Rating: 
Summary: let it have an effect on you
Review: When I finished this book, I threw it across the room at the wall--I was that mad at the ending. I am still thinking about it half a year later, how unexpected it was. With time I have realized that this merely fits into De Bernieres's tragic-comic style, and that to end this happily would have fit none too well into the traditional plot of the novel. In retrospect it just makes me like this book even more.World War II serves as the backdrop for Corelli's Mandolin, though the novel's plot is more fate-driven. Much like the Italian movies that concern the often farcic Italian occupation of Greece such as Mediterraneo, the Italians soldiers stationed on the island are portrayed as reluctant visitors. They spend their days with prostitutes, gambling, and outraging the natives. A romance develops between Captain Corelli, an Italian musician, and Pelagia, the daughter of the island's doctor who also happens to speak Italian. Woven in between the skeins of their love story are vignettes from the front lines, from a homosexual soldier who loves his captain and from Pelagia's betrothed. I loved the characters in this book. I loved the lightness of idyllic island life in contrast to the brutal scenes of war. I loved experiencing the subtle but inevitable coming together of the two lovers. And beyond the plot and setting, I would rate the author's language use as among the best I have ever come across. Also made into an unremarkable movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable..... but far from a classic!
Review: The setting is the Ionic island of Cephallonia, right at the outset of the Second World War. The characters are diversified as human nature: beautiful and romantic Pelagia, wise and honorable Dr. Iannis, charming musically talented Captain Corelli, brave disguised homosexual Carlo Guercio, ignorant and naive Mandras, amongst many others. On the background the novel recounts the Italian occupation of the island, the German invasion, the brutal civil war, and the final change of this placid, loving island into a busy centre of tourism. In the world of books, most often popularity and literary excellency do not run side-by-side. This is certainly the case with "Captain Corelli's Mandolin." Although enjoyable to read, with a wide spectrum of emotions ranging from love at its most sublime and romantic manifestation, to cruelty and barbarity brought about by war, this book has noticeable flaws in its structure and content. As usually happens with fiction novels set against a political and historical background, the interpretation of the latter is subject to criticisms, the author in this case being accused of showing a one-sided version. This seems to be particularly true with respect to the way the author has pictured the partisans/communists indifference and refusal to fight against the occupying forces, be they Italian or German. This issue has brought such indignation amongst survivals of the events and some Greek authorities to the point that Bernieres was compelled to write a new chapter (four years after the first edition) which has been added to the Greek edition (published on the Sunday Times -- 24 May 1998 -- and also available on internet). The author narrates the events at a first-gear speed for the first 300 pages and then abruptly for the last 80 pages he moves to fifth-gear speed, covering two generations in the flip of a page. Such inconsistency not only breaks the rhythm but raises questions as to exactly at what point the novel should have reached its end. Overall, the characters are well portrayed, they tend to neatly represent basic human qualities and frailties. If at any point their behavior seems to be incongruent with their personality, it is the typical case where the author (unfortunately) has "molded" the characters to fit the plot (Captain Corelli's reluctance to approach Pelagia upon his return to Cephallonia). From a positive perspective, the narration remains vivid, lively, and genuinely humorous. It adds to one more novel where romance is victim of the horrors of war and its consequential breakdown of values. If the reader is not to take the historical side or the structural flaws too personally and keep in mind he is in the realm of fiction, then it will be worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: A magnificent piece of fictional work
Review: Louis de Bernieres' "Captain Corelli's Mandolin (CCM)" has by virtue of its phenomenal reach acquired something of a reputation of being a modern classic. Its screen adaptation may have guaranteed it pride of place on the shelves of every household, but I would argue that the book has been mostly ill served by the movie. Though largely faithful to the plot except for the cop-out crowd pleasing ending, the movie unwisely reduced the character of Carlo, a full-blooded and heroic figure comparable in stature to Corelli, to a mere walk-on part. At its centre, CCM is a tragic romance set in the island of Cephallonia in Greece during the start of the Second World War. Pelagia, the daughter of a folk medicine doctor is betrothed to Mandras, a local illiterate fisherman but falls in love with Captain Corelli, an unwilling enemy soldier more comfortable wielding his mandolin than his rifle during the island's occupation by the Italian army. When Mandras suspects the truth, he joins the country's communist insurgents and returns with vengeance on his mind. But fate has other designs for Pelagia and Corelli. A powerful earthquake devastates the entire war-torn community of Cephallonia. Corelli is seriously injured in the war against the Germans when Mussolini collapses and Italy pulls out of its alliance with the Nazis, but he survives and returns to his homeland only to discover decades later of how life might have panned out for him and Pelagia, had it not been for some unfortunate misunderstanding of each other's circumstances. With a plot so familiar, it is a supreme testimony to de Bernieres' genius that he manages to avoid the pitfalls of melodrama. When he tells his story, he has at least five other pistons firing away, so there's always another dimension unfolding to keep the reader enthralled, like Carlo's intriguing series of heartbreaking confessionals, the Greek prime minister's despairing monologue, and the lovely touch of magical realism in Mandras' final scenes with the dolphins. Even Mussolini gets to reveal his soul to the reader. CCM also boasts a large supporting cast of fascinating characters like Dr Iannis, Drosoula, the priest, the royalist and the communist, and others too many to mention - truly a feat of inspired characterisation. There are also lots to savour of de Bernieres' humorous political commentary on the motives of the Germans, the Italians, the British and the Greeks during the War. CCM is truly a magnificent fictional work. It is headily romantic, funny, lyrical, colourful, and magical. It is also hugely entertaining and is sure to be read for generations to come. Forget about the movie. Read the book.
Rating: 
Summary: An intense historical romance
Review: I finally convinced myself to read Corelli's Mandolin after hearing so many wonderful reviews of the book. I had seen Mandolin on several favorite booklists and was wondering what the fuss was about. I knew within five pages exactly what they have been speaking about. The novel tells the tale of a little village in Greece primarily during World War II. Each chapter has a different narrator, from the main characters all the way to the Duce, Mussolini himself. The main characters are Dr. Iannis, the village doctor, and his daughter Pelagia, an aspiring doctor herself. Once promised to fellow villager, Mandras, she eventually meets and falls in love with Italian invader, Captain Antonio Corelli. Between extremely detailed descriptions of German and Italian possession of Greece, the reader is rewarded with sweet romantic encounters and hilarious adventures. I absolutely recommend this novel to those who enjoy period novels, especially World War II history buffs.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best novels I have ever read
Review: This book was wonderfully written with vivid descriptions coming off of every page. The reader identifies so well with the characters that you feel their joys and pains. As the war drags on and the atrocities begin, the reader can't help feeling sorrow for all involved. The author does a magnificent job of incorporating history into the story. The reader is initially drawn to the wit and charm of Dr. Iannis and his love of country. The perimeter characters with their unique quirks and, in the case of some, strong political views, leaves the reader visualizing the sense of community and the common thread of tradition. The pain and suffering that happens left me sorrowful and speechless, like I lost close and dear friends. I was sorry this book had to end, but it made me reflect on life, love, society, and friendship. A book I highly recommend!
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Summary: The book was MUSIC!
Review: This book had depth..... I languished in it.
Rating: 
Summary: Read other books
Review: This book is a disappointment. The author chooses a good location, takes a rich canvas, writes well, but nevertheless falls short of writing a good novel. One of the main problems is that the protagonists are not credible as characters. They are not morally complex and consequently they are not interesting. You might as well find these characters in comic strips, such as Tintin. Nice people, certainly, most of them; some of them even endearing, but flat, generic material: the good widower father, helpful doctor to the islanders; his beautiful, clever daughter; the cheeky family goat; the funny, charming Italian officer with his mandolin; various eccentric villagers; the ancient-Greek-speaking behind-the-lines English officer; the good awkward (...), and so on. As if realizing this weakness, the author tries to compensate by being modern and explicit: the beautiful daughter reproaches herself for her "sluttish thoughts", Captain Corelli's opera choir practices in the latrine, and so on. The story ends in a brutal massacre of Italian soldiers by their former German allies. However, this won't do. The entire setting, reuniting old lovers eventually, is a smug little story, potentially even an abuse of historical background to manufacture the type of love story that will have housewives break into tears while reading on their beach holiday. One can read the book, and even enjoy it in its good parts. But one simply cannot believe it. The problem is, as many of the reviews at Amazon show, that unfortunately many people actually find this type of writing credible. We do not really need such books at all. Readers who want to have a profound approach to the issues addressed in this novel should turn to (...)(and quite a few others) instead.
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Summary: BEAUTIFUL WRITING, Wonderful Story
Review: de Berniers' writing is lucious. It just flows off of the page. It's not just the story that will captivate you, but the way that de Berniers tells the story. The historical love story and the magical setting make for a wonderful combination. This is one book that I look forward to re-reading. If you saw the movie, you still don't have any idea what the book was about. Read this book!
Rating:
Summary: A NOVEL OF WARTIME
Review: Based on an actual event, the Nazi takeover of the small Greek island, Cephalonia, and the murder of untold numbers of Italian troops who took the hands of the native Greeks in their stand against facism, Corelli's Mandolin is a searing, lyrically beautiful novel. Capt. Antonio Corelli heads the Italian post on Cephalonia. He is a dreamer, a mandolin player who gives little heed to the encroachments of fascism. Pelagia, the incandescently beautiful and willful daughter of the island's doctor is the object of Corelli's love. Their relationship is determined, to a large degree, by the constraints of invasion and war. The novel's wartime years are dramatic with betrayals and counter plots by both individuals and nations. Concluding pages, relating the horrendous earthquake in the early 50s and the regime of George Papandreou, bring us to the present. In this novel a Greek island at its nadir is described through the suffering of individuals and nations. The author's scope is immense; his imagination vivid.
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Summary: The Horrors and Idiocy of World War II
Review: This remarkable book brilliantly captures both the horrors and idiocy of the Second World War without leaving the confines of the small Greek island of Cephalonia. De Bernieres obviously loves his characters, and consequently so does the reader. The book swings from rich humor to abject misery effectively, and the love story between Pelagia, a Greek woman, and Antonio, an officer of the Italian army that is occupying the island, is real and touching. Their love is an antidote to the barbarity closing in around them. The secondary characters also come to life, and Mussolini's monologues, interspersed among the chapters, are a brilliant commentary on megalomania. The descriptions of life in the village on Cephalonia are both funny and moving, the battle scenes are horrifying, and the indecision of the Italian army's brass is so stupefying it still makes you angry sixty years later. I was surprised that the book went beyond the war years right up to the '90s, a touch I had mixed feelings about. But overall I thought the book a modern classic. Too bad the movie wasn't up to the standards of the book.
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