What I’m Reading: Bel Canto

Another book for my book club at work, this one a beautifully written work from 2001 titled Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett. Bel Canto is a style of opera from the late 18th to early 19th century characterized by flowery, virtuosic vocal performances. I think the title is the key to understanding what Patchett is doing here, for I believe what she’s done is write an opera in novel form. But I’ll discuss that in a moment. First let me summarize the plot.

Mr. Hosokawa is the head of a Japanese indus...