Rating: 
Summary: Intellectually heady love story/anti-war novel
Review: "Corelli's Mandolin" came highly recommended by two friends whose sophisticated taste in fiction I trust. I won't comment on the plot, as the synopses above do that very well. Mr. de Bernieres is an exceptional prose stylist, who writes beautiful, elegant sentences, provides descriptions of such clarity as to make your inner eye need sunglasses, and has a twisted comic sense that reminds me of Mark Helprin and John Irving. The first 100 pages are slow going, yet still very involving, as you are introduced to the cast of characters, the island of Cephallonia, and the events leading up to the Italian occupation of the island. The pace picks up once Captain Corelli arrives on the scene and begins his beguiling seduction of Pelagia. But I must caution potential readers: this novel is dense with information, multiple narrative viewpoints, satire, history, an odd assortment of characters, and the narrator's discursive approach. I did not find this book to be a "breezy" or fast read. This is not a plot-driven novel or a page-turner by any means. If you like similar books and think the premise sounds interesting, then prepare to settle in for a leisurely, occasionally mind-bending read. Personally, I think that Mark Helprin's "A Soldier of the Great War" is a far more successful attempt at the same type of novel. Helprin is a brilliant writer with a huge intellect who plots like a madman, writes inspired and wickedly funny dialogue, and paints word pictures that will be indelibly etched in your mind. "Soldier" is probably my favorite book of the 1990's. "Corelli's Mandolin" is excellent but it's not truly a classic. Nevertheless, I await de Bernieres' next book with anticipation.
Rating: 
Summary: The best book ever written (in my humble opinion)
Review: I have already written a review of this book (January 17, 1997). However, I just noticed that there is going to be a movie starring Nicholas Cage. I would encourage anyone reading this to read the book first. The English Patient was able to pull it off, but usually the film adaptation is a sorry second to the book.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book!
Review: What can I say! This is a great book. You'll fall in love with all the eccentric characters on the Greek Island of Cephallonia and come to love the Italian soldiers, too. The first 1/4 of the book is slow, but once it picks up, it goes! At times it'll make you laugh out loud, and at others times it'll make you cry. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: It was better than CATS! I'm going to read it again and ag
Review: I agree that this book would be perfect if not for the weak ending. However, that in no way diminishes the intense pleasure I derived from reading it. What bothered me about the end is that considering the intensity De Bernieres put into their affair, it makes absolutely no sense that Corelli would go 50 years without contact. It feels as though a different author wrote the last 50 pages. Very unsatisfying. BUT! I still rate this among the best books I have ever read. I was unable to think of anything else for days after finishing, and the injustice of the ending absolutely tormented me. My husband thought I had gone mad! This is also the first time in my life that I felt compelled to re-read most of the book as soon as I had finished it. It's that well written. The prose of De Bernieres is unsurpassed!
Rating:
Summary: Many copies being ordered for Christmas
Review: Only the second book in my life that made me cry. It was a gift from a friend, I would never have bought it on my own but I absolutely adored it.
Rating:
Summary: idyllic
Review: the novel tansported me to the beauty and tranquility of Cephalonia. The charachters in the novel become like friends-you care what happens to them. At times laugh out loud funny and at times moving, the only let down is perhaps the slightly weak ending. It's a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book, but wouldn't recommend it to everybody
Review: Wonderful book that created an excellent atmosphere. Thepeople who were detractors of the ending and the chacterizationswithin the book missed the point in my opinion. I think the end was appropriate given the state of Pelagia's lack of enthusiasm for life once Corelli left. I also felt that the characters were uncomplicated yet still realistic,though perhaps a little idealized in some instances. For those who complained that the Greeks were too good and the Nazi's too bad, I thought that the character of Gunter Weber transcended these boundaries. He had a great deal of depth which revealed with a remarkable economy of words. I also am unconcerned with the lack of historical accuracy and incorrect usage of Greek and Italian. The book is a novel. The historical setting merely is a place to set the reader's imagination. It is not supposed to be as accurate as a historical novel by somebody like Patrick O'Brian. If I wanted an accurate history, I would have bought a different book.
Rating: 
Summary: A total waste of time
Review: Much recommended by people whose tastes I tend to share. I just can't work out why. I hated the 'characters' .... more like feeble caricatures. The writing / construction is disjointed, the pace tedious. Some books you just can't put down - this one I found very hard to keep picking up again.
Rating:
Summary: Elegant
Review: That pretty much sums it up. Tears and laughter. It is a lovely story, somewhat reminiscent of Mediterraneo. Rich prose. Would make a perfect movie.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring, Lyrical, Superb
Review: I bought this book after much badgering from a female friend of mine and to be honest I wasn't really looking forward to it much, thinking 'girly love story' yuk!.....WOW! was I wrong. This is one of those rare books that had me snorting with supressed laughter one minute (very embarrassing on a crowded train) and plunging into the deepest despair the next, so skillful and beautiful is the writing. If you buy one book this year, get this one, the experience will remain with you for a long, long time.
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