled it up through the dirt and rock and through the floorboards of the house, up into her feet, where it pulled through her, reaching, lifting, warmed by her, and then out of the white lily of her throat and straight to God in heaven.
Joined by no common language except music, the 58 international hostages and their captors forge unexpected bonds. Ultimately, of course, something has to give, even in a novel so imbued with the rich imaginative potential of magic realism. But in a fractious world, Bel Canto remains a gentle reminder of the transcendence of beauty and love.
'caught' - or more precisely passed on - at the Uncon. One of several ring/ray books collected, that I will read in descending order of the number of people following, so this is second up after I finish the current (chunky) read.
Journal Entry 3 by Caterinaanna from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 11, 2006
OK, so Stocklholm syndrome has been done before, but I am glad I read this book. The various relationships shifted and developed gently which made them more credible and I particularly liked the description of the French diplomat falling in love with his wife again when forced to spend time with her.
The events of the epilogue were a surprise: although comprehensible, I'm not sure I'd bet on the future of those involved ...
Ready to go to lindaj07 when I get her details.
The events of the epilogue were a surprise: although comprehensible, I'm not sure I'd bet on the future of those involved ...
Ready to go to lindaj07 when I get her details.
Bel Canto arrived today. Looking forward to reading it and passing it on as soon as possible... Looking forward to it!!
Sent lindaj07 a little nudge to get the book moving again...
Sent lindaj07 a second little nudge to get the book moving again...
