This is one of those novels that's hard to shake. Beautiful and heart-breaking all at the same time; it's also hard to put this book into a category. Published in 2001, this book sat in my possession for a long time before I got to it. I can thank my English professor dad who passed it on to me awhile back - he knew I would like it.
A group of powerful, wealthy and worldly leaders gather in an unnamed south American country for the birthday party of a Japanese businessman. A famous American opera singer and her accompanist are hired for the event, which is held at the home of the vice-president of that country. Although the guests speak varying languages, something they all understand is the transcendent voice of the opera singer. Patchett writes that "when Roxanne sung it was like everyone's heart had to wait until she had finished before it could beat again."
A group of terrorists sneak their way into the mansion with the intent of kidnapping the president of the country but find he is not in attendance. They decide to keep the whole group of party goers as hostages instead. They draft a list of demands to be delivered to the government via a Red Cross worker who is sent in as a liaison. Several days pass and the Generals in charge of the terrorist mission agree to let all but fifty-nine of the party guests go. They settle into a kind of routine with supplies being sent in while negotiations take place. Somehow this mostly peaceful existence stretches on for months without either side of the arbitration giving in.
Many of the guests can't understand each other because of a language barrier although there is an interpreter in attendance who does the work of many. But people move beyond mere words and find out there is more than one way to communicate with each other and therein lies the tenderness of this story.
During this time a rather tangled yet sweet form of Stockholm syndrome sets in. The young soldiers (male and female) that come in with the full-fledged terrorist leaders develop allegiances and affections for the hostages, and vice-versa. Love stories develop and relationships form (some romantic, some avuncular or even parental) between hostages and soldiers alike. As a reader I felt myself rooting for these bonds to continue even after the ordeal was finished although in my heart (as well as in the character's hearts) deep down I knew that that was not to be. Alas, eventually the kidnapping comes to a sad and violent end and that's where the heartbreak comes in. But also, heroism and devotion. Without giving away too much all I can write about it here is this: love prevails.
Ann Patchett tells a most unique and compelling tale that in my opinion won the Pen/Faulkner award for good reason.
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