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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
This was an unusual story about a hijacking of a party involving hostages. The standoff lasts months, causing a Stockholm syndrome that works both ways. At times I felt the story dragged on, but mostly I found it quite a pleasure to read, and it left me emotionally invested in the story by the end. I'd recommend it!
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am fairly late to the Ann Patchett book lover party but am happy to have eventually made it. I loved Run, liked State of Wonder, and was delighted by Bel Canto. For me, this was a perfect vacation read that is escapist without being shallow. I don't know the first thing about opera but I have a feeling that I will be seeking out opportunities to get some exposure to it.
Love and respect to my opera heads, but I did not enjoy Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. This novel, about a large hostage situation conducted by terrorists in an unnamed South American country, has an intriguing premise, some really beautiful passages, and some interesting characters and themes, but it was such a slog for me to get through. I respect Ann Patchett's writing style, which really takes its time describing everything in extreme detail with robust metaphors, but it was too much for me. In college, my thesis advisor told me to cool it with the mixing of metaphors, and now I finally understand why he told me that. The bombastic and beauty-focused language is cool sparingly, but in bulk it feels like a scattershot of images to the point of numbness.
I can recognize that this book has objective merit and a lot to offer for somebody willing to dig in, particularly if they believe in the healing and unifying power of opera. However, for me, who doesn't give a damn about opera (except for the fact that it has a popular "phantom" associated with it), I just couldn't really give it my patience, especially because, despite its dynamic premise, doesn't really get interesting until halfway through the book as its characters' relationships really start to cement.
Alexa, play my "Kendrick-Drake Beef" playlist in chronological order, please.
I can recognize that this book has objective merit and a lot to offer for somebody willing to dig in, particularly if they believe in the healing and unifying power of opera. However, for me, who doesn't give a damn about opera (except for the fact that it has a popular "phantom" associated with it), I just couldn't really give it my patience, especially because, despite its dynamic premise, doesn't really get interesting until halfway through the book as its characters' relationships really start to cement.
Alexa, play my "Kendrick-Drake Beef" playlist in chronological order, please.
I was only going to give this 4 stars at first, but what the hell its a new year and I really enjoyed this book. I adore Ann Patchett (if you liked this at all go read Commonwealth right now!!) because I think she understands simplicity like few other authors - legitimately almost nothing happens in this book until the very end and i never wanted to put it down. This book has a huge cast of characters, yet every single one feels incredibly real and relatable. It really managed to bring out the beauty in even the dullest and most frightening circumstances. Its so full of love of all kinds, i especially appreciated the strength of platonic bonds - they were valued equally to the romantic which is unfortunately not something i see often. I also adore a good tragedy - and this is the best they come. The impossibility of the thing is so present throughout the novel that its just this constant game of suspending disbelief, you know how it has to end just from reading the synopsis but somehow it doesn’t matter at all. Its almost shakespearian in that way - even the characters know whats coming, and even though it feels avoidable theres nothing to be done about it.
I only have two criticisms: first of all that not naming the country this was based in and fleshing out the guerillas motives made the first part of the story feel like it was missing something, secondly the epilogue felt very random: i suppose it make sense but it was just too short to seem worth it.
All in all though, I really loved this book - despite how much I usually avoid romance.
I only have two criticisms: first of all that not naming the country this was based in and fleshing out the guerillas motives made the first part of the story feel like it was missing something, secondly the epilogue felt very random: i suppose it make sense but it was just too short to seem worth it.
All in all though, I really loved this book - despite how much I usually avoid romance.