I loved this book. I didn't think I would though. I had to read it for a group book read and the topic, hostages, did not appeal to me. But this book is not about hostages at all. It's about who or what you would be if you were taken out of your present role and set free to revision yourself. The writing is beautiful, and Patchett's insights are spot on. I didn't want it to end.

This is a very hard book to review because as others have said .. The writing is so beautiful and lyrical and just sweeps you along. For that I give 3 stars. It was truly a pleasure to bask in.

The story ... A hostage taking ... is so very poorly done that it is actually silly! There is no tension. There is no feeling of doom or danger. There is no feeling of suffering. Nobody gets cabin fever and goes crazy and tries to escape and gets shot. Not even after months of monotony. The Russians are content to play cards for 4 months. I have no idea what the dozens of other people did day after day.

The general plays chess with one of the hostages. The opera singer gets lemon scented shampoo flown in, especially for her and opera music brought in for her and other special treatment.

I really lost it when Gen fell for Carmen.

It's like they are having a picnic basically and they all, hostage and terrorist become brothers. And then it's wrapped up in a slap dash ending. The terrorists don't even make a plan of escape after 4 months. ?
There are so many holes it is ridiculous. It could have been so much better. What a sham that this book won awards.

I heard great things about this book, and apparently many Amazon reviewers think this is a good book, but I didn't like it at all. The book is slow to develop, and everything seems to take longer than it should. There is no character development at all, we don't learn about the characters through actions or speech, instead the author tells us everything, for example, "it is important to remember that so-and-so did love his wife, though not faithfully". It leaves the characters flat and boring.

I HAD to read this book as a book club selection last month. I couldn't wait for it to end. Seemed to drag on and on. As for the ending, it just made no sense. Haven't read any of her other books, maybe I should just to see if she can do better.

This book was so amazing. What started out as a thriller with the terrorists taking people hostage, turned into a love story and a relationship between the terrorists and the hostages that you would never expect. The grim situation turns into a beautiful event, and the ending will have you speechless.

More than terrorism or opera, this novel seems to be about how human beings communicate with one another through universal languages such as love, sex, music, food, compassion, fear, work, and responsibility.

While the story itself strains credulity, it is well told in interesting observational detail. The relationships formed and sustained despite (and because of) the unusual circumstance of being held hostage, and how human nature can never be circumvented, are what the author wants you to notice.

An international cast of characters from every strata share the spotlight and contribute, each in their own small way, to a beautiful, well-imagined and tragic love story. Enjoy.

I wish I could have secreted myself away and read this book cover to cover, without interruption. Patchett creates a magical, if unlikely world, within the walls of the South American Vice President's home, where terrorists have taken the attendees at a glamorous birthday party hostage. In an effort to lure businessman Hosokawa to their country in the hopes that he will build a factory and shore up their flagging economy, the country's leaders have invited world renowned soprano Roxane Coss to sing six arias for him. Hosokawa has no intention of investing in their country, but he has fallen in love with Coss through her singing and cannot resist the opportunity to be in her presence in this intimate setting. All is proceeding smoothly until the terrorists burst upon the scene and take more than 100 partygoers hostage.

After the initial fear wears off, jailors and prisoners begin to get to know each other. In time, relationships develop despite language, cultural and socioeconomic differences. Everyone within the confines of the Vice President's house finds themselves reassessing their life before the hostage taking and some realize that they did not appreciate what they had. Others begin to find a new kind of peace and happiness in confinement that they did not know before.

Although we know that this cannot end well, we still find ourselves hoping that the dreams of hostages and terrorists alike can be fulfilled. The alliances formed, and the romances that blossom during the long siege are as inspiring as they are unlikely. This is a magical tale, beautifully told.

I picked up Bel Canto because of the good things I had heard. As an author, I like to give each book more than a few pages to pull me in, because I understand that it sometimes takes that long to set a tone. At first, I wasn't grabbed.

But by page twenty I was hooked!

I know nothing of opera, but I feel that Ms. Patchett has made me feel as if I do. Her writing was lyrical. Her timing was precise. And her ability to write men's thoughts as well as women's was a triumph. There were passages of such insight that they made me want to cheer out loud. And while there were some chapters which moved slower than others, I think this was to be expected given the scene and time frame which she chose. In the final analysis, it was appropriate to the plot for things to move that way.

I am thoroughly impressed, and I will definitely be seeking out some of her other books!

Thank you, Ms. Patchett,
Poonam Sharma

Author of Girl Most Likely To

Was in Peru during the actual hostage drama that this is based on. Very interesting. Loved trying to compare the actual with the fiction.

Bought this edition as a gift and recipient was pleased.

Moronic, simplistic plot. Little character development. This "award winning" book did little to pique my interest or make me care if anyone made it through the contrived hostage-taking. And the epilogue...give me a break!

Don't waste your time on this one.

I was excited to read (well, listen to the audio version) of this book. I'm a big opera fan, and thought it sounded interesting. It could have been, but in the hands of another writer, I think. The story dragged, and as much as I liked the idea of an opera diva being one of the main characters, Roxanne Coss never seemed like a real person, and the adulation of her by almost everyone in the book got old real fast. I was bothered, also, but the audio version's mispronunciation of several operatic terms.
The ending was unsatisfying, as if the author had decided who would end up where, and couldn't figure out a way to make that happen, so snip, snap, a couple of quick, unlikely deaths and we are on our way!
Overall, the book seemed to me to be a book that was trying really hard to be important and great, but never achieved it.

What a letdown! Having heard great things about this book I was set for a fine read. Reading a few of the reviews here I just have to understand that one person's treasure is...well you, know. And this book is as cliched as that old expression. Character development? Amateurish and simplistic. Thin Plot? Absolutely! Fascinating evolution of the characters? Huh? Improbable and arbitrary is more like it. Plot resolution? Foreshadowed is too kind...telegraphed is more like it. An exception is the unlikely pairing of two characters after the resolution and that is simply another two-dimensional element of a two-dimensional novel. Perhaps it is an attempt at trying to make the book more intriguing with an "unhappy" ending...one would have to care about the characters for that to work. I was only happy that this tired tome HAD finally ended. Sorry...thanks for playing! There are many fine novels out there...please try again!

A big prize winner: 2002 Pen/Faulkner Award, as well as the U.K.'s Orange Prize, not to mention a National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist. While Patchett's writing style is extremely fluid and literary, I was surprised that the tone she established in the beginning didn't vary, especially as the story progressed into new states of emotionality and tension. Because the entire book was contained in only one setting, a Latin (no actual country given) Vice-President's estate, the placid pace of the prose began to wear on me, as day after day of the hostages' stay felt endless. Granted, I'm sure that the reaction evoked in me was intentional on the author's part to some degree, to make me feel what the captives were feeling -- instead, though, I found myself growing tired of the entire situation and wanting it to just wrap up. And then, once it did, the finale was so abrupt and swift, I came away feeling robbed, a real letdown.

The epilogue remains one of the most ridiculous, non-sensical endings I've ever read -- an author's total disrespect and disregard of the characters she's displayed in the 300+ pages beforehand. Again, I applaud her lyrical writing but not her actual storytelling.

This book is not for everyone, but if you're moved by music and the people who make it, you'll find this charming, witty and ultimately profound book right for you. Are the characters too nice? That's one criticism leveled at Ms. Patchett. How can hostage-takers be too nice? Let's just say as the story progresses, the humanity is revealed.

I'm really disappointed that I spent $2.00 on this book at a library book store. I have tried to think of a fairy tale which failed so completely to characterize real humans to the extent Bel Canto fails. About half way through, I was hoping to learn that it was a metaphor for something, an allegory, anything to save it from being a pathetic romance novel that I don't believe a self-respecting romance novelist would have written. I notice that the novel was written prior to 9/11; however, some of the customer reviews must have been written after 9/11 -- what are those people thinking? This is dangerous fantasy in my opinion -- I guess it's more appropriate to call it fantasizing. How sad that this is what book clubs were reading. I recommend that you not buy this book. Instead, buy "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel. That is a beautiful and skillfully written novel with a fantastic-seeming premise which reveals real truths about human beings. Another incredible seeming but truthful novel I read recently is "Solaris." Don't watch the American movie, read the novel.

I found this book very boring. It is extremely slow paced and none of the characters -- Roxane Coss, Mr Hosokawa, Gen, Carmen, etc are impressive. At some places, it becomes too descriptive and it is not that I don't like the descriptive books but this one just starts getting even shallower with the description. I found it hard to finish it but as I knew that there was suspense in the end I waited until I got to the end. However, the ending wasn't exciting at all. I wonder why this book has gotten such good reviews.

I enjoyed this book immensely up until the epilogue. It was an afterthought of writing that tied up too neatly a book that is beautiful because of its transient fragility.

The character development, the descriptions and the use of music as a continual underlying theme is a joy to experience.

This book is boring, pretentious, and overdone. It is obviously the product of a person who has attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop. This is not intended as a compliment. Writers workshops can teach a person to write reasonably well. They cannot make great writers.

This is my first review ever. . . . that ending surprised me in a way that really put me in a quandry. That ending came from beyond left field. It made no sense to me at all. Perhaps if a relationship was initiated following the deaths of their loved ones I could foresee a possible connection and in time, a relationship. There was nothing to warrant this and although it was so written, for me it was not believable. It felt more like an afterthought.

In an unnamed South American country, the famous soprano Roxanne Coss is singing for the birthday party of Japanese businessman, Mr. Hosokawa. The party is interrupted by a group of terrorists who are planning to kidnap the country's president and overthrow the government. What ensues is a masterful sociological study of the changing relationships between captive and captor as they learn to live together under the spell of the beautiful music which Roxanne continues to produce. Hidden talents are discovered and people rise to the occasion, despite which side they are on. The alliances are not based on a likely reality, but are spun with the magic pen of an author who creates her own universe with its own rules. This is a deeply moving book about love in the face of danger and how this love can cause one to forget and then disregard the danger. It is an incredibly creative story which the reader will ponder long after the book is finished.

Purchased this book for daughter and son-in-law because I'd previously read it and felt they too would like it. Subtle story that makes the ending all the more surprising.

Tedious and plodding to read at first. Some of the prose is lovely, but if the reader is not a sophisticated music lover it is hard to identify with the characters' passion for it. Got better toward the end, but not enough to recommend book to others unless you are an opera lover.

Very well written with great sensitivity to the social situation of the times and great description of the enviornment of being held for ransom.

This is a story that could have been very interesting. The characters are wonderful, and the setting and themes are such that could foster discussion. Unfortunately, the author spends too much time describing EVERYTHING, and not enough writing a story. I really had the belief that the author did not actually have a story to tell, just some thoughts she wanted to share.
Her use of language is superb, and she definitely creates vibrant, wonderful characters, I just wish they had done something.
Of course, that was the point, people forced into a state of non-action, trying to fill their days and nights.
Others may enjoy this, I did not.

I wasn't especially fond of this novel, but by its ending I found myself a big fan of Ann Patchett. I had difficulty getting 'into it' for the first hundred pages or so, but soon enough I was completely enthralled, and actually surprised when it was over.

The novel's plot isn't anything revolutionary, but Patchett's skill at multileveled character development is simply astounding. I'm now looking forward to reading her other works.

But, minus one star for that worthless epilogue. Skip it, really. Remember, you can't un-read things. And you'd *want* to un-read that epilogue.

I caught myself dozing off several times while reading this book. It just really didn't hold my interest.

This is the book to read just because the writing is so spectacular! The story itself is a unique one and is one that can inspire many deep thoughts on a rainy afternoon. If you're looking for more than your run-of-the-mill average story, this is it. It's beautifully written and very thoughtful.

I'm so glad I finally took the recommendations of several friends and read this book. The verbal summary I kept hearing ("people taken hostage at a party") was just too off-putting, and though I respect opera, I've never developed a taste for it. I expected a book that combined dry snobbery with blood and guts; some of my least favorite things. But while it's definitely not a quick beach read (in spite of the dramatic premise), and it has not only a surprisingly slow start but some lagging passages, I hung in long enough to become entranced with the characters. Besides, there's plenty of slack in the rope of this plot. Once you get heavily armed terrorists holiding a large group of hostages, you want to know how the book ends, no matter how much meandering takes place in between first and last sentence. Don't skip ahead, though; the story device is just that, a device, and the end will be an anti-climax unless you understand how everyone is affected.Get That Novel Written

This book started out a little slow, but since I read it while commuting, I needed to pass the time and kept reading. What a wonderful piece of writing.

A birthday party for a Japanese businessman hosted by the VP of a South American country brings together an international mix of guests from the political and business worlds. Terrorists come in disguised as servers and workers and proceed to hold the entire party hostage. As things begin to unfold, the social and political boundaries of the guests and other people in the house start to fall away. The results are acts of compassion, violence, friendship, kindness, hatred and even love between people who would have otherwise never traveled in the same circles.

I've read and loved every book Ann Patchett wrote before this, and so was prepared from the first page to expect something wonderful. Still, this incredibly lyrical and moving story blew me away.

I read this book probably two years ago and I still consider it to be one of the best books I've ever read. The writing is breathtakingly beautiful without weighing the reader down in frilliness. It does take a little while to get into the book and it's certainly not what you would expect, but it is so worth it. A phenomenal book in my opinion.

The book has been out over 5 years, but I just around to reading it.
So glad I did. Very imaginative, very well written. I didn't want
it to end.

I love the way time almost disappears in this novel - I couldn't believe when I was halfway through and they were still in the house, although I don't know where else I expected them to go. The book moves along nicely and flows wonderfully. I was a bit disappointed with the end - it seemed a little thrown together - but the rest of the novel makes up for that. One of the best I've read in the last year or so. It's one of those books that leaves you thinking for days about the characters, the plot, why things happened the way they did, and what might have happened if they hadn't. I really didn't want to close it when I got to the end. Beautifully written, and a great study on misunderstanding, human interaction, and love.

The good: The book started pretty decently and I was engaged. Ms. Patchett seems to be an accomplished and skilled writer. She did a decent job initially of building the story and characters around opera, music and language.

The bad: The story. Though it has a decent beginning, the story wore thin fairly quickly. The premise of the book - the taking of a bunch of foreign hostages by what turned out to be totally inept "terrorists", followed by the unlikely development of romantic relationships during the extremely prolonged hostage event (think Stockholm Syndrome to the max) - was just too much, way over the top, unbelievable, noncredible and dysfunctional. There's no way the story could withstand the 300+ pages in length - too many pages and not enough substance to fill them without excessive repetition, pontification and drivel. By the time I was 1/2 the way through I just wanted it to be over. There was too much repetition of thought as the different characters (of which there was a handful of primary characters and too many supporting characters, what with 50+ hostages and the numerous captors) professed their love of opera, the opera singer, music, each other and other things they loved. Honestly, the story started to remind me of a movie that is three hours long and 1 1/2 hours too long. The first half was a worthy effort but the second 1 1/2 hours were wasted time, full of content that should have hit the editing room floor. By the time I was through half of the story I had started "watching the clock" and thinking it was about time to end this show, wondering why the editor didn't cut a few scenes (starting with the epilogue) to shorten it up so as to be a palatable length.

The ugly: The epilogue. It was a very, very odd and misplaced twist to the story subsequent to the final tragic events. There was no previous lead up, no development, no prior hint or foreshadowing that such an occurrence could or should take place, or was even remotely possible. It's a totally misguided and out-of-place closing; an extremely weak ending; the final nail of disappointment in this story's coffin.

In the spirit of a glass-half-full, I give two stars because I think Ms. Patchett is probably an outstanding writer and certainly she was technically good in this book, but in the end the story itself was a dud. Save yourself some time and find something else to read, as there's plenty of material much better than this book. If you're really desperate for something to do, pulling your fingernails out with pliers while watching the grass grow will likely give you greater and less painful entertainment than reading this book.

I admired the author's compassionate world that she created. A wonderful experience to read...well-done Ms. Patchett.

I had to read this book in HS for my English class. From that day it became my favorite book and I encourage any and all to read it. Anne Patchett's writing style is amazing and she fully immerses you in the story. She has a wonderful knack for description, that's simply beautiful. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. I have never gotten into a book more than I did with this one, and I laughed and cried along with it (and I never get that emotional reading things). It instantly became everyone's top book who's read it around me, and I let everyone borrow my copy so they can enjoy it as well. It also really made me think about the whole idea of people who do bad things, are they really bad people? Do the circumstances behind their actions make a difference? These were some hard questions to answer. If you get the chance, it's a book worth reading!

This book is amazing. Recently I was looking for a birthday present for a coworker and decided to buy her "Life of Pi" , a most unique and wonderful book. Someone suggested that while I was at it, I should also buy myself a book - "Bel Canto". The lady making the suggestion said her reading club had read it and found to be, in some inexplicable way, a lot like "Pi".

Well, it is. And how? The stories are totally different, but I have concluded that Patchett could have written Martel's book, and he could have written "Bel Canto". Absolutley amazing. It is like finding two people with the same brain, outlook, philosophy or what-have-you.

And I feel very lucky to have found these two delightful writers!!!

I fell into this book after reading some drivel by James Patterson so I was doubly revived by the lyrical writing, vivid descriptions and actual literature of this book. I was drawn in and began to read more slowly to appreciate every sentence and was rewarded with characters whose inner longings had nothing to do with the roles they played every day. They had depth and beauty and I never hurried through one to get to another, I loved them all. When everyone is finally allowed to go outside I felt the breeze on my face and the grass under my feet and the freedom of simply breathing fresh air. I knew it could not end well for everyone and as the end drew closer I was in a panic as to who would survive and what would survive inside them. As the outside forces moved in I began to cry as each character met his or her fate.
And then within seconds of the beginning of this dance of death it was over, no eulogies were given to any of the dead or life to any of the living. It was over and then there was this preposterous epilogue that made no sense, was in no way fulfilling and I felt that every single character had been betrayed and that I had been duped as well. It was as if the author realized her book was due in 30 minutes and so just ended it and ran to the FedEx box.
So sad. I had hoped for more. I will read Ann Patchett again because what was good was so very good but not with such joy.

I just finished Bel Canto for the second time, and enjoyed it even more than I did on first reading. Without rushing towards the end to find out "what happens" -- which I did, in spite of myself, the first time, I was able to luxuriate in Ms. Patchett's elegant, evocative sentences. Her characters are so deftly drawn that they will remain with you long after you close the covers of the book. She's able to do the impossible, it seems: write about love and music within a highly charged, almost over-the-top scenario, without ever becoming melodramatic or maudlin. I believed this book so deeply, it seemed every word was true. Every character was real. Every note of music was there for the listening. I understand why another reviewer bought every one of Ann Patchett's books after reading this one -- I'm about to do the same!

Ann Patchett's Bel Canto is wonderful. Her use of the English language is a wonder to behold. You will remember her descriptions long after you forget the name of other novels. This is truly her best work.

Oh - this book! This wonderful, amazing, lyrical, gut and heart-wrenching book. This was the first book I read by the incredibly talented Ms. Patchett - and upon finishing it - I promptly went about buying everything else she's written. The characters are so beautifully drawn, the language is so evocative, the feelings behind the words are so intense... I just loved this book and was so sad that I eventually had to finish it.

Some books have great plots that are worth the read regardless of the writing. These books become bestsellers. But a rare few books tell a good story while wrapping it in language that is like smooth, dark chocolate. F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ian McEwan are a few that come to mind. This book is one of those books. The story is so compelling it could have held its own in the hands of a lesser writer, but Ann Patchett delivers words so lovely that sometimes you have to pause just to savor a sentence. Never a word out of place. Late in the books she startles the reader with very vulgar language in the thoughts of one of her characters - and even this word choice is soooo perfect, slapping the reader awake as they have been floating along in a sea of the most tranquil prose. Don't miss this book!!!

On the surface, this novel falls into stereotypes and common novel outlines. The stereotypes are best described by a broad brush outline of the story: the terribly wealthy people in a third world country (South America) congregate at a birthday party of one of their own which is subjected to an attack by leftist guerillas who are adults (generals) or soldiers (children). The ambush seeks to kidnap the country's president who does not show because he prefers to watch his television novella as it airs as opposed to Tivo-delayed production. A hostage situation ensues.

The common novel theme is to place these people in a boiler room tense situation of hostages and attackers - and allow them to slowly reveal themselves to one another - hear their respective life stories. In short, the matter is about common people in a very uncommon situation. Movies have made 100's of millions on this: Dog Day Afternoon; Die Hard (s); The Negotiator . . . Books require less action and violence, so they will not touch upon this topic either as often or as financially successful.

And, let me establish that violence is not a large part of this book. Of the 300+ pages, probably less than 15 pages delve with violence. This is much more about man-woman relationships, boy-girl relationships - and all of these deal with people of different caste, different religion, different country, and even some without any communication skills available as they do not speak the same language. In this cloud, grows the silver lining of passion, true love, or romance.

The title is derived from the fact that the party included the services of a great opera singer who is held hostage throughout the book. Her voice soothes everyone, even the guerillas. The voice is the antithesis of the every day existence. At one point, understanding that the hostage situation was a stalemate never to end, the people in the house ask why the food cannot continue to be brought, why things cannot remain as is - why the status quo must be mussed. But, realty must intrude upon the love birds of this insane situation.

Ordinarily, hostages and guerillas are topics for men's novels. If anything, this is a woman's book. Romance exceeds the violence by tenfold - maybe more. This is a book written for the romantic, not the commando.

Patchett's use of language is a joy and I'll hold this wonderful story close to my heart for a long time. This gifted writer created a sense of time and place in the lives of these unlikely bedfellows that transcended my expectations, surprised me and moved me. What a delight. I'll be wrapping this book in beautiful paper and giving it to those who appreciate beautiful things.

There's so much potential for great conflict here. A band of poor, armed revolutionaries (the author calls them terrorists but I wouldn't) and a bunch of wealthy hostages. Potential for class struggle, shootings, heartbreak, betrayal, negotiation. Certain scenes become tense but the tension is defused before any harm comes to anyone (between the beginning and end, anyway). Guns are pointed but never fired, threats are made but never fulfilled, secrets shared but never betrayed, love affairs begun but hearts are never broken. So, by halfway through the novel, I gave up on witnessing any real conflict.

The epilogue ruined the book for my wife, but I gave up caring about these people long before then.

With all the hype surrounding this book, and all the awards, I thought I couldn't miss by reading it. This book frustrated me the way it droned on without much of anything happening. Unless of course you count hostages falling in love with fellow hostages unpredictable and interesting. The ending was terrible. It was as though Patchett decided she needed to finish the book on the double, so in the span of a few pages all the bad guys get killed, the adulterer gets killed (how convenient that now he doesn't have to face his wife), and the only ones left are the singer and the translator. I found that particular aspect of the story nauseating. I have read other books by Patchett, so I know she's not a bad writer; she just didn't realize her potential in this novel.

When I finished the last page, I thought "4 stars". But it's 3 days later and I'm still thinking about the characters and what occured, so that raises it to "5 stars". It's a great character study in how people react and change in the face of trauma. If they overrated the opera singer, well, in those specific circumstances, maybe that's "all they had" at the moment. There was nothing else to enjoy all those months so she became more of an icon.

It was a great mix of cultures, poor, rich, famous, status and how they all became the same, just a bunch of people stripped of their outside status.

Don't worry I won't give the ending away, but WHAT A SURPRISE! And I did like it, even after I had time to think about it. Enjoy this character study novel!

I really wanted to like this book, because it got good reviews from the press and random people who saw me reading it on the beach. But I have to say, it was awful.

What was made out to be "a fantasia of guns and Puccini and Red Cross negotiations" (The New Yorker) was really just an excruciatingly dull and drawn out story of an improbable hostage situation.

The guests at a dinner party hosted at the Vice Presidential mansion in a South American country are taken hostage when a gang of "gun-wielding terrorists" (more like the Bad News Bears) enter the home through the air conditioning ducts. When their demands are not met, the group of captives and captors remained holed up in this house for months, seemingly forgotten by the outside world (I guess they, too, found the story boring!), where they read, watch soap operas, eat, sleep, and listen to opera, courtesy of the one female hostage, revered soprano Roxanne Coss.

There is a little bit of action at the very end, which proves to be anticlimactic after that long wait for an interesting plot twist, and then an equally uninspiring epilogue .I'm one of those people who always finishes a story once it's been started, but I really should have abandoned this one after chapter 1.

Very unreal hostage story, and an insult to all the civilians who were or still are being held as hostages by the so called liberation armies: food, drinks, piano, opera and even love stories.How beautiful life can be in captivity!
Besides this unrealistic touch, some interesting characters but overall boring and fails in creating any real tension regarding the fate of the hostages or compassion for their ordeal(the poor hostages have to cook their own meals...)
I will continue to love opera despite this book.

For me, Bel Canto was extremely overwritten, had stereotypical foreign characters, and an inane story line. I struggled to read it as my mind kept wandering and I kept wanting it to end. The main character was completely unappealing. The hostage situation, ridiculous. Overall, I found this book extremely disappointing and shallow.