Reviews

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

mldow's review against another edition

2.25

I hated the way it ended.  It was a struggle to get through it. 

thrillhouse57's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I wish she had left off the Epilogue. I don’t know what purpose it serves. It would be a 4.5 without it. 

emmakslone's review against another edition

5.0

Beautiful and captivating and devastating and I can’t stop thinking about it!!!!!!

errski's review against another edition

3.0

I liked this book, I felt like it was a little dry at parts but I liked the story.

Spoiler

The ending (not epilogue) was really good, I did not expect both Mr. Hosokawa and Carmen to get shot. Truthfully, I knew that things wouldn't work out for Gen and Carmen, but wow what a twist ending. Now for the epilogue... just no, yes maybe the book needed something after the ending, but I'm not sure I like or fully understand where the author took the story.

I watched the movie and they changed up the ending, which is fine since I didn't really like it. The movie was really true to the book actually, so it probably won't make book lover's heads spin with anger at the adaptation.

floristseatfree's review against another edition

Listened to this all day before realizing it was really negatively impacting my mood. As always, compelling writing but not a happy time. Also I hated all the ways men thought about the women. So so many pedestals 

ashmagoffin's review against another edition

3.5

I feel like the worst thing this book had going for it was just the fact that I had read it after her latest three releases. This is a great book, it achieves a lot of emotional impact for something that moves at a reasonable pace. I did feel less connected to the characters in Bel Canto than her other books, probably due to the sheer number of them. This is my least favourite Patchett book but that is un unfair criticism of my part as if I had read this book before the rest I would have a higher opinion of it.

morganek's review against another edition

I was really liking this at first but the longer it went, the more bored I felt. This is about a terrorist attack and still managed to be boring and repetitive, while relatively short. 

tamracielle's review against another edition

5.0

Stockholm Syndrome at its finest. Ann Patchett tells us near the beginning of the novel what the outcome will be, but like her characters, we are lulled into believing otherwise. Who can blame us with the lovely story she creates, woven together with the beauty of music. It did make me want to learn more about opera, something about which I know very little. Life is too short not to pause from our busyness and learn more about the beautiful things in this world. This book is one of them.

marygwin's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

ariane_ryan's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0