59 pages • 1 hour read
Ann PatchettBel Canto
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2001A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Ann Patchett’s novel, Bel Canto, a group of international guests celebrating at the Vice President's mansion in an unnamed South American country are taken hostage by a group of young, Indigenous terrorists after a performance by American soprano Roxanne Coss. As the prolonged standoff unfolds, the hostages and captors form unexpected bonds, transforming their harrowing circumstances with music and human connection. The novel includes a depiction of a hostage situation and its associated psychological stress, graphic violence, and sexual harassment.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Patchett's Bel Canto receives acclaim for its lyrical prose, rich character development, and the profound exploration of art's transformative power amid crisis. Critics praise its elegant narrative, though some find the pacing slow. The novel's themes of communication and culture earn high regard, but its resolution leaves a few readers desiring more clarity.
Who Should Read Bel Canto?
A reader who relishes Bel Canto by Ann Patchett is likely to enjoy character-driven stories with a mix of suspense and lyrical prose. Fans of García Márquez's Love in the Time of Cholera and Martel's Life of Pi will appreciate the blend of human relationships, artistry, and a nuanced exploration of captivity.
318
Novel • Fiction
Unnamed South American country • Contemporary
2001
Adult
18+ years
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