Rating: 
Summary: A Treasure
Review: My son sent me this book with a note on it "It's a Treasure!" That says it all. It had been sent to him by a friend who got it from another friend, and I have also passed it on. (And bought another copy for myself which I will certainly re-read again and again)It simply is the most complete, satisfying, lyrical, sad, funny, beautifully written book I have ever come across. All the strange words.. At first I skipped over them, then as the story took hold of me, I stopped, and starting reading again, from the beginning. I savored those strange words, (even if I did not go to the dictionary to find their meaning), it seemed 'right' to find them there. I want to point out a particular thing: during the German occupation, there is a description of a Greek 'mannerism': thrusting the chin up, and 'clicking' the tongue - to indicate "no". I jumped out of my chair. That same gesture, 'tho highly minimized, is found today, on the East Coast of Sicily (part of Magna Grecia). I was there often, and finally found what it meant. It is so much a part of talking that the movement is so slight as to be almost unnoticable. To find it in Corelli's was to make a magic connection to this marvelous book. Mille Grazie to the author. (The ending was not what I would have wished. I have heard there was a second ending written, and hope to find it somehow). Even so, this book is in the stratosphere of stars. Five stars aren't even a beginning.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor characterisation and thin main plot.
Review: An over long book with much unnecessary and irrelevant detail. The characterisation is poor - we learn little of the people's past lives or of their opinions and the character of Corelli is one-dimensional at best. While intelligently written, the main plot is thin and has to be padded out to the point of absurdity. Maybe I am missing the point here with all the rave reviews, but I found this book to be boring and tedious.
Rating:
Summary: er, addition...
Review: I just noticed someone mentioned the ending. Personally I loved it, but I'd like to point out that Louis de Bernieres wrote a suplimentary last chapter which was published in a newspaper in the UK. In it he tied up a few of the loose ends, and people who didn't like the ending as published may like to seek out this extra chapter. Personally I found it superfluous.
Rating:
Summary: I love this book
Review: I cried out loud on a crowed bus whilst reading Corelli's Mandolin. Finally the magic of Borges, Marquez and Rushdie has reached European writing.
Rating:
Summary: good review, great ending
Review: many of the reviews on line have criticized the ending. i liked it, and consider those who didn't to be cynical, and unwilling to enjoy the possibility of happiness, especially in unlikely circumstances. why, just the other day, mom was saying to me, "Ella Mae, it's true that your pa ran off and left us all high and dry, and it's true he did that about ten minutes into our first date. now, that was nearly a half century ago, and i tell you, honey, i can still remember his name." so you see, sometimes art does mimic real life.
Rating:
Summary: A gem of a book, a terrific find, my best read this year
Review: Corelli's Mandolin (published in the UK as "Captain Correlli's Mandolin) is that rare combination of social commentary, with the most pungent comments on the absurdiy of war since "Catch 22," a touching, if ultimately a bit unsatisfying, love story, and a panoramic history of a wonderful island and terrific people in a series of terrible times. De Berniere's use of language and sardonic understatement should be taught in creative writing classes everywhere. I put it down sadly, and immediately logged into Amazon to track down the rest of De Berniere's work.
Rating:
Summary: A beautifully told story.
Review: I fell in love with Dr. Iannis and his "family." After the light and beauty of the first half, I couldn't help hoping they would somehow escape the German occupation. Like One Hundred Years of Solitude, Corelli's Mandolin manages to stay true to the senseless horror of war without sinking into the routine, maudlin or expected. At least until the very end, but by then you'll forgive De Bernieres anything.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic. Everything a great novel needs!!
Review: A brilliant novel. The opening few pages were the funniest I've ever read. Well written. I absolutely loved it, and would recommend it to anyone. I work in a bookshop, and I recommend it to everyone who walks in. READ IT!!
Rating:
Summary: The most wonderful book I have ever read
Review: This book, is, without doubt, one of the best books I have ever had the fortune to read. It is vivid, imaginative, humorous, scary, emotional and descriptive. This has already been said, of course, with the most common complaint being the ending. Louis de Bernieres agrees with you, and has published, in the Times newspaper, another ending. I have heard that it is worth looking at, and if you haven't read the book yet, get to it!
Rating:
Summary: My all time favorite book
Review: I have read and re-read this book and as I was browsing back through the new reviews I noticed my original review is gone! If I want to give someone a heartfelt gift, I give them this book (and I have given many away!) They just don't get any better than this. This book is full of wonderful, unique writing (each chapter is from a different perspective - do you want to get to know Mussolini???); it has humor; it's full of music; it has sincere, intense relationships: father-daughter, boy-girl, boy-boy. Words are inadequate - if you haven't read it.. you're in for a treat.
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