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phantomgecko's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
Often when I'm talking to my husband about what I'm reading, he'll ask, "What's the point of this book?" and basically if he needs to ask, the answer is just people. Bel Canto is 100% about people and how they feel. You get glimpses of much more than just the "main" characters. Backstory after backstory. Tidbits that don't affect the plot at all but add flavor to the people soup.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Medical content
rosalind's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death and Medical content
Minor: Sexual content
richael's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Police brutality
vampireph4ze's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
this is the first book i've read by Ann Patchett and it makes me eager to read through everything she's written. i found this book by chance in my family's bookshelf — no one else had ever read it and the answer as to how we even got the book is still somewhat of a mystery. nonetheless, it also happened to be the only think from the bookshelf that sounded even remotely interesting, and it was worth it.
the adventure that this book takes you on is heart-wrenching and eye-opening. the way that Patchett approaches the relationships between characters and the internal (and external) conflicts that this insane situation puts them in. i want to do an entire analysis of every character, major and minor, and see how they changed throughout the book. i felt them come to life and completely occupy my mind. whenever i put the book away, the characters still followed me. i found the characters to be extremely likable, and i never grew to hate any of them. Bel Canto is by no means a perfect book — there are many racial/ethnic stereotypes, and the treatment of women is a bit questionable (but not as apparent as the stereotypes). the ending, as in the epilogue, is also somewhat disappointing - but if you think about it enough i'm sure you can justify it.
honestly, the characters and the plot were not what made me fall in love with the book. they helped, certainly, but it was the message. Patchett clearly wanted to show people how important and common human connection is, even when you are on rivaled sides and cannot speak the same language. it is about the language of music, the love that people have for it and the appreciation that leaps across any boundaries that may stand in its way. i am not a huge fan of opera at all, but i understand the feeling of falling absolutely in love with a band or a singer, to the point where it feels almost religious. these connections, these ways that humans communicate with each other when language fails them, are fascinating to me and Bel Canto does an amazing job of representing that. we all have needs, wants, and fears, and that is something all of us — no matter who we are or where we are from — can relate to.
the adventure that this book takes you on is heart-wrenching and eye-opening. the way that Patchett approaches the relationships between characters and the internal (and external) conflicts that this insane situation puts them in. i want to do an entire analysis of every character, major and minor, and see how they changed throughout the book. i felt them come to life and completely occupy my mind. whenever i put the book away, the characters still followed me. i found the characters to be extremely likable, and i never grew to hate any of them. Bel Canto is by no means a perfect book — there are many racial/ethnic stereotypes, and the treatment of women is a bit questionable (but not as apparent as the stereotypes). the ending, as in the epilogue, is also somewhat disappointing - but if you think about it enough i'm sure you can justify it.
honestly, the characters and the plot were not what made me fall in love with the book. they helped, certainly, but it was the message. Patchett clearly wanted to show people how important and common human connection is, even when you are on rivaled sides and cannot speak the same language. it is about the language of music, the love that people have for it and the appreciation that leaps across any boundaries that may stand in its way. i am not a huge fan of opera at all, but i understand the feeling of falling absolutely in love with a band or a singer, to the point where it feels almost religious. these connections, these ways that humans communicate with each other when language fails them, are fascinating to me and Bel Canto does an amazing job of representing that. we all have needs, wants, and fears, and that is something all of us — no matter who we are or where we are from — can relate to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
stremps's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I read this because a friend recommended it, and I had never read Ann Patchett before. The story is engaging and the character development is skillful. I didn’t really like how it ended and didn’t feel satisfied. That being said, I will remember parts of it, and any of the characters for a long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
lilia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Gun violence
jesstherese's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
relaxing
sad
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
4.75
Gripping, delightful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
lalu's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This book was rather outside my comfort zone. But I loved it.
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.
The only thing that bothered me was the ending. They didn't deserve to die. Also I don't get why Gen and Roxane got married. But I guess it makes sense to have that sudden awakening and the end of the kind of utopia that they were living in. Back to real life, where you have to make compromises. This simply isn't a fairy tale with a happy ending.
But I'm still bummed about it.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
caseythereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
gallagh3rr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship