Bel Canto

Bel Canto
By Ann Patchett
HarperCollins, 2001. 318 pgs. Fiction

In an unnamed South American country, a famous soprano sings at a birthday party in honor of a visiting Japanese business tycoon. His hosts hope that Mr. Hosokawa can be persuaded to build a factory in their country. Alas, in the opening sequence, a ragtag band of 18 terrorists enter the vice-presidential mansion through the air conditioning ducts. Their quarry is the president, who has unfortunately stayed home to watch a favorite soap opera. The terrorists take the party-goers hostage instead, including the Japanese tycoon and the famous soprano, along with an assortment of Russian, Italian, and French diplomatic types. A Swiss Red Cross negotiator comes and goes, wrangling over terms and demands, and the days stretch into weeks, the weeks into months.

Beautifully written, the author flits in and out of the hearts and minds of hostage and terrorist alike, and in doing so reveals a profound, shared humanity. This was a very enjoyable read.

BHG