Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Bel Canto is a book that for almost a year now i had been ignoring. I remember Ms. Fletcher telling us how amazing this book was and it never really sparked my interest. But while at the library i saw it there and i decided to read it because i couldn't find anything that i felt like reading. After reading the first suspenseful chapter i was hooked. The one thing i never thought would happen was that it could get any better but it did. The book starts off with the thoughts of one of the main characters Mr. Hosokawa a CEO of Nansei company in Japan. The book takes place in the middle of a South American country where Mr. Hosokawa was invited to celebrate his birthday in hopes that he will decide to build a place for his company there. In the beginning all of the lights go off and no one feels that something has gone wrong because this sort of thing happens all of the time. Mr. Hosokawa feels somewhat jealous because Roxane Coss has just been kissed by her accompanist after her amazing performance. Roxane Coss is a world famous Opera Soprano and many feel that talent like hers is something amazing. Right after the lights return the windows are broken and in comes the terrorist group looking to only capture the president who luckily never arrived. Once the terrorists realize that the president isn't there they decide to take hostage the entire party. After one night the terrorists realize that they have too many hostages and decide to release all of the workers, women, and the ill. All women but one Roxane Coss when her accompanist realizes that she is not outside he rushes back in to save her although he is extremely ill. The hostages and the terrorists soon learn to get along and soon nobody wants this to end. With the exception of Simon Thiabault who is in love with his wife and wants to return to her. There is love in the story too but it ends just as quickly as it starts. This love emerges towards the end and the captivity of the hostages ends like everyone thought it would. There are a few unexpected deaths toward the end but the book still ends beautifully.