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mylittlehappynook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Gun violence, and Cursing
c_dmckinney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Grief, Police brutality, Death, Gun violence, War, Classism, Gaslighting, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny, Police brutality, Animal death, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Classism, and Violence
lottselgar'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Murder, and Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content
notjillsanders's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, Child death, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
helen's review against another edition
4.0
This book is set in an unspecified South American country and the hostages are from all over the world, including a famous American soprano, an opera-loving Japanese businessman, and his (very overworked!) translator.
The hostage-takers start off as a scary group with guns, but over the course of the book, via Patchett's excellent use of humour and pathos, they become individuals who are trapped by their circumstances. The author makes a bold decision to tell us their fate in chapter one. This has the effect of allowing us to slow down and sink into the unfurling story without the need to rush to the end to find out what happens.
Despite the violent beginning and ending, at its heart it's a kind story about trapped people finding a common language via music and love.
4 stars because I really disliked the epilogue.
Content notes:
Moderate: Death, Murder, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
deebee223's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Confinement and Kidnapping
Moderate: Police brutality, Infidelity, Death, Violence, Gun violence, and Murder
Minor: War
richael's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Police brutality, Gun violence, and Violence
agnesg's review
- 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
tetedump's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Gun violence
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