Thursday, September 7, 2017

BELL CANTO: ANN PATCHETT


Set in an unnamed South American country, a group of officials, CEO's, foreign leaders gather to hear a famous opera singer in the Vice President's palace. Mid way through the performance, the lights go out, terrorists jump down from the air vents, with hopes of kidnapping the President.  Unfortunately, at the last minute, he cancels so the terrorists are left with close to 150 victims.  Eventually, they allow the women and sick to leave but that still leaves sixty people to feed and watch over. Gradually, things relax as the opera singer begins to practice, to the admiration of prisoners and terrorists alike. And as the weeks go on, the two groups begin to meld, the terrorists let their guards down, and both sides begin to understand and empathize with each other.  Romances blossom as do friendships between the two groups.  But there is always a dark cloud over this seeming idylic time as there seems to be no say out.  I will leave it at that.

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