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Audiobooks > Fiction >  Literary > Bel Canto
Bel Canto Audiobook, by Ann Patchett Play Audiobook Sample

Download Bel Canto Audiobook

3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 (3.00) - 105,402 customer ratings
Bel Canto Audiobook, by Ann Patchett Play Audiobook Sample
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Author: Ann Patchett Narrator: Anna Fields Publisher: HarperAudio Audio Length: Release Date: August 2004 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download ISBN: 9780060783280
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Publisher Description

A major motion picture starring Julianne Moore and Ken Watanabe.

“Blissfully romantic….A strange, terrific, spellcasting story.” — San Francisco Chronicle

“Bel Canto…should be on the list of every literate music lover. The story is riveting, the participants breathe and feel and are alive, and throughout this elegantly-told novel, music pours forth so splendidly that the reader hears it and is overwhelmed by its beauty.” —Lloyd Moss, WXQR

Ann Patchett’s award winning, New York Times bestselling Bel Canto balances themes of love and crisis as disparate characters learn that music is their only common language. As in Patchett’s other novels, including Truth & Beauty and The Magician’s Assistant, the author’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.

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Quotes

  • “Mixing art and politics can have unexpected results, but rarely are they so poignant…Anna Fields offers up each moment, each character slowly and deliberately, taking time to savor every subtlety. Her performance is the essence of bel canto, easy, pure of tone, with an agile, precise vocal technique.”

    - AudioFile

  • “Patchett doing what she does best—What gives this novel its power is Patchett’s flair for sketching the subtleties of her characters’ behavior.” 

    - New York Times Book Review

  • “Elegantly alluring…A novel that begins with a kiss and absolutely deserves one.” 

    - New York Times

  • “The most romantic novel in years. A strange, terrific, spellcasting story.” 

    - San Francisco Chronicle

  • “Patchett’s tragicomic novel—a fantasia of guns and Puccini and Red Cross negotiations—invokes the glorious, unreliable promises of art, politics, and love.” 

    - New Yorker

  • “Bel Canto invites readers to explore new and unfamiliar territory, to take some emotional risks rather than stand with Rolland among those already saved.’”

    - Chicago Tribune

  • “Bel Canto moves elegantly through its paces, captors and captivates alike stumble on that most elusive liberty: the freedom to be.” 

    - New York Daily News

  • “Turning a traumatic experience into a remarkable study in humanity, a famous opera singer—and a bunch of other well-to-do businessmen and government officials from around the world—find themselves held hostage in the Japanese embassy in Peru after a botched kidnapping attempt. (Based on the real-life Japanese embassy hostage crisis between 1996–1997.) As months dwindle, many friendships and romances begin to form despite the language barriers, even between the hostages and the terrorists.

    - Vulture

Awards

  • Winner of the 2002 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction
  • An Amazon Best Books of the Year selection
  • A USA Today bestseller
  • A 2003 Book Sense Book of the Year
  • Winner of the 2002 Orange Prize for Fiction
  • A 2001 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist
  • A 2002 Audie Award Finalist for Best Fiction Narration

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Customer Reviews

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  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I could read this book a million times. I love the character development, the uniqueness of the story and the beautiful writing. This is absolutely one of my all time favorite books "

    - Fareesh, 2/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " shifting perspective adds to pathos. stays with you long after read "

    - Nina, 2/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is a story that continues to stay with me, despite having finished it a good eighteen months ago. The slow building of the plots, with the conclusion becoming more inevitable and yet more painful with the turning of each page; the strongly built characters with their individual voices that resonate long after the book is closed; the music that echoes throughout the chapters all combine to make it a masterful creation. I find myself thinking back to specific nights in the vice president's home as if they were my own memories, wondering how and when the tide could have been turned and the outcome changed. I listened to it on CD, which lent a great deal to its reality for me. The different languages and accents came alive in a way that they might not have had I met them on the printed page. Listening to it also forced me to appreciate the beauty of the language without allowing me to feverishly read for plot. I would recommend it without reservation to any lover of literature. "

    - Katie, 2/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I found the book to be entertaining. It was hard to get into and I thought the story was slow with few exciting moments. "

    - Melissa, 1/31/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Very moving. Patchett's masterful control of pacing and tone draw you into the drama and romance. She creates a dream then startles you awake. If this were a movie, it would be one of my favorite movies. "

    - Jesus, 1/30/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " i really enjoyed this look at like as a captive and how you can sympathize with your captors but as her books go i loved "state of wonder "more!! "

    - Cathy, 1/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Waste of time. Burn this book. "

    - Gena, 1/7/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " AMAZING book :) I loved it so much. This was seriously one of the best books I had read in awhile when I read it (although it was before Twilight and the Huger Games and the 50 Shades trilogy). But it's up there too. Very well written and just such an amazing book. I HIGHLY recommend it :) "

    - Tiffany, 1/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good but not great. I suppose it's no surprise that a book that is largely about the tedium of being held hostage is at times itself tedious. "

    - Kristine, 12/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I liked this book, but it is a bit frustrating for some reason. The story is intriguing. As an Ann Patchett fan, I would rank it middling for her, but overall a good read. "

    - Jeanne, 11/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I read this years ago and did not re-read but skimmed because my book club just read. I loved this story about the relationships we develop with those we are surrounded by both good and bad. "

    - Kathy, 11/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Was not expecting that marriage! "

    - Cassandra, 11/11/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Excellently written, well paced, and countless passages that are deserving to be remembered. "

    - James, 11/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The plot is intriguing. Human relationships are focused in a simple and up close way and made beautiful even in the hostage situation. Empathy is the star of this novel...and the writing is simply admirable. "

    - Olivia, 11/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " one of the best books i have ever read "

    - Lizzie, 10/24/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Wow! Every sentence shines in this book. Had no real interest in reading it at first, did so when someone loaned it to me. And now it is one of my all time favorites. A must read. "

    - Debbie, 7/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Our Book Club was disappointed in this book. We were all expecting great things, as it had been hyped by many reviewers, but the story was forgettable and anti-climactic. The ending was particularly dissatisfying. It was readable but I definitely felt let down at the end. "

    - Sheryl, 7/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Interesting book, was totally surprised at the epilogue! Well developed characters, but moved slowly in the middle.....yet I suppose that was the point as time was going by and the stand off continued. Definitely worth reading. "

    - Karen, 12/4/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " After a slow,rough start, the story accelerates and then ends unexpectedly, "

    - Chris, 10/31/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Had trouble getting into this one, but once I did it was an easy read. Personally, I felt the ending didn't quite fit with the rest of the book. "

    - Lorysa, 9/6/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Slow to start, but really well written and easy to follow. The story is captivating and a very surprising ending. "

    - Florentina, 4/20/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Captivating but predictable. I enjoyed the relationships between the characters but the epilogue seemed patched together and unsatisfactory. "

    - Daena, 4/4/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A remarkable book; well deserved prize winner. Fascinating exploration of the development of relationships between hostages and captors and amongst the captors and the hostages over a period of several months. One of the most memorable books I read in 2012. "

    - Lyn, 3/7/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This book has the characters in a situation in which many would give up, but these people find a way to survive and interact with each other. "

    - Julie, 2/17/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " After giving up this book several times, I picked this book yet again and this time I managed to read it. I have to admit that it took me 200 pages to really get into the story. It is a good book in writing and in plot with an awful climax, the epilogue was the biggest letdown! "

    - Reshma, 10/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " One of those slow books where nothing really seems to happen, but it is so compelling that it is just impossible put it down. Patchett develops the characters so that the terrorists and the hostages become equally loved. A very enjoyable, smooth read. "

    - Ginny, 6/30/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I had been hearing about this book for several years from several circles, so I finally decided to give it a go. It was slow moving at the beginning, but picked up significantly toward the end. I definitely could not have predicted the outcome. A curious premise. "

    - Anna, 6/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Beautifully written, but too slow paced. "

    - Kernesa, 6/26/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Very well written but leisurely paced as we know what most likely happen from the start. Good juxtaposition of interest and boredom. Terrorists and captives go opposite directions on the scale. Contentment leads to affection. My copy had a great interview with the author in Back of the book. "

    - Robert, 6/25/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Bel Canto by Ann Patchett is a gentle journey into the landscape of hunger, where terrorists expose their hearts and hostages nurture them. "

    - Carolyn, 6/24/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A little slow out of the gate but one of the most engaging books I've ever read. Ann Patchett can write. I'd put her in the same class as Ian McEwan. "

    - Dennis, 6/24/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Read this book years ago. Excellent. The reason I was interested in reading her new book. "

    - Kathy, 6/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Lots of accolades and not a bad story, but for some reason I just couldn't get into it. Think I only managed about a third. "

    - Melanie, 6/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Breathtakingly beautiful. I cannot speak to whether Bel Canto accurately depicts the political realities of certain Latin American nations, but I can say with confidence that Ms. Patchett renders human emotion and relationships impeccably. "

    - Sarah, 6/21/2011

About the Author

Ann Patchett is the author of eight novels, four works of nonfiction, and two children’s books. Several of her books have been New York Times bestsellers, with Commonwealth reaching the #1 spot on the New York Times bestsellers list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Women’s Prize in the UK, and the Book Sense Book of the Year, and The Dutch House was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Time magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is the co-owner of Parnassus Books.

About the Narrator

Kate Fleming (a.k.a. Anna Fields) (1965–2006), winner of more than a dozen Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award in 2004, was one of the most respected narrators in the industry. Trained at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, she was also a director, producer, and technician at her own studio, Cedar House Audio.