"Bel Canto" is about a group of hostages who come to
know their captors in ways they wouldn't have thought
possible. An unstable third-world country throws a
birthday party for an important Japanese businessman.
A famous opera star is hired to sing. The businessman
doesn't want to go, but he loves opera and so he goes.
While at the party, rebels seize them, later releasing
the women and children, except for the lovely opera
star. Months pass. Negotiations are stagnant.
Discipline breaks down. The hostages cannot
communicate with each other, except through a
translator who works for the businessman. Some of the
captors are barely teenagers. It is a weird and
wonderful story, although I didn't like the ending.

people who enjoy a good story.

the interactions among the characters.

when the author inserted little comments alluding to what the final outcome of the hostage situation was going to be.

cry for some of the characters.

like I was right there among the hostages.

writes descriptively, while being just vague enough about the actual location.

it was a quick, enjoyable read, telling a wonderful story, and I was left wondering what could have been, if only....