Ann Patchett has put together an intriguing novel about some surprising aspects of human nature.  The outward plot of her novel is the capture of a group of well-to-do socialites by a poverty-stricken South American terrorist organization.  Fifteen "soldiers" headed by three generals storm a party held in honor of Katsumi Hosokawa, a Japanese businessman.  It's Hosokawa's birthday.  According to his request, a famous American opera singer, Roxane Coss, is invited.  The party is in the Vice President's home.  The country's president, Masuda, is invited, but he decides at the last moment not to come.  He is the real target of the terrorists.  His absence put the vice president, Ruben Iglesias, Ruben's three children, his household staff, and 198 guests in peril.  Generals Hector, Benjamin, and Alfredo decide to hold all 229 people as hostage in exchange for the president.

A frightening experience at first, the terrified hostages listen as the terrorists hold to their demands, and realize that the government, of course, will never surrender the president.  The novel acquires depth when Joachim Messner, a vacationing Red Cross Mediator interrupts his vacation and tries ending the standoff.  He negotiates the release of Roxane's ailing piano accompanist, a diabetic, but the accompanist won't leave Roxane.  Messner then successfully negotiates the release of women, children, and nonessential persons, reducing the hostages to thirty-eight men plus Roxane, whom the terrorists will not release, and Father Arquedas, who refuses to leave the hostages stranded.  Counting the eighteen terrorists, there are fifty-eight people confined to the house.  The three generals are middle-aged, the "soldiers" mere kids, teenagers, two of whom are young girls.

At this point, the novel takes an unexpected turn.  The terrorists really don't want to murder anyone; the government really won't surrender the president.  Messner tries his best to work out a peaceful surrender.  When all seems stalemated, Roxane Coss takes charge.  Her beautiful voice soothes everybody.  As the days drag into weeks, the terrorists begin allowing the hostages freedom to walk outside the house for fresh air and sunshine.  As the weeks drag into months, everyone's personality gradually comes out, bursting through the roles the people and terrorists had when the crisis began.  Friendships develop across hostage/terrorist boundaries: assistance, mutual help, even love affairs.  Terrorists play soccer against the hostages.  Some play chess.  Both groups work together in the kitchen preparing good meals.  One young terrorist, Cesar, with a surprisingly good voice is tutored by Roxane.  Carmin, one of the two girl terrorists, is tutored in languages by Gen Wantanabe, Hosokawa's assistant and "de facto" translator for the hostages from a dozen countries and their Spanish-speaking captors.  Father Arquedas begins hearing confessions of terrorists as well as hostages.  Patchett skillfully deepens characterization through the confessions.

Finally, after more than four months, the inevitable happens.  Ann Patchett handles the inevitable in a dramatic way, giving the reader plenty of signals.  Patchett's dealing with the human side of her characters gives the novel great depth and understanding.  She makes you wonder what this world would be like if everybody searched their own souls carefully before rushing into actions they will later regret.

The novel is slow moving, the action not as swift and dramatic as it could be.  One has to apply oneself to read every word.  Other than this, the novel tells an interesting story with deep insight into human nature.