Bel CantoBel Canto
Score Modern
What it's about
In an unnamed South American country, guests gather at the vice president's mansion for a birthday party honoring a Japanese businessman, where Roxane Coss, the world's most famous soprano, is singing. Terrorists storm in, planning to kidnap the president, who isn't there. They take everyone hostage instead, and over the following months, captors and hostages form unexpected bonds, through music and love.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Orange Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award, and the New York Times named it one of the best books of the 21st century. It's lyrical and moving.
You'll love it if you liked
The English Patient
The God of Small Things
Let the Great World SpinGood to know
It's loosely based on a real hostage crisis in Peru. The ending is sudden.
By the numbers
- Readers32 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics82 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller32 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #81 of the 233 romances we rank
- #128 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #554 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1065 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Moving
More by Ann Patchett
The Dutch House
Whistler
Tom Lake
State of WonderIf you like this, read next
The Orphan Master's Son
We Need to Talk About Kevin
The Secret History
Purple Hibiscus
Possession
The HoursExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Bel Canto worth reading?
Yes. It won the Orange Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award, and the New York Times named it one of the best books of the 21st century. It ranks #1,065 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Bel Canto about?
In an unnamed South American country, guests gather at the vice president's mansion for a birthday party honoring a Japanese businessman, where Roxane Coss, the world's most famous soprano, is singing. Terrorists storm in, planning to kidnap the president, who isn't there. They take everyone hostage instead, and over the following months, captors and hostages form unexpected bonds, through music and love.
How long does it take to read Bel Canto?
About 9 hours (352 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Bel Canto won?
Women's Prize for Fiction winner (2002).
What should I read after Bel Canto?
If you liked it, try The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje, The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy or Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.