Bel Canto
The lights went out in the spacious concert room of the vice-president's mansion when the guest artist was singing the last note of her performance. But although none of the audience could see her or even each other then, the applause continued for many minutes. Roxanne Coss, a famous lyric soprano, had come to the capital of a small South American country to sing at a birthday party for Mr. Hosokawa. He owned a large Japanese electronics corporation which local politicians hoped might establish a business in their country. But Mr. Hosokawa was more interested in hearing the singer than discussing business.
When the lights finally came on, the audience of foreign and local dignitaries, as well as the soloist and her accompanist, were shocked to see a group of young terrorists encircling them, threatening everyone with loaded rifles and knives.
The terrorist leaders then informed nearly 100 people that no harm would be done as long as they surrendered the President of the country. But when they learned the President had cancelled his invitation to the birthday celebration so he could watch his favorite soap opera on TV, the terrorists announced they would keep the mansion under siege until the President was brought to them.
The siege of the mansion lasted for weeks while negotiations went on between the terrorists and the special police forces out in the street. The women and children were soon released, but the men and the feminine singer were kept as hostages. Later on, the soloist was allowed to practice and the men were given free access to most parts of the building.
But a language problem slowed down negotiations. And only with Gen, a young translator who could speak five languages and was employed by Mr. Hosokawa, could any useful communication be made.
Patchett's story, however, uses the language factor to its advantage. The translator is always on call, and few words are wasted. She also lets the young terrorists become human. Two turn out to be girls, but all of them come from poor families looking for a better life. None of them had seen TV before they took over the vice-president's mansion.
But the relationship between the terrorists and the hostages is seldom bitter. In fact, a brief romance takes place with the translator and a girl terrorist. At the same time, Mr. Hosokawa falls in love with Roxanne, the feminine soloist. But her singing also makes her loved by other hostages and a few young terrorists as well.
The ending of the story is similar to the recent terrorist attacks in Peru, and later in a Russian theater, where human lives become secondary.
Bel Canto was published in 2001 and earned several awards. It was Ann Patchett's fourth novel, all of which have also won awards.