Sunday, January 10, 2010

Bel Canto

Everyone loves this book, but me!  I tried to love it.  I just couldn't connect to the characters.  Imagine a Japanese businessman and his translator, an American opera singer and a sappy Frenchman all kidnapped by an inexperienced South American terrorist organization.  At first, the concept was intriguing, but after the hostage situation continued for what truly felt like years, the story was ridiculous.  I understand the concept of Stockholm Syndrome, but I thought this book took the idea to a whole new level.

The captors and captives became friends:  English lessons in the china cabinet, helping captives arrange midnight rendezvous with lovers and endless chess competitions.  The captors had such unanswerable demands, the reader knows that the eventual outcome will not be good.  

The resolution, after the aftermath of the captivity, totally confused me as well.  It seemed to come out of nowhere.  I did, however, like Ann Patchett's writing style and will definitely read another of her books.

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