On the plots surface, Bel Canto details a hostage situation that takes place at an embassy in Peru. But when one delves deeper, it is a meditation on the healing and uniting power of art, specifically that of opera to bring people of completely different cultures and languages together to appreciate music at its finest. This is Ann Patchett's 4th novel and was awarded the Orange prize for fiction and the PEN/Faulkner award. Later the book was made into a film that uses the masterful vocal stylings of soprano Renee Fleming. Stay tuned to the end of this book club chat to hear fellow book-clubber, Mary Ann Claros sing the aria from Rusalka called "Song to the Moon," which is the song that launches the book Bel Canto. Hearing it live is magical!