Bel Canto: A Novel
4 journalers for this copy...
Given to me by my MIL.
** Update 12/1/2004 ** Reserved for Crimson-Tide as part of a RABCK Wishlist relay
** Update 12/1/2004 ** Reserved for Crimson-Tide as part of a RABCK Wishlist relay
A great book about human bonding in difficult situations.
Sending off to Crimson-Tide as promised.
** 1/18/05 ** OOPS! I thought I had already mailed this one off but I found it in my car yesterday. Mailing off today!
Sending off to Crimson-Tide as promised.
** 1/18/05 ** OOPS! I thought I had already mailed this one off but I found it in my car yesterday. Mailing off today!
Journal Entry 3 by 
crimson-tide
from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Monday, January 31, 2005
crimson-tide from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Monday, January 31, 2005
Caught safely today in my post box. Thank you very much alsgal for this RABCK.
I shall apologise ahead of time that it may take me a while to get to this one, as there is a longish queue, but don't worry, it will be read and journalled.
Amazon.com's Best of 2001:
"In an unnamed South American country, a world-renowned soprano sings at a birthday party in honor of a visiting Japanese industrial titan. His hosts hope that Mr. Hosokawa can be persuaded to build a factory in their Third World backwater. 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 favorite soap opera. And thus, from the beginning, things go awry.
Among the hostages are not only Hosokawa and Roxane Coss, the American soprano, but an assortment of Russian, Italian, and French diplomatic types. Reuben Iglesias, the diminutive and gracious vice president, quickly gets sideways of the kidnappers, who have no interest in him whatsoever. Meanwhile, a Swiss Red Cross negotiator named Joachim Messner is roped into service while vacationing. 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 center 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. Time stands still, priorities rearrange themselves. 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."
"Bel Canto" is a beautifully written story of unlikely love and secret desires. Do not be put off by the barebones plot--a group of people at a party taken hostage by South American terrorists. And do not think you are in for a routine "put a bunch of strangers in a room and then learn their life stories" sort of saga. Patchett gathers together a group that spans nationalities, professions and class and reveals the hidden depths, sometimes in a few short pages, through their interactions with each other."
Such a wonderful book - I just loved it! Very beautifully written, it shows how a diverse group of people can communicate in so many ways other than with words. It shows how people can find love and compassion, and even find their true selves, in the most unlikely circumstances. It shows the beauty and power of music.
My only quibble is with the epilogue, in that it didn't really hang there comforably.
But overall . . . a great read.
Update September 2011: Reserved for the OZ VBB.
Journal Entry 5 by crimson-tide at Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Friday, November 4, 2011
crimson-tide at Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Friday, November 4, 2011
Chosen from the box by Carole888. Will send off next week.
Journal Entry 6 by crimson-tide at Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Sunday, November 6, 2011
crimson-tide at Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Sunday, November 6, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (11/7/2011 UTC) at Balingup, Western Australia Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off on a short road trip with a friend. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Carole.
Journal Entry 7 by Carole888 at Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Thank you so much crimson-tide!! It has arrived safely. I've always wanted to read this. Will let you know how it goes.
Adding (Finally read in Aug 2020!) Oh nooooo! I kept it for so long. I can't believe how time has flown by. I have so many books to get to .... am so glad that I finally read this. It was a beautiful read. I was immersed and quite surprised at how my feelings were affected right up till the end. Loved it!
Adding (Finally read in Aug 2020!) Oh nooooo! I kept it for so long. I can't believe how time has flown by. I have so many books to get to .... am so glad that I finally read this. It was a beautiful read. I was immersed and quite surprised at how my feelings were affected right up till the end. Loved it!
Journal Entry 8 by Carole888 at Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, December 24, 2020
Released 3 yrs ago (12/15/2020 UTC) at Perth City, Western Australia Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This is travelling on it's way to the other side of Australia. Hope you'll enjoy it. Its quite different from the other book we read this year (Dutch House) ... will be interested to see what you think. Merry Christmas!!! xxx
Thanks, Carole888, for sending this to me along with so many other goodies for Christmas - I actually think I have a copy of this somewhere but I know I haven't read it. I read the Dutch House earlier this year thanks to your recommendation so looking forward to reading this too. Thanks again! :)
