BEL CANTO by Ann Patchett

Where to start with Bel Canto by incomporable Ann Patchett? This is my fourth Patchett novel in 15 months and she is clearly becoming a favourite author for me. I was warned that Bel Canto would be one I would love, and that advice was not wrong.

Where to start with Bel Canto by incomporable Ann Patchett? This is my fourth Patchett novel in 15 months and she is clearly becoming a favourite author for me. I was warned that Bel Canto would be one I would love, and that advice was not wrong. I’ve been consumed by this novel while reading it and since finishing it.

I deliberately went slowly (which was hard to do because I didn’t want to put it down) because I did not want this book to end.

It’s the story of a birthday party for a Japanese businessman, Mr Hokosawa, at the home of the Vice President of an unnamed South American country. The party hosts more than 200 people and is taken hostage by a group of guerillas. The story is one of the hostages and guerillas as they get to know one another over the period of time they are captive. It has action, love, crime, friendship, culture and politics. There is something for everyone amongstthese characters, as you’d expect at a party of international dignitaries.

Bel Canto is, like Patchett’s novels are, a character driven story, rather that a plot line which twists and turns. That’s not a style for every reader and it not always a style I enjoy, except in Patchett’s hands. I loved these characters and I have missed learning more of them since I finished reading this book a couple of days ago. I envy those read this for the first time from now on - it is such a wonderful experience tor read.

It’s hard to know what to write, but if you’ve read this one, you’ll know. And if you haven’t - please do. It’s an absolute gem and I am now a committed devotee of Ann Patchett - if I wasn’t already!