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Bel Canto

Author:
Ann Patchett
Read by:
Anna Fields
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Unabridged Audiobook

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Ratings
Book
245
Narrator
23
Release Date
August 3, 2004
Duration
11 hours 20 minutes
Summary
Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award • Winner of the Orange Prize • National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist • New York Times Readers’ Pick: Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

''Bel Canto is its own universe. A marvel of a book.'' —Washington Post Book World

New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett’s spellbinding novel about love and opera, and the unifying ways people learn to communicate across cultural barriers in times of crisis

Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country's vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honor of the powerful businessman Mr. Hosokawa. Roxanne Coss, opera's most revered soprano, has mesmerized the international guests with her singing. It is a perfect evening—until a band of gun-wielding terrorists takes the entire party hostage. But what begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different, a moment of great beauty, as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different continents become compatriots, intimate friends, and lovers.

Patchett's lyrical prose and lucid imagination make Bel Canto a captivating story of strength and frailty, love and imprisonment, and an inspiring tale of transcendent romance.
Reviews
Profile Avatar Christine S. Oct 2024

Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto is an unforgettable experience, and listening to the audiobook takes it to another level. The story is so immersive—you feel like you’re right there in the middle of this strange, yet captivating, hostage situation. Patchett’s writing is absolutely gorgeous, and her ability to create characters you genuinely care about is next-level. Even the terrorists, who should be the "villains," feel human and complex. The way she weaves these lives together during the crisis is masterful, making every character feel real and important. What really stands out in the audiobook is the incredible narration by Anna Fields. She brings each character to life in such a vivid way that you can practically see them in front of you. Her voice perfectly captures the emotions of the story—the tension, the tenderness, and everything in between. Fields nails the subtle dynamics between the characters, and her narration adds so much to the experience. If you haven’t listened to it, you’re missing out. In Bel Canto, Patchett explores the raw, beautiful nature of human connection—how people come together, even in the most impossible circumstances. It’s a story that leaves a lasting impression, and the audiobook version, with Fields’ excellent narration, makes it even more powerful. You’re not just reading this story, you’re living it, and it’s an experience you won’t forget.

Profile Avatar Gina M. May 2024

Such lovely writing! An impossibly beautiful story. I couldn’t put it down. The narrator was excellent.

Profile Avatar Sheryl S. Feb 2024

Poor ending.

Profile Avatar KLN Jan 2021

Excellent book! We read it for book club!

Profile Avatar Sophia E. Oct 2019

Was a interesting book

Profile Avatar Anonymous Jun 2018

I really liked this book, although the epilogue was a bit disappointing. It was surprisingly gripping and I thought the narrator was great, handling a range of accents very well - except for her Russian :)

Profile Avatar Danielle R Jul 2017

Excellent narrator, one of my favourite so far. Loved how she embodied each character. I really enjoyed the book too - a unique storytelling plot that keeps you engaged.

Profile Avatar Patricia M May 2017

It was an interesting read. I liked the premise of the story. The only problem I had was it took a long time for the story and then ended abruptly. There were too many loose ends. The ending made no sense to me.

Profile Avatar Joan Lindell Olsen Jan 2017

The narration was so dull and irritating that I couldn't make it through the book. Also the story was slow and repetitive. The characters were not believable. Not the author's best work by far. Save your money or credits and listen to Ann Pachett's Commonwealth instead.

Profile Avatar Tamara Malan Oct 2016

It was interesting, I must admit I was very disappointed with the ending.

Bel Canto

Bel Canto

Author: Ann Patchett
Read by: Anna Fields
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