Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

10 reviews

mylittlehappynook's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced
  • 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


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c_dmckinney's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • 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


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lottselgar's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional sad medium-paced
  • 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

ann gave me the world and then ripped it out from under me. i was so hopeful. 

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notjillsanders's review

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emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced
  • 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

The epilogue bothered me so much, but overall I found this read enjoyable.

Was not loving that Gen and Carmen relationship, like if she was older/he was younger it would have been cute but the whole time I was reading I was giving it the side eye.

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helen's review against another edition

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4.0

 Loosely based on events in Peru in 1996 when a guerrilla group entered the Japanese ambassador's residence and held people hostage for four months.

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:
Death of main characters, guns, gun violence, on page sex
 

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deebee223's review

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced
  • 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


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richael's review

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challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • 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


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agnesg's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced
  • 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


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tetedump's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • 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


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aguattery's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced
  • 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

I think you need an incredibly strong attachment/understanding of opera to enjoy it. 

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. 

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