Bel Canto

by Ann Patchett
Bel Canto cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 676
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • ISBN: 9780007381791
  • Publisher: HarperCollins UK
  • Published: 2020-02-27
  • Formats: 76
  • Reviews: 4
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99 Hardback • £25.00

Bel Canto is a mesmerizing novel that weaves together the stories of hostages and their captors in a beautifully crafted narrative. Set during a musical performance that turns into a crisis, the characters find solace and unexpected bonds through their shared love of music. The novel explores themes of love, art, and human connection in the face of adversity. /n/n Ann Patchett's award-winning novel is celebrated for its richly drawn characters and lyrical prose, offering a unique perspective on the power of music to transcend boundaries. The story is both poignant and humorous, showcasing the author's ability to blend emotional depth with wit.

Reviews
Novel Notions · 2020-05-26
beautiful 4.00

The novel beautifully explores music, language, and human nature, highlighting our adaptability until its abrupt ending.

This reviewer found Bel Canto to be a profound exploration of music, language, and human nature. The novel's strength lies in its ability to capture the adaptability of its characters in a unique and captivating way. However, they felt that the ending was somewhat abrupt and didn't quite live up to the rest of the book. Overall, they appreciated the novel's depth and the way it delves into the complexities of human relationships.

Quick quotes

    Bel Canto is a beautiful novel that has much to say about music and language and human nature.

    It highlights our adaptability.

    Until its end.

Book Thoughts from Bed · 2020-02-10
enjoyable 3.50

The writing is good and the concept is interesting, with very human and likable characters.

They enjoyed Bel Canto for its engaging writing and interesting concept. The characters were particularly appealing, as they felt very human and likable. The reviewer appreciated the novel's exploration of various themes and found it to be a satisfying read overall. While they didn't find it to be a masterpiece, they certainly enjoyed the experience and found it to be a worthwhile read.

Quick quotes

    Overall, I liked Bel Canto.

    The writing is good and it is an interesting concept.

    The characters are very human and likable.

Samurai Novelist · 2016-10-06
discomforting 2.00

The book feels overly sentimental and melodramatic, which can be jarring and discomforting.

This reviewer found Bel Canto to be overly sentimental and melodramatic, which they found jarring and discomforting. The book's portrayal of human interactions and emotions felt false and exaggerated, making it difficult to connect with the characters and their experiences. The sentimentality was described as 'disgustingly sweet,' which detracted from the overall reading experience.

Quick quotes

    The book rang so false to my ear.

    The melodrama and overly disgustingly sweet sentimentality was jarring, discomforting and infuriating.

    I found the book's portrayal of human interactions and emotions to be false and exaggerated.

The Guardian · 2001-07-13
electrifying 4.50

The novel's opening is electrifying, showcasing Patchett's range and talent.

The reviewer was captivated by the novel's electrifying opening, which sets the stage for a compelling narrative. They praised Ann Patchett's talent and range, noting that her ability to weave together complex themes and characters is truly impressive. The novel's exploration of love, music, and human connection was particularly noteworthy, and they found it to be a rich and rewarding read. The reviewer appreciated the way Patchett uses the story's premise to delve into the unexpected aspects of human nature.

Quick quotes

    As overtures to novels go, this one is pretty electrifying.

    Patchett's great talent in Bel Canto is one of range.

    The book definitely doesn't fail to deliver on those themes.

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