Reviews

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

liahecht's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

kimmeyer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

emilyjanelovesreading's review against another edition

5.0

The last few pages....oof.

I was naively optimistic 😭

ekgreene's review against another edition

emotional funny sad tense medium-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

5.0

The characters were so lovable and it was easy to empathize with them. This book succeeds where Anxious People by Fredrick Bachman fails. The situation was no very likely but the characters felt so real. I was so sad by how it ended but, really, what was I expecting for the situation. 

sarahnipper's review against another edition

5.0

Oh my god. It took me a while, but I got through it. Breathless. The last 30 pages everything falls together and then apart. A future classic. 

sarahh_connaughton1's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

ssilberman's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

ashleycornelius's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.5

Can a novel about a long hostage situation be slow paced and all about the characters and their relationships? Really only Ann Patchett can do that. I highly enjoyed this book, but I did have to go read some online discussions about the epilogue because I was not expecting that. 

10_4tina's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

4.5

4.4 - Winsome character development. Lyrical writing. Thought provoking.

I really enjoyed this recommendation from Jess and loved the uniquely written characters. I love stories based on real events and this one had similar vibes to Argo, one of my favorite movies. 

A fifth grader once asked me, while reading together, who are the good guys? As I read Bel Canto, that question came to mind. I think that's winsome writing. I enjoy seeing humanity and beauty span across characters on opposing sides in a way that blurs the lines between good guys and bad guys. People across the lines were united in song, language, game, and daily work in ways that sometimes made the whole assemblage of characters feel like a group that podded together during a lockdown or something. 

Did not love the ending.

2 favorite lines:
"I don't have any talent for vacations"

"Sleep was a country for which he could not obtain a visa."

jblum4's review against another edition

4.0

Well written but probably won't read again. I feel like the book's pacing is meant to make you feel what the hostages feel - time passes slowly in the moment but then all of a sudden weeks have gone by. Sad ending