242:
is passionate about the soprano Roxane Coss, having heard her recordings. He falls in love with the woman herself during their time together. However, he knows their relationship can only last for the duration of the standoff. He is gunned down in the final scenes by the soldiers of the host country, in his attempt to save the teenaged terrorist Carmen.
194:(also called the Lima Crisis) of 1996–1997 in Lima, Peru, the novel follows the relationships among a group of young terrorists and their hostages, who are mostly high-profile executives and politicians, over several months. Many of the characters form unbreakable bonds of friendship, while some fall in love.
376:
Critic James Polk largely praised the novel, but noted
Patchett "strained a bit too hard" to highlight the terrorists' humanizing traits, which he argued "diminished the story's taut ambivalence, making some scenes near the end sound almost like accounts of a Boy Scout jamboree." Other reviewers also
252:
who sets herself apart from the rest of the guests, she eventually begins to bond with the others when she receives a box of musical scores and begins singing to them every morning. She is especially touched by her relationships with Mr. Hosokawa, with whom she falls in love; Gen, with whom she forms
241:
is a
Japanese business mogul, who is married with two daughters. He has a strong bond with his young translator Gen. He doesn't speak Spanish and must use Gen for all communication in the host country. Since attending a performance with his father as a child, opera has been his greatest love, and he
211:
Set in an unspecified South
American country, the story begins at a birthday party thrown at the country's vice presidential home in honor of Katsumi Hosokawa, the visiting chairman of a large Japanese company and opera enthusiast. As a not-so-subtle pretext to get Hosokawa to invest in the country,
280:
is the terrorist whom Gen loves. Carmen remains incognito in the guise of a male terrorist for the first part of the novel. The leader of the organization, General
Benjamin, notices what a beautiful young woman she has become and notes that, "had she been this pretty before, he never would have let
266:
is the most intelligent and thoughtful of the three generals who lead the terrorists. Benjamin was a schoolteacher until his brother was arrested and imprisoned for handing out flyers publicizing a political protest. After that, he joined the terrorist group La
Familia de Martin Suarez, named
259:
is Mr. Hosokawa's translator and assistant. He is a quiet, sensitive and gifted young man who speaks several languages. As the translator, he is usually at the center of the action of the novel, although he is the only hostage, besides a priest, who is not fabulously wealthy and powerful. He begins
223:
Two major romantic relationships develop as the standoff drags on and serve as the backdrop to the rest of the story. The first is between Coss and
Hosokawa, who develop a deep bond even though they do not speak each other's language and thus cannot communicate verbally. The second relationship is
291:
is the French ambassador to the South
American country where the novel is set. Because he longs for his wife Edith, who is released early with the rest of the women and children, Thibault is the hostage who is most unhappy during the long standoff. He spends much of his time cooking for both the
219:
Near the end of the party, members of a terrorist organization break into the house, intending to take the
President of the country hostage. When they realize the President is not in attendance, the terrorist group decides to take the entire party hostage. After determining they have too many
267:
after a ten-year-old boy who was shot dead while handing out flyers for a political rally. Benjamin has left behind a wife and children, and he is fatherly to some of the young terrorists under his command. He is plagued with shingles, which rage across much of his face.
273:
is a Swiss representative for the Red Cross. who negotiates between the government and the terrorists. He is the one person allowed to come and go from the mansion. Messner punctuates the general happiness with frequent reminders that the situation will end badly.
27:
320:, but her editor advised against it in case bookstores would mis-shelve it in their "how to" section. The manuscript originally contained a prologue from Gen's perspective, establishing the book as a story about how he met his wife. However, Patchett's mentor
368:
praised the wide range of
Patchett's writing, which "encompass both lightning flashes of brutality and terror and long stretches of incarcerated ennui." Several reviews note a departure in style from Patchett's earlier works and credit
304:
as she watched the events unfold on the news and thought how operatic the crisis was. Patchett was an opera novice prior to writing the book, although she has stated that the character Roxane was modeled on
292:
hostages and the terrorists, and he is almost always wearing Edith's scarf. He and Edith are reunited after the standoff, and they are the witnesses to the marriage of Gen and Roxane in the final chapter.
340:-third." Her first two novels were in first-person and her third novel was in third-person, but it was limited to one character's perspective. She was pleased when she was able to write in this style for
227:
At the end of the novel, the government breaks into the house and kills all the terrorists. All of the hostages are freed except for
Hosokawa, who is shot by government forces in the struggle.
253:
a strong bond and eventually marries; Carmen, who sleeps in her bed, braids her hair, and comforts her; and Cesar, another young terrorist with a gifted singing voice whom she begins tutoring.
260:
tutoring Carmen when she asks him to teach her how to read and write in Spanish and English, and they begin meeting each night in the china closet to study and eventually make love.
364:, the broadcaster and chairman of the Orange Prize judges, praised the work, saying, "This is a fine piece of writing, mixing tenderness and danger to an impressive degree." Critic
467:
with a two-episode arc called "Bel Panto": the visitors of a charity event are taken hostage by a group of clowns seeking to steal a jeweled necklace from a wealthy actress.
924:
80:
309:, an acquaintance of hers who was an opera singer. Since she was not familiar with Bennett's voice, she listened to recordings by the famous American soprano
1202:
358:, based on mostly American publications, the book received "rave" reviews based on seven critic reviews, with four being "rave" and three being "positive".
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50:
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In an epilogue that takes place some years later, former hostages Simon Thibault and his wife meet with Gen and Roxane, who are getting married in Italy.
285:. In the ultimate shootout, she is gunned down before Gen can get to her. In the ensuing newspaper articles, there is no record of her ever existing.
608:
668:
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between the translator Gen and the young terrorist Carmen, who must keep their love a secret. The two lovers meet in the china closet every night.
859:
908:
Ann Patchett's Journeys in Opera, from the Page to the Stage: Author Tells Midge Woolsey About Her Latest Novel and Drinks with Renée Fleming
1207:
556:
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and imagined Roxane Coss as possessing Fleming's voice. (Patchett and Fleming became friends only after the novel was published.)
837:
by Ann Patchett: Fifty-seven men—and one extraordinary woman—are held hostage by guerrillas in the latest novel by the author of
999:
638:
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hostages, the terrorists decide to release all of the hostages except those they deem most likely to return a large ransom.
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criticize the slow pacing and unrealistic characterizations, although other critics attribute this to Patchett's brand of
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has been translated into over 30 languages. According to Patchett, it was slated to become a movie five or six times, a
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Captive Audience: In Ann Patchett's novel, a lyric soprano is among those taken hostage in South America
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399:'s 2006 season, all of which fell through, until the opera came together in 2015 and the film in 2018.
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Opera is a centralizing theme on many levels throughout the story; the operatic term
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925:"'Bel Canto' with Julianne Moore, Ken Watanabe Sells to Screen Media (EXCLUSIVE)"
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891:. The Rest is Noise – Books, articles, and a blog by the music critic of
788:
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150:
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867:
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344:, deeming her achievement of the style a progression in her writing.
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that "moves from person to person within a room"—a style she calls "
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Roxane Coss is scheduled to perform as the highlight of the party.
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977:
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told her that the prologue was not needed, so Patchett cut it.
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Patchett has stated that she always wanted to write with an
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is an internationally renowned American soprano. At first a
26:
911:
612:
179:. It was placed on several top book lists, including
696:"Ann Patchett Hits All the Right Notes (interview)"
557:
American author beats British trio to £30,000 award
1154:
167:, published in 2001 by Perennial, an imprint of
515:"Best Books of 2001: Top 25 Editors' Favorites"
639:"A Conversation with Ann Patchett (interview)"
993:
914:. August 3, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
689:
687:
373:for pushing her into the national spotlight.
1203:PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction-winning works
477:
631:
551:
549:
1000:
986:
684:
25:
765:
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673:ripped from the heart, not the headlines"
609:"Conversation: Ann Patchett (interview)"
568:
546:
1178:Women's Prize for Fiction-winning works
858:McClurg, Jocelyn (September 26, 2007).
809:
807:
163:is the fourth novel by American author
1155:
826:
760:
981:
769:Mendelsohn, Daniel (June 18, 2001). "
741:
693:
667:von Rhein, John (November 24, 2015).
606:
507:
203:literally means "beautiful singing."
804:
183:(2001). It was also adapted into an
171:Publishers. It was awarded both the
643:via Ann Patchett's Official Website
295:
13:
1208:American novels adapted into films
600:
555:Reynolds, Nigel (June 12, 2002). "
14:
1229:
864:wallows in the warm-and-fuzzies".
407:The novel has been adapted under
281:her sign up." She often prays to
31:Cover of the first edition (2001)
1105:Truth & Beauty: A Friendship
1007:
917:
900:
874:
852:
832:Miller, Laura (June 22, 2001).
782:
316:The original working title was
206:
192:Japanese embassy hostage crisis
181:Amazon's Best Books of the Year
871:. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
813:Polk, James (June 10, 2001). "
714:
661:
402:
318:How to Fall in Love with Opera
177:PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction
1:
897:. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
849:. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
823:. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
801:. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
779:. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
757:. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
747:Clark, Alex (July 14, 2001).
694:Weich, Dave (June 27, 2001).
681:. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
470:
300:Patchett was inspired by the
233:
607:Ifill, Gwen (July 2, 2002).
347:
7:
1173:Novels set in South America
112:Print (Paperback, Hardback)
10:
1234:
1218:Novels adapted into operas
1183:Interracial romance novels
565:. Retrieved June 16, 2007.
538:: CS1 maint: url-status (
16:2001 novel by Ann Patchett
1132:The Patron Saint of Liars
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1024:The Patron Saint of Liars
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434:A film adaptation of the
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58:
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24:
1168:American thriller novels
1038:The Magician's Assistant
954:Orange Prize for Fiction
839:The Magician's Assistant
173:Orange Prize for Fiction
395:, commissioned for the
1213:Novels by Ann Patchett
1198:Novels about terrorism
946:The Idea of Perfection
453:The television series
450:was released in 2018.
429:Lyric Opera of Chicago
427:. It premiered at the
883:(February 28, 2012).
495:on September 26, 2007
431:on December 7, 2015.
332:third person narrator
1163:2001 American novels
791:(October 1, 2007). "
1188:HarperCollins books
1113:These Precious Days
619:on November 8, 2012
322:Elizabeth McCracken
21:
1193:Novels about music
820:The New York Times
391:, and an opera by
283:Saint Rose of Lima
51:Elizabeth Ackerman
19:
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1149:
976:
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961:Succeeded by
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101:Publication place
47:Cover artist
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938:Preceded by
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712:
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702:on June 29, 2011
698:. Archived from
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645:. Archived from
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491:. Archived from
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393:Aaron Jay Kernis
389:Broadway musical
296:Creative process
264:General Benjamin
239:Katsumi Hosokawa
212:famous American
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894:The New Yorker
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793:A Boston Fable
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485:"Ann Patchett"
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465:seventh season
444:Julianne Moore
438:from director
409:the same title
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397:Santa Fe Opera
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352:According to
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337:Anna Karenina
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1070:Commonwealth
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1009:Ann Patchett
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860:"Patchett's
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789:Updike, John
784:
774:
771:Ransom Notes
754:The Guardian
752:
749:Danger Arias
743:
731:. Retrieved
725:
716:
704:. Retrieved
700:the original
676:
670:
663:
651:. Retrieved
647:the original
642:
633:
621:. Retrieved
617:the original
602:
590:. Retrieved
586:
577:
570:
560:
522:. Retrieved
518:
509:
497:. Retrieved
493:the original
488:
479:
460:
454:
452:
448:Ken Watanabe
433:
415:by composer
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207:Plot summary
198:
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189:
165:Ann Patchett
159:
158:
157:
41:Ann Patchett
1124:Adaptations
722:"Bel Canto"
463:during its
417:Jimmy López
403:Adaptations
302:Lima Crisis
250:prima donna
246:Roxane Coss
114:Audiobook (
1157:Categories
1097:Nonfiction
881:Ross, Alex
733:16 January
727:Book Marks
519:Amazon.com
471:References
440:Paul Weitz
366:Alex Clark
355:Book Marks
329:omniscient
234:Characters
20:Bel Canto
1140:Bel Canto
1046:Bel Canto
887:Bel Canto
868:USA Today
835:Bel Canto
671:Bel Canto
578:Bel Canto
461:Bel Canto
459:parodied
436:same name
425:Nilo Cruz
385:Bel Canto
371:Bel Canto
348:Reception
342:Bel Canto
200:bel canto
187:in 2015.
160:Bel Canto
81:Perennial
77:Publisher
1086:Tom Lake
969:Property
889:(opera)"
776:New York
706:June 16,
653:June 23,
623:June 16,
592:June 21,
534:cite web
524:June 23,
499:June 21,
421:libretto
411:into an
151:51300210
116:Cassette
59:Language
214:soprano
62:English
1143:(2018)
1135:(1998)
1116:(2021)
1108:(2004)
1089:(2023)
1081:(2019)
1073:(2016)
1065:(2011)
1057:(2007)
1049:(2001)
1041:(1997)
1033:(1994)
1027:(1992)
1016:Novels
583:(ASPX)
456:Archer
278:Carmen
37:Author
958:2002
846:Salon
442:with
419:to a
413:opera
185:opera
123:Pages
118:, CD)
67:Genre
1031:Taft
912:WXQR
735:2024
708:2007
655:2007
625:2007
594:2007
540:link
526:2007
501:2007
446:and
175:and
145:OCLC
132:ISBN
96:2001
1054:Run
910:."
862:Run
817:."
795:."
773:."
751:."
613:PBS
559:."
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