tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post9094871173248669763..comments2024-03-28T08:40:52.180-07:00Comments on Bitter Tea and Mystery: Bel Canto: Ann PatchettTracyKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-8391791770117514502021-07-01T13:39:47.608-07:002021-07-01T13:39:47.608-07:00Constance, I did enjoy the book a lot and it has m...Constance, I did enjoy the book a lot and it has made me curious about her other books. <br /><br />That is a very funny story about your grandmother. Thanks for sharing that. Everybody is different about what they want to discuss with others, but I would love the opportunity of a book club onsite if I were in that situation.<br />TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-13479650903100835562021-07-01T04:57:33.166-07:002021-07-01T04:57:33.166-07:00So glad you enjoyed this, Tracy. I think it is he...So glad you enjoyed this, Tracy. I think it is her best book (she is very congenial, as you may have read, and owns a bookstore in TN). I had forgotten there was a movie. You captured the paradox of the book - that the situation is unbelievable (although maybe more believable now than when it was written) but it becomes somewhat normal to the reader and the characters. It is funny but I had forgotten the Vice President although remembered the others well.<br /><br />I may have told you this story but when my grandmother was in Assisted Living there was a very nice book club run by a very preppy former teacher. My other and I would see notices posted and beg my grandmother, a big reader, to join. She always turned up her nose at the books they chose, sight unseen. When they chose Bel Canto, we thought that was the turning point because my grandfather was an opera critic and the whole family were opera fans. We got Granny a copy of the book and she absolutely loved it. "Great," said my mother unwisely, "the discussion of the book is tomorrow." And my grandmother looked at her and said, "It would spoil a lovely book like this to discuss it with the inmates." I can only imagine what she would think of our blogs! CLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595294217111602231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-83773184172790458302021-06-30T10:11:25.739-07:002021-06-30T10:11:25.739-07:00Mary Adler, thanks for commenting. That sounds lik...Mary Adler, thanks for commenting. That sounds like a great book club meeting with music for accompaniment. I did see some negative reviews and I can understand the criticisms, but the book worked well for me. The situation provided tension along with a romantic and moving story. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-16284246624395892082021-06-30T10:05:05.112-07:002021-06-30T10:05:05.112-07:00Col, having too many books is a cross we both bear...Col, having too many books is a cross we both bear. I am not familiar with other books by Patchett, but I am planning to try more of them... someday.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-73347095516990719642021-06-30T06:54:13.341-07:002021-06-30T06:54:13.341-07:00I loved Bel Canto. We read it for my book club and...I loved Bel Canto. We read it for my book club and I recorded the music that was part of the book for the meeting. I know the book has been panned by some critics, but I was in it and loving it from the beginning. She made the characters alive for me. Thank you for the reminder. As I recall she had a specific opera singer in mind when she wrote it. Maybe Beverly Sills? I wish they could have made the movie, which I didn't see, with her.Mary Adlerhttps://www.maryadlerwrites.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-47502908012535796372021-06-30T05:45:38.257-07:002021-06-30T05:45:38.257-07:00Tracy, sounds interesting, but I've too many b...Tracy, sounds interesting, but I've too many books already. A reluctant pass from me!col2910https://www.blogger.com/profile/06422138069939709043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-59397195729067655492021-06-29T21:18:54.261-07:002021-06-29T21:18:54.261-07:00It is a memorable story, Mary, and I think it will...It is a memorable story, Mary, and I think it will be like that for me too. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-65422870271074546102021-06-29T16:57:18.593-07:002021-06-29T16:57:18.593-07:00I read this wonderful novel when it came out and i...I read this wonderful novel when it came out and it has stuck with me all these years. Glad you enjoyed it. Mary R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12468537883595941188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-37594126086622334932021-06-29T16:48:20.325-07:002021-06-29T16:48:20.325-07:00Margot, it was an entertaining read, in many ways....Margot, it was an entertaining read, in many ways. We can't read everything, but I do recommend giving it a try.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-60525812632698118342021-06-29T16:47:20.224-07:002021-06-29T16:47:20.224-07:00Cath, thanks for letting me know that you liked St...Cath, thanks for letting me know that you liked State of Wonder. That one does sound interesting and I will include it in Patchett's books to follow up on. I want to read more of her books, but I think I have said that about all the authors I have read so far for 20 Books of Summer. Some of them I have books by already, but most I don't.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-58706910601092185472021-06-29T15:48:34.500-07:002021-06-29T15:48:34.500-07:00I'd heard that this was very good, Tracy, but ...I'd heard that this was very good, Tracy, but hadn't yet read it. It certainly sounds compelling, and it's a scenario that I could see happening. I'm glad you were drawn in.Margot Kinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08599589137890528065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-54430231986483968062021-06-29T14:45:39.227-07:002021-06-29T14:45:39.227-07:00I've only read one book by Ann Patchett and th...I've only read one book by Ann Patchett and that was State of Wonder. I was very impressed by it so will think about getting a copy of this one, possibly via the library. Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-28258284567386432562021-06-29T14:44:17.249-07:002021-06-29T14:44:17.249-07:00Sam, I am glad I am not the only one. I hope to re...Sam, I am glad I am not the only one. I hope to read more books by Patchett, given the time. I would like to start with The Dutch Uncle but I am sure the earlier books would also be good.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-1259264078734753522021-06-29T14:01:59.835-07:002021-06-29T14:01:59.835-07:00Like you, I've had a copy of this one somewher...Like you, I've had a copy of this one somewhere around the house for at least the last decade...not sure where it is at the moment, though...but still haven't read the thing despite all the high praise it has received. Now, I'm going to have to start looking for it while it's fresh on my mind again.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-87007496836618126202021-06-29T09:57:09.111-07:002021-06-29T09:57:09.111-07:00This is a book worth reading, Lark. I hope you enj...This is a book worth reading, Lark. I hope you enjoy it, if you get to it.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-91831536300043514702021-06-29T09:39:52.298-07:002021-06-29T09:39:52.298-07:00I always meant to read this one, but never did. An...I always meant to read this one, but never did. And then I forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder! :)Lark https://www.blogger.com/profile/13777891312147377769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-85479091921801422382021-06-29T09:18:00.375-07:002021-06-29T09:18:00.375-07:00Rick, 94 is much better than 114, but I agree, sti...Rick, 94 is much better than 114, but I agree, still much too hot. Even in the mid-80s is too hot for me (especially with no air conditioning) but moving in the right direction.<br /><br />I am glad to see the weather improving in Portland. That heat was scary.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-4976402539987447252021-06-29T08:03:27.158-07:002021-06-29T08:03:27.158-07:00Prediction for today is 94. That's better then...Prediction for today is 94. That's better then yesterday's 114, but still hotter than I'd like. We may get down to mid-80s Friday...Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-13815665164021802122021-06-28T20:35:29.713-07:002021-06-28T20:35:29.713-07:00Patti, I had heard that the book was much better t...Patti, I had heard that the book was much better than the movie. And that there wasn't that much opera in the film, which seems strange. That might not bother me, but the music is a big focus in the book. I wanted to see it too, but I will wait a while.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-33749324262230309512021-06-28T20:32:01.821-07:002021-06-28T20:32:01.821-07:00Rick, I did enjoy the book. It does follow differe...Rick, I did enjoy the book. It does follow different points of view but I think it tells the story in a linear way. With maybe some deviations.<br /><br />Sorry it is still so hot. I hope it starts getting better tomorrow. TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-78304837465511445242021-06-28T16:58:34.222-07:002021-06-28T16:58:34.222-07:00Seems you enjoyed this one a lot, Tracy. It’s not ...Seems you enjoyed this one a lot, Tracy. It’s not a book or author I’m familiar with except name recognition.<br /><br />It’s hot.Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167054806459662988.post-7936827101806952832021-06-28T16:53:58.197-07:002021-06-28T16:53:58.197-07:00I want to see the movie with Julianne Moore but it...I want to see the movie with Julianne Moore but it got pretty bad reviews so I am afraid it will ruin my memory of the novel. pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.com