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#musicrelated #Bookmoods

@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I started reading this one again. Rereading is always interesting. Especially for a novel that you really enjoyed the first time. Will it live up to your expectations on the reread? Will you catch things that you missed from the prior reading? Will your feelings about the characters change or remain the same? Those are the questions that come to mind immediately. Has anyone else read Bel Canto more than once?

“It makes you wonder. All the brilliant things we might have done with our lives if only we suspected we knew how.”

💠 Tagged
💠 Physical Book
💠 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💠 I haven‘t marked in a book since college. Doing that now feels too much like studying (even though it was a long time ago!) I sometimes take a pic of a quote or passage I like.

#ThoughtfulThursday
@MoonWitch94

@THill

I found The Dutch House boring, I hated State of Wonder, but I loved this one! A fascinating character study of a hostage situation. I loved the dynamic and relationships between the characters and while there wasnt much plot, i was never bored. I'm glad that I gave it a chance after my previous experiences with Patchett.

I have been wanting to read Ann Patchett for a while, and now I finally have! This was a bit of an odd story. It is VERY character driven, not much actually happens and they don‘t go anywhere. It‘s a hostage situation the entire book. But it‘s also humorous. It was a bit quirky, but I liked the writing a lot, so I would try her other books. Which do you recommend?

Sunday morning with the girls.

#dogsoflitsy

This is a beautiful book. Even if it's a bit too sentimental, even if it's a bit unrealistic, the building of relationships among the characters is fascinating. The ending comes somewhat abruptly, but I find it absolutely believable. What I have trouble with is the epilogue.

Fireside reads are the best. ❤️ this one has been on my list for ever, but after reading and loving The Dutch House and These Precious Days, I knew it was time. ☺️

I fell a little bit in love with the characters in this book.

#BelCanto #AnnPatchett #BookSpinBingo

Based on true story in Peru in 1996, when rebels from the leftist Tupac Amaru movement raided a party at the Japanese ambassador's residence and took hundreds of civilians hostage including American opera star Roxane Coss, and Mr. Hosokawa, a Japanese CEO and her biggest fan. It is a captivating story of strength and fragility, love and imprisonment.

the way this book is written is so incredible. the plot of a typical suspense/action novel but written languorously, constantly waiting to see if the other shoe will drop. the building of surprising relationships, development of new roles for people far from their norm. idk if I‘m supposed to interpret this book as almost magical realism but I did and would definitely love to talk to someone about this book. please.

This was definitely a beautiful song, but I felt as if it should be a short story the entire time I was reading it. I understand the length speaks to the captivity, but, especially given the quick epilogue, I feel it would have been better expressed as a short story. Still a pick for me; lots of beautiful thoughts here.

Finally getting to this one….

Book 150 Bel Canto is a slow-burn. A group of political leaders that has gathered for a private opera performance is taken hostage by a guerilla group--a thrilling set-up. The first half is a slog as the reader anticipates action that won't ever begin. It's the final quarter that the excellent writing comes to life as the characters develop and the reader's expectations are adjusted. A beautiful piece of writing, if you make it to the end. 3.5 ⭐s

Thank you @CBee for thinking of me! You are the best. 😘😘😘

I recieved this from Amazon today with no note. Is this from anyone? For a swap????

1. Unfortunately, no. Meant to sign up and then never got to it.

2. Tagged book. I‘ve loved every Ann Patchett I‘ve read so far.

@TheSpineView #Two4Tuesday

#happyplace

My life has been changed by this book. 10/10 party, 7/10 ending.

After the hurricane blew by yesterday and left behind a couple tornadoes for good measure, it‘s maybe 10 degrees cooler and slightly less humid? I‘m trying out the egg chair again, since it‘s shady back there now.

I read this last week, but forgot to post. It was a very interesting read. I was fascinated by the relationships that were formed by the kidnappers and the hostages. Patchett showed the humanity and how Stockholm Syndrome could realistically occur.

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

June was low in quantity, high in quality!

1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Yep. Lived up to my memory upon a re-read. I don't even mind the epilogue that so many hate. ☺ What a beautiful book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #Authoramonth

Reading with the #dorkie tonight #dogsoflitsy

Gotta love a library book with a hand-written correction! (They're correct.) #Authoramonth

The whole premise of the book is out there and very dramatic, but I loved the slow burn, the humor and absurdity, and all of the character development. I fell in love with these characters even as some of them fell in love in a hostage situation. Patchett‘s writing is excellent. I think this was well on the way to being a 5-star read for me… until that epilogue. 😬

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My #AuthorAMonth book is finished!

It had a unique premise with diverse characters, that devolved into tedium. I read the first third, then skimmed toward the end-so that may be considered a dnf. Disappointed with ending. However many people feel like this is her best book. Try it, you might like it

#authoramonth2021 @Soubhiville
#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

Several years ago, I declared this book one of my all-time favorites. I haven't revisited it since, so #Authoramonth is a great time to see if it holds up.

Intriguing story (loosely based on true events) about evolving relationship between terrorists and hostages, nice prose ... but I was little disappointed with execution. I‘m aware that described situation in which the characters found themselves is extreme and anything is possible, I‘m also aware that the construction of the story mimics the drama and exaggeration of the opera, but for me the story at some point becomes too romantic ...

“When the lights went off the accompanist kissed her.”
#FirstLineFridays

OMG I‘m so bored!!! DNF for sure. Made it 40%. Sorry Ann. #AuthorAMonth #aam

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #AuthorAMonth2021 @Soubhiville

I think I would have liked this more had I not started it right after Commonwealth. Instead I kept comparing it and felt Bel Canto was slow and boring at times. I did like the premise of the hostage situation and the blurred lines that occurred between the abductors and the hostages though. ☺

Unpopular opinion but I found this one was bland and utterly forgettable. The premise held so much promise, but the overall plot details paired with the four month long timeframe just seemed too far-fetched for me to find this enjoyable. The writing was fine so I'll give this an average 3 stars because the negatives are me and my feelings about the book and less a gripe about the writing itself.

My first Ann Patchett which has also been on my TBR for five years. I really enjoyed this story and the slow unfolding of the terrorists and hostages forming various relationships during the course of their lockdown in the Vice President‘s house. Such a beautifully written story that drew me in, and a story where I found myself both celebrating the highs and mourning the lows along with the characters. #AuthorAMonth #BookspinBingo #Bookspin

I‘m not a real fan of Patchett. That might be why I waited so long to read this. Now I wonder why. It‘s a unique book about a group of people taken hostage in a Latin American villa. After a while the lines between the terrorists and the hostages fade and unusual relationships arise. The ending is one that‘ll stay with me for a while. My favorite Patchett so far.

#pop21 #WinnerWomensPrizeForFiction #Booked2021 #MusicalInstrumentOnCover

Thanks to @BennettBookworm for putting this on my radar years ago. I finally read it and it was lovely. Just beautiful. I actually think it resonated more to read it after a year in lockdown. I will be thinking of this for a good long time.

Ivy is ready for a dramatic reading or a bookmark tassel.

1. I've been hooked on the Bridgerton novels (thanks, Netflix and Litsy 😅). So, I have to say Lady Danbury even though the rest of the characters all run away from her. I love that character so much. #LifeGoals

2. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Loved the book EXCEPT the epilogue. I could have happily did with out. Felt the same way about My Fair Lady (she totally should have ran off with Freddie 😂).

@TheSpineView #Two4Tuesday

#LitsyAtoZ #B✔️

I finally read this book, and I loved it. It is a book about a hostage situation and the lives of the hostages and terrorists as the lines between the two groups blur. It is much more serious than Anxious People...very character driven vs. plot driven. The plot is secondary to the character development. Great writing, too. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

I was looking at my bookshelves today and noticing that I have quite a few books that I‘ve had for many years, always expected to read, but have fallen off my radar. I have gathered them all in one place and I‘m going to try to space them in throughout the year. If I haven‘t read them at the end of 2021, I can probably donate them.

Where do I start? Any that you love? Any that are missable and I can remove from my list? I‘d love your input.

My second book for #12booksof2020 This was the first book I read in 2020, and feels now like it was an appropriate book to begin a year that has felt like a world wide hostage crisis. A beautifully written story that has stayed with me.

As a long time Patchett fan it was sacrilege that I hadn‘t read this one, I‘ve remedied that by listening to the audiobook on a long car trip this weekend. I can see why so many people list this as their favourite book, it was just divine. Spectacular character development populating an interesting but simple storyline. And of course, beautiful writing!

#99ponkindle
Been meaning to read this for a while

Why did I wait so long the read this? Amazing, somehow feels both huge and epic and small and intimate.The climax is tough though ultimately seems like the only way it could end. Wow! Will be thinking about this one for awhile. #BookspinBingo #MountTBR

One of the books that has been on my #TBR the longest. Finally diving in and wow! Grabbed me right away!

#3books #thatgavemeabookhangover

Here are #3books that were recommended to me. My aunt recommended Bel Canto (actually gave me her copy to keep) and A Prayer for Owen Meany. I still need to read Owen... All the Bright Places was a recommendation from my friend who loves books that break your heart. Looking over my shelves, I‘m realizing that I tend to recommend books to people more often than they do me. Not sure why that‘s the case 🤔

#kindledeals #kindledeal #ebooksale