Rating: 
Summary: Words cannot express...
Review: I was put off buying a copy of "Captain Corelli's Mandolin", due to its popularity (it even appears at the end of "Notting Hill", in Hugh Grant's hand!), but I regret not having read it soooner. There is a very good reason for its popularity. Quite simply, it is a literary work of genius. Despite my young years, I have read many novels, and I have never been so moved. It is sad, without being depressing; historical and political, without being dull; romantic, without being conventional and, for want of a better word, "soppy". It is a novel which embraces the very epitome of the word "perfection"- I have even written to Mr. de Bernieres to commend him, something I have never done before; no author has even made me contemplate doing so until now. Some readers disliked the ending: I can understand their point of view, due to the sheer frustration and tears provoked, but there was a good twist of the plot, albeit somewhat cruel for the reader! Several times, I had to put the book down, to compose myself, that I may continue. I shouted! I roared with laughter! I sobbed! Once, I was crying for 10 minutes solid, laughing through my tears, in spite of myself. I have SO much to say about "Captain Corelli's Mandolin", but frankly, a) I have no words that can be compared to Mr. de Bernieres' and b) I would hate for someone to read my review, and to get their hopes up too much. Please, just read this book. It is a fabulous yarn!
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant mix of humour, pathos, history, love, and hate
Review: You can read other reviews here and they all complain about the ending. Well, the ending doesn't live up to the rest of the book, it's true. But don't let that put you off. The book as a whole must surely be one of the most remarkable, insightful, beautiful and profound books ever written. Set primarly in a tiny Greek village on the island of Cephallonia, and told through the eyes of maybe half a dozen characters, this remarkable tale explores the effects of war on simple people as they struggle to preserve their lives and their loves, and to understand the meaning of happiness, life and death. Dr. Iannis is wise; his daughter Pelagia is strong; her fiance handsome but weak; her soulmate charming and well-meaning (though the ending suggests perhaps not worthy of her); the village priest a drunken buffoon,...and there are others. The notes on the back of the book quote the Observer's review: "...an emotional, funny, stunning novel which swings with wide smoothness between joy and bleakness, personal lives and history...it's lyrical and angry, satirical and earnest". I guess that really says it all. One last note, though: Here in New Zealand on the annual bookstore's reader's poll, this novel made the top 10 in 1998.
Rating:
Summary: Captain Corellis Mandolin
Review: In my life so far, the enormity of 17years i have NEVER read a book that was so beautifully constructed. The characters are perfect, and the beautiful island of Cephallonia leaves a taste in the mouth that lingers for months afterwards. Carlo, Antonio, Pelagia, and Dr Iannis are wonderful, and each in there own way unique. This is the only book that as soon as i finished i immediately began again. My only word of advice is not to watch the film, which pales in comparison to the book!A book that puts things in perspective!The best i've ever read!
Rating:
Summary: An Unforgettable Read
Review: I decided to read this novel out of interest both as a musician, and as an A-Level English Literature student. After two chapters I was hooked, and could not put the book down. The thing that puts this novel head and shoulders above all the others is the brilliant characterisation - as a reader, you begin to care for Pelagia, the doctor's daughter; Mandras, her fiance who has been left physically and psychologically scarred by the war; Carlo, the brave but gentle Italian homosexual; and of course, the eponymous Captain Corelli. The writing style also plunges the reader through a range of emotions. The book goes from being hilariously funny, to poignant, to brutally shocking. You cannot help but laugh at a chapter written entirely from Mussolini's viewpoint, in which 'Il Duce' demands that the temperature of Italy be lowered in order to increase the resilience of the Italian youth! Likewise, when an Italian character has his head split by a Greek bullet, and asks Carlo to break the news to his mother, the poignancy is unbearable. De Bernieres' description of Corelli's music is so vivid, you can almost hear the pieces he plays, and the depiction of battles is also brilliant. This book will open your eyes to the fact that not all of the Fascist troops in the Second World War were maniacs - some, like the fictitious Captain Corelli, were ordinary people caught up in a savage conflict.
Rating:
Summary: Smashing stuff :)
Review: This novel is one of the best books that I have ever read. In my short 16 year-old life, I have not yet read any book even remotely comparable to the emotions and afterthoughts I have experienced throughout my reading of this novel. It is not only a semi-historical novel, it is a demonstration of the humour, tragedy, human fallacies and qualities in a time of conflict. The happenings de Bernieres describes are vivid, breathtakingly colourful...sometimes I wish that I myself could experience the lives of Pellagia or Corelli, just to feel what they felt at times of intense happiness, sadness or love. Although the beginning may be unattractively slow, or long-winded, don't be put off, because you'll definitely be missing out on the wealth of literary ecstacy later on....the ending, I'll just say that you shouldn't expect anything; but ultimately, it is more realistic than any other corny movie ending where "everyone lives happily ever after". Anyway, I believe that ANYONE should read this book. Life would less exciting without it. :)
Rating: 
Summary: "South Pacific", Greek-style
Review: Set in World War Two on the Greek island of Cephallonia, "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" tells of the love between Captain Antonio Corelli who is with the Italian occupying force and Pelagia, daughter of a local doctor. It roams wider than that, telling of the Italian and Greek involvement in World War Two.I was suprised that this novel has received such acclaim on the one hand and so much derision on the other. I thought it was just very average, disposable pulp fiction. No doubt more knowledgeable souls than I will spot historical errors - but the thought crossed my mind that it is not a serious historial work, merely a piece of fiction, so is it vital that every detail should be correct? The main howler though is the author's confusion over whether or not Greeks use the Cryllic alphabet - I thought the Greek alphabet was separate and distinct from the Cryllic. The chief difficulty I had with this novel was that De Bernieres never seemed to settle on what he wanted it to be - historical novel, romantic comedy, or tragic novel? It ends up being all of them and none of them at the same time. De Bernieres shifts from one to the other, but his writing is not strong enough to be convincing as he does it. What one is left with is a sort of "South Pacific" set in the Mediterranean, replete with national stereotypes (for example, the English agent just had to be an ex-public schoolboy addicted to saying "what ho" etc). Not, I think, a work destined for greatness other than on the beach. G Rodgers
Rating: 
Summary: An Entertainment of Emotions
Review: Make no mistake about it. This is not a romantic novel and even though one cannot help but get carried away with the romance that gradually develops in Pelagia's life this is rather a humorous novel for even within the romance itself and the harsh reality of the war that is soon to overwhelm the life of every character there is plenty of humour making the entertainment value of the novel undeniably high. Just one reservation about the actual plot of this book or rather not so much the plot itself but the way the novel actually ends. It makes one wonder whether the author was having second thoughts about this since the end seems rather contrived and quite detached from the development of the rest of the plot, particularly if one considers the point in time at which Captain Corelli escapes from the island of Cephalonia.
Rating:
Summary: A lyric of love
Review: A superbly crafted story of a woman caught in the throes of transition from deep tradition to the modern world. For Pelagia Iannis the cost of transition is heavy. Daughter of the village's widower doctor, she is caught up in global forces beyond her ken. The imperial ambitions of Italy's dictator, Benito Mussolini, bring the Italian army of occupation. Among the troops is Captain Antonio Corelli, artillery officer and musician. An unwitting and hesitant imperial minion, he is billeted in the Iannis household. Although the doctor urges passive resistance, Pelagia, although committed to a partisan youth, is drawn to Corelli's musical talents and unworldly charm. De Bernieres weaves an intricate tale of love, war, humour and pathos with unrivaled skill. His characters sparkle with realism, an aspect permeating this outstanding work. His descriptions of the interactions of the differing nationalities and ideologies ring vividly true. As he builds the story through the characters and events, de Bernieres gives little away. There are continual surprises as events twist and bend the characters. Some break, others find a means to extricate themselves from a tangling fate. Pelagia bears the main burden throughout. Her love for Corelli, after a fitful start, blossoms, then is tested by the swirl of events. Other characters come into her life, remain or depart. All make some impact as de Bernieres adroitly builds her role. Each chapter becomes a minor tale in its own right, with all tied together flawlessly. Characters and events are imparted with meticulous detail, yet, like a Mozart opera, not one word would bear excision. If you like a story that successfully ranges over a variety of issues and people, you will seek far and wide to surpass this tale. De Bernieres' skills in portraying life's complexities, yet maintaining reader attention and interest are peerless. He has clearly build his work on thorough scholarship - there's even a source list at the end. His sweeping view will leave you exhilarated and breathless, but fulfilled. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
Rating: 
Summary: A girlie book with lots of blood
Review: Friends who know I`m interested in war history recommended this book. But this is not war history. This is a rather banal love story mixed up with a lot of bloody details. If you are looking for the real stuff, go somewhere else.
Rating:
Summary: Forget the movie!
Review: I was so glad that I saw the movie before I read the book. It comes nowhere to matching the richness of the language and characterisation. And one of the main characters - Carlos is almost completely omitted. It is a wartime story inhabited by real people whose lives are invaded as well as their beautiful Kefalonia. It is a love story - the Captain's insecure love for the doctor's daughter and the hopeless love of Carlos for the Captain. Louis de Berniere shows us the fears and doubts of the invaders as much as the invaded. The Italians are artistic and musical lovers of life and women - far removed from the harsh Nazis who arrive following Italy's surrender. Happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, hate, love - they're all there. It is as good as the hype. In a different league to the film - which I did actually enjoy.
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