Questions About Bel Canto

by Ann Patchett

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Answered Questions (12)

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Judy Lindow

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)[Gen and Roxanne, brought together by beauty and love, marry for many reasons. They were the 2 main characters that connected all the other characters - everyone loved her and needed him - her through her music and him through his language skills. When she sang or he translated, people learned how to better communicate with each other by listening, by being quiet, and doing less. Gen and Roxanne's self actualization (expressions of love and passion) inspired the others around them. It was like a story of Soup using them as the original magical stones. Through the book we see others grow into their more natural selves - the new accompanist, the runner, the cook, chest player and young opera singer. Both of them also found a completeness with their lovers - Both Gen and Roxanne find 'giving' and responding to love(s) by the end of the story. She finds more than being loved and responding to her passion and he finds more than being needed and responding to his obsession with words. So 1/they have a lot in common, and they are prepared to marry, 2/they can bring into the world the love and connection they can't have with the ones they lost, 3/they share, understand each other's suffering; they more than any of the others, share the Big Picture of what happened during the siege, 4/although there are many genre of operas, them getting married at the end fulfills the general category of tragic-romantic, 5/because for a lot of the story it is explained at the end, the characters have been Not listening, they've been in Zaubeoper (magic opera) - not reasoning, not looking into the future, etc.), and we had many warnings that it would become tragic, having them get married, was a beautiful denouement. It was also the perfect resolution in that it allows looking into the future possible. If I had to pick one reason they ended up together, it would be "shared experiences", that they grew together, at the same time, and where witnessed each other "in love" - that they understood how the other, but themselves as well, needed to be loved. (hide spoiler)]

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the power of music in dangerous situations.why do people find shelter in it?

Aneta 'We have art in order not to die from the truth' - F. Nietzsche…more'We have art in order not to die from the truth' - F. Nietzsche(less)

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Am I the only one, who does not like this book at all???? I been trying to read it now for a month, I put it down within 100 pages, read another book in 1 week & now, went back to it, & still not liking it, can't wait to get it over with....

Madelyn Downing I feel the same as Maria Silva, Maria Meneses and Kelli, I kept reading on hoping something would happen to explain the whole thing as some other of P…moreI feel the same as Maria Silva, Maria Meneses and Kelli, I kept reading on hoping something would happen to explain the whole thing as some other of Patchett's books had done. I was especially disappointed in the ending.(less)

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Is anyone else bothered by the jarring factual mistake about chess? A little thing in a good book, but so sloppy.

Ann Yes! I am bothered by the jarring factual mistake about chess!!!! I read this book long ago, & it is one of my very favorite books. I am a retired lib…moreYes! I am bothered by the jarring factual mistake about chess!!!! I read this book long ago, & it is one of my very favorite books. I am a retired librarian & I have recommended this to many... many who have thanked me for the recommendation. I suggested this to my husband...not a reader...but a musician...I thought he would really like this book. He seemed to like it, & then he gets to page 228!!! I do not play chess, so I did not catch this on my 1st read. Has Ann Patchett ever addressed this? Please, if anyone knows, I need an answer!! I finally got my "not a reader", chess-playing, musician husband to read a book, and now...here I am, without an explanation. (less)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Laura Willis This has been a long time pet peeve of mine. I have type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent), and you have it exactly right. One of those cans of Coca-Cola…moreThis has been a long time pet peeve of mine. I have type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent), and you have it exactly right. One of those cans of Coca-Colas would have set him right immediately. It's the only mar on an otherwise excellent book, but it really annoys me. Thank you!!
To Karen's point- being without insulin would have negative consequences, but they way it's written is very unrealistic especially with that timing.(less)

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