6) Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett

Novel about a hostage crisis in an unnamed Latin American country rather similar to the 1996-97 hostage crisis in Peru (so the second book about Latin America I’ve read this weekend). Actually it’s much more a relaxed character study of the key individuals among hostages and captors, and their relationships with each other and with music, before the brutal ending that of course we know is coming. Slightly disappointing that all the different nationalities are exactly out of central casting (the Russian is particularly embarrasssing). But quite an interesting read.