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Summary: A few corrections
Review: I have already reviewed this book. I was so overwhelmed by the book itself that I did not want to mention two errors of fact contained therein. But now that I see Mrs. Abrahams from the Rocky Grand Canyon State found the last part of the book ... incredulous ... I feel I must speak out. I think she may mean incredible. As for the errors in the book, ... venial ... is used several times where it should be ...venal.... Also, the narrator speaks of the Italian soldiers being unable to get the hang of the Cyrillic alphabet. The Greek language is in fact written in the Greek and not the Cyrillic alphabet. The Cyrillic is used for Russian and Old Church Slavonic and other Slavic languages. This in no way diminishes the marvelosity of this book. It is so wonderful it will probably survive being made into a movie, which I understand is now in production.
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Summary: So good a movie is being made of it
Review: I had this book on my shelf collecting dust for a year, when I heard it was being made into a movie with Nicolas Cage as Captain Corelli, and Penelope Cruz as Pelagia, I decided to read it. I am very glad I did because not only is this book going to be a great movie, if it's adapted properly, it is also a great book in itself. Starting before WWII, it takes place on the island of Cephallonia which is in the Ionian Sea off the coast of Greece. There we meet an eclectic group of villagers, and among them are Dr. Iannis, and his beautiful daughter Pelagia, Father Arsenios the priest, and Velisarios, a muscle man who can carry out great feats of strength. Shortly after the declaration of war the Italians invade, and occupy Greece and its islands, and here we're introduced to Captain Corelli, soldier by day, and musician by night. He falls for the already betrothed Pelagia, and she unwittingly falls in love with her captor. Although they are separated, their romance will see them through the invasion of the Germans, and the brutality of the Greek communists. I enjoyed both the love story and the anti-war story that were intertwined within this novel. The author's gift for humour shines through the first few pages when he sets up his story, and this helps the reader get through the graphic, and saddening middle of the story, in order for the reader to enjoy the poignant ending. Very good book, and I can't wait to enjoy the movie!
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Summary: Could have been better. . .
Review: I agree with most of the praise heaped on this novel, but also agree with the criticisms. On the latter, I will be more specific: 1. Corelli's excuse for not coming back for Pelagia ("I saw you with a baby so I figured you were married") is not credible AT ALL. Come on, he was so enamored of her yet he didn't want to find out for sure what the situation was? He just assumed the worst? No way. 2. I feel set up by the fact that Corelli was an intruder and Mandras was a defender, and both were in love with the same woman yet they never met. Come on! Surely that would have made for an interesting story. Hence, I agree that the book, and its characters, fall flat after Corelli leaves. A major disappointment considering how rich the book is up to that point. The author ran out of gas, and his work is not complete. It's a finely crafted fragment. Maybe it can be worked into a good movie.
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Summary: I already posted- This is for John in Tokyo, 7/12 post
Review: The answer to your trivia question is 'Nottting Hill". The last scene when Hugh Grant is sitting on the bench with Julia reading 'Corelli's Mandolin'. The tie in is that the director of NH was already signed to also direct CM, coming up the Summer 2001 with Nicholas Cage, Sean Connery, and Penelope Cruz. LOVED THE BOOK!!
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Summary: Tragic and beautiful
Review: I thought I was going to hate this book, as the beginning was a bit slow. However, as it progressed, the story becomes a terrific combination of moving and tragic, humorous and interesting. What a wonderful historical novel!
Rating:
Summary: Almost truly Great
Review: Except for when the author "goes over the top" as he does with the Mussolini brochure and when he starts one of the truly horrendus discriptions on some grisly detail (that you know is on its way and is going to go on too long), this is a magnificent novel, informative, moving and wise.
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Summary: the most complete and beautiful book i've read in ages
Review: don't be fooled by de berniere's name. his first language is english and there are few who have the dexterity to use it as effectively as he does. captain corelli is the story of a greek island, cephallonia, mainly during the war, when it is occupied both by the appallingly-led italians and the inhuman germans. characters greek, italian and german are so vividly drawn here that you quickly come to know and understand them as you do a close friend. perhaps the most compelling aspect is that, in stark contrast with many a novel, such is de berniere's capacity for empathy, you find yourself feeling affection for everyone, including the bad guys, because you appreciate what drives them to be what they are. that is, i must say, with the absolute exception of el duce himself, benito mussolini, who is brilliantly portrayed as perhaps the most absurd and inept leader in world history. the chapter devoted to his ludicrous outpourings is worth the cover price all on its own. a thoroughly satisfying and enlightening novel. i wonder what his others are like.
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Summary: I was disappointed!
Review: A friend recommended this book describing it as "a great romance." I was disappointed. Talk about a long and drawn-out beginning! I certainly was not convinced of Pelagia's love for Mandras...thought it to be more of a crush. I loved the imagery of the small Greek town, but was exasperated by the author's detailed descriptions of initial characters who later become irrelevant. I also felt that the author just skimmed past the latter half of the main characters' lives, and jumped to the ending...which I found incredulous. This book should be retitled "Pelagia's Wasted Youth." The only character who really touched me was Carlo Guercio, and the two stars are for him.
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Summary: A work of genius
Review: The blurb on the front cover from the Los Angeles Times Book review describes this brilliant work as exhuberent, which is an understatement if ever there was one. Actually it is a work that overflows from start to finish with imagination, beautiful language, daring narrative technique, profound understanding of people and their emotional lives, and plenty of wit and wisdom. It takes place on the island of Cephalonia, Greece, and covers the long period from the first Italian invasion to the end of the civil war and then up to the present. Pelagia, the main character, knows from the start that she does not love the gorgeous fisherman with the beautiful buttocks who courts her and eventually becomes a Communist without understanding what Communism is all about and then tries, Communistically, to rape her. She also knows that she does love Antonio Corelli, the Italian officer who billets himself in her house and sleeps, alone, in her bed. This novel has much in common with Latin American magical realism, but keeps its feet on the ground while allowing itself some almost unbelievable flights of imagination.
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Summary: Awesome story in a wonderful setting
Review: Wonderful book. Brings an exotic time and place to life. I liked it so much that after I read the book I also got the audiotape so I could learn the correct pronunciation for the less familiar words. The book is better and more complete but I would also highly recommend the audiotape. Now I will have to go to Cephaloni-a. This could turn out to be a very expensive book to read with the audiotape, trip, souvenirs, etc.
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