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phantomgecko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This character is ashamed of her cowardly husband; this character fell in love with art as a child; this character is in love with a coworker; this character is trying to use this situation for political gain.
It's a slow book. There's a plot, but often the plot doesn't matter. The characters do tho.
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual content, Confinement, and Gun violence
rosalind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
Moderate: Death and Medical content
Minor: Sexual content
agnesg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Blood and Kidnapping
Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, Medical content, and Violence
lalu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
It's one of those rare stories that take a long time to read without becoming boring or ending in a reading slump - it just felt right to read the 300-something pages over the course of a month instead of just a few days since the plot spans over several months. Which surprised me because hostage situations usually are a fast-paced thing that rarely take more than a few days. But this is not your typical hostage situation. This was the story of a bunch of people from all over the world with no common language building the most exceptional relationships.
The way the reader gets to effortlessly switch between different character's perspectives and thoughts was marvelous. I immensely enjoyed not having a protagonist and instead falling in love with and rooting for every character, regardless of whether they were a hostage or a captor, because they were all so human.
But I'm still bummed about it.
Graphic: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Gun violence
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Medical content, Confinement, Alcohol, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Child death, Grief, and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual content
aguattery's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Bel Canto has all the makings of a great book but the pacing is so slow that it's difficult to get through. There's almost no action - you could cut out half of this book and be left with the same story. I didn't even grow very attached to the characters. As a lot of other reviews mention, the epilogue really detracts from the whole story.
Probably the only redeeming part of this story was the last chapter. Almost DNF'd
Wouldn't read again.
Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Blood and Medical content