Katsumi Hosokawa isn't entirely fictional

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Books Editor

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'Bel Canto' has Hawai'i angle It happens every time. Even though the Advertiser Book Club selection doesn't have a thing to do with the Islands, we always seem to find a Hawai'i connection, either with the author or the book. And while we're on the subject: Have you picked the book up yet? You have only until March 28 to read the book and send in your comments via e-mail, fax or letter (see below). One further bit of book club news: Sara Backer, author of our first book club selection, "American Fuji," will be at the Maui Literary Circle's Writing Conference April 4 and will be giving a reading at 7 p.m. April 4 at Borders Books & Music on Maui. Go by and say hello if you can.

But his name has been: It's used for a key character in Ann Patchett's "Bel Canto," the Honolulu Advertiser Book Club selection.

So how did the name of a 79-year-old Hawaii man become part of a book set in South America about a dinner party overtaken by bumbling terrorists?

It's the kind of connection you couldn't make up. Ann Patchett's father, Frank, was for many years a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles district attorney's office. One of his passions is ferreting out details and he loves helping his daughter as a research assistant —Êincluding helping her come up with names for her characters.

The real Katsumi Hosokawa has a daughter, Joanne Kiyomi Hosokawa Baeza, who also works in the DA's office in Los Angeles. One day, Frank Patchett asked her for a Japanese man's name to use in the book that would become "Bel Canto."

Without consulting her dad, Baeza volunteered his name. Her own name is part of the book, too, used for the industrialist's daughter. This character plays a brief but vital role by buying her father a recording of an opera singer with whom he becomes so enamored that he travels all the way to South America to the fateful party to hear the woman sing. And another character has Baeza's husband's first name, Ruben.

Hosokawa, a retired engineer who lives with his wife, Millie, in Mililani, finds the whole incident amusing despite a little gentle joshing from his friends and family. After the book was published in 2001, his daughter sent him a copy which Patchett inscribed to her character's namesake.

Remember: The reading period for this book is short. You have only until March 28 to read "Bel Canto" and send along your comments for our virtual discussion.

Book-club basics

Here's how to get involved in the Honolulu Advertiser Book Club:

Membership: There is no formal membership. Just read the book and participate in the virtual discussion by sending in your comments and questions.

Book club visits: Books editor Wanda Adams is seeking groups that are reading along with the book club, or who are willing to do so for a future selection so she can drop in on a discussion meeting. Call her at 525-8036.

Our current book: "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett; HarperCollins, paper, $13.95

Reading period: Through March 28

Next "discussion": April 6

To participate in the discussion: Send your comments to Wanda Adams, Books Editor, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Fax: 525-8055. E-mail: bookclub@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Listen: To the "Sandwich Islands Literary Circle" at 9:30 tonight, KHPR 88.1 FM, KKUA 90.7 FM Maui, KANO 91.1 FM Hilo; or hear the program online, starting tomorrow at the Web site below.

To experience the book club online: Visit the.honoluluadvertiser.com/current/il/bookclub.