Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett is a lovely novel that brilliantly portrays the characters in the book. The setting is a hostage situation in South America, with thirty nine men and one woman held hostage by eighteen rebels. 

Hostage characters in the book include opera singer Roxanne Cross, Japanese executive Mr. Hosokawa, his translator Gen Watanabe, Hosokawa's employee Testsuya Kato, Frenchman Simon Thibault, Priest Father Arguedas, and Vice President Ruben Iglesias, whose house they in. 

Rebel characters included General Benjamin, General Alfredo, General Hector and young rebels Caesar, Carmen, Ishmael, and Beatriz. 

They were all in the house some four months and the the relationships between everyone are fascinating. Mr. Hosokawa and Cross become lovers, as did Gen and Carmen. Kato would play the piano, accompanying Cross with her singing. Caesar became a singing pupil of Cross, and Ishmael played chess and was viewed by the Vice President as a son of sorts. It's really nice writing from Patchett.