Bel Canto
By: Ann Patchett / Narrated By: Anna Fields
Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
Y’all know I haaaaate stories without plots… so why did I wind up liking this? Like, a lot?
And I wouldn’t even call this Literary Fiction, despite its lack of plot and gorgeous writing. Literary Fiction always has me going in with a tiny (Okay, a BIG) chip on my somewhat stooped shoulder as I’m always keenly aware that what follows will always be an author who is far too fond of their ability to string words together; there’s nary a plot to be had, rarely a point to be made.
So why on god’s green earth did I like Bel Canto so much (In keeping with many writing friends who have touted Ann Patchett as a Goddess of Words)? I mean, it all takes place in a single abode, over four looooong months.
Here it is: Terrorists take over the home of a South American Vice President during a birthday party wherein rich industrialists were invited to save the ailing/tanked economy of this tiny S. American country (It’s forever unnamed). Famed and beautiful opera singer, Roxanne Coss, was invited to sing there; wealthy businessman, Katsume Hosokawa, is there. Wealthy businessmen, diplomats, and their dates are there.
Soon, the women are set free as a hostage negotiator (He was on vacation; now? Not so much) wangles their release. But that leaves a gazillion foreign men from all over the globe; that leaves the band of terrorists (Most of them barely out of their kiddy-hood and now holding rifles); and that leaves us with, conveniently, Hosokawa’s interpreter, who just HAPPENS to speak a gazillion and six different languages so very fluently. This makes it possible for terrorists and hostages to communicate, to get to know each other, to develop relationships. And it makes it possible for Hosokawa and Roxanne to forge a relationship also.
Obviously, I shoulda been rolling my eyes as things are oh so convenient. Plus, the story takes place within one (Albeit, LARGE) house—I shoulda been bored out of my mind. PLUS, Patchett isn’t fuzzy or vague about her premise that music is what draws everyone together, from Hosokawa and Roxanne, to hostages and terrorists alike coming together to listen to Roxanne sing.
Nope, my eyes never rolled back up into my head; the writing was so very lovely, so descriptive, and this (audio)book is what I love in a story: Character development, long and leisurely, 12+ hours of just plain characters coming together and revealing themselves. Another reviewer found transformations of terrorists/hostages unbelievable, but I thought them quite acceptable given the fraught nature of their situation. There’s a reason there’s something called The Stockholm Syndrome, and through the story, as layer upon layer is peeled back from each character, Patchett shows us what’s at each character’s very core, of how they navigate this new world they’ve created for themselves.
The story takes its sweet time for many, many hours, however. I liked that, but that’s kinda sorta what set up the only negative I have: Riiiiiiiiight at the end, relationships immediately take turns that I found very extreme, and in retrospect, I have to wonder if Patchett threw those twists in just to make the last 20 mins. of the book one of sorrow and tragedy. Hmmm, I wondered: Is Ms. Patchett manipulating me? Plus, the last 5 mins. of the book threw me for a loop.
Now all this is maneuvered soooo skillfully by narrator Anna Fields’s performance. She has WONderful tones, expressing each slow emotion, each dawning realization, each wry observation with finesse and pathos. I truly believed her delivery of each of the characters, and she added the humor, the warmth, and the urgency riiiiight before everything hits the fan. If you’re gonna make your story all about character development? Then, my friend, you most certainly want someone like Anna Fields deliciously interpreting your words.
I didn’t read the Publisher’s Summary before I listened to this; not that it would’ve mattered as, now that I’ve seen it, it doesn’t say much except for commenting on the major themes. I simply went by an Accomplice’s Author Favorites. …AND my writing group… must NOT forget those wonderful women.
And obviously? Accomplices and writing women have impeccable taste…!
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