Rating: 
Summary: pretty good
Review: I absolutely loved this novel until I was two-thirds of the way through. After that I felt the narrative wasn't as well thought out and I felt that the book lacked the cleverness and energy that most of the first part had. Also it got too violent and depressing and it rushed through the conclusion. But I really did get a kick out of the first part. It really helps to know some italian and some greek to understand some of the jokes. In fact there was one part of the book that struck me so funny. I don't even know if it was meant to be that funny, but when Bunnio, the british parachuter starts speaking to Iannis and Pelagia in ancient greek, I laughed out loud. It would be like someone speaking to an american in chaucer's middle english. (!!) It just struck me as really funny.
Rating:
Summary: Life's missed opportunities
Review: One of the most moving novels I have ever read. Wonderfully developed characters, mixed in with some historical events make this book a joy to read. It makes you belive in "carpe diem" as a motto for life. It was a little slow to start with, but in hindsight all the build up was necessary for the impact of the events that followed. This is not a page turner until the second half, but the writing is worth savoring, and if you have to read it a little slowly, then all the better. I think I will read it again more slowly to dwell on the the beautiful writing.
Rating: 
Summary: Poetic, but skim through the last 70 pages
Review: This is a beautifully written book. De Bernieres is a master of styles. Each character is given not only a vivid personality, but also a soul. The readers can really feel the characters' emotion as they go through the times of joy and tears. I do not believe the last 70 pages should be skipped totally, but I do suggest to skim through them. The last section is a reflection to the changing of men in post-WWII Greece. It draws an interesting comparison between war time and peace time. But it's dry and boring compared to the first 350 pages.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful love story in a fascinating historical setting.
Review: How can you classify this book? Louis de Bernieres has written a daring mixture of fiction, history, romance, classical mythology, travel log and cookbook. This is essentially the story of the Italian and German occupation of a Greek Island, Cephalonia, during World War II. Books about World War II - be they novels, historical studies or first-hand accounts - have been hugely popular in the US, but the course of the war in Greece will be new and interesting territory for many readers. I understand that there has been some criticism of de Bernieres' historical research, especially as regards the partisan resistance, but this book certainly whetted my appetite to learn more about what happened in Greece. The plot itself revolves around Pelagia, the beautiful daughter of Dr. Iannis, the local physician and village elder. Pelagia initially becomes enamored of Mandras, a local fisherman. Her powerful initial attraction keeps her from noticing that he is not her intellectual equal, an oversight that evetually leads to disillusionment and tragedy for both of them. Meanwhile, the Italians arrive to occupy the island. A handsome young musician, Captain Correlli, is boarded in the Iannis household. The doctor and his daughter do there best to show their solidarity with Greece by making the Captain as uncomfortable as possible, but they are inevitably seduced by his wit, intelligence and zest for life. The story is beautifully written. Not only does de Bernieres do justice to the beautiful island setting, but he also powerfully conveys the misery and hardship of the fighting on the front lines. All the classic themes of a great war novel are here - the unique brotherhood of fighting men, the conundrum of fighting against men you personal like and respect, the lure of brutality. The plot is interwoven with Homerian references as well. The large cast of characters are masterfully executed. The narrative is told from several different points of view. All in all, a tour de force by de Bernieres. I know that many people found the ending unsatisfying, but consider the parallels between Correlli and Ohysseus.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful story, though lacking in the end
Review: The book was a very emotional recount of some WW2 events, and the love story between Corelli and Pelagia was innocent but profound. The ending wasn't well done though. Either Corelli should have been killed in the war, or he should have kept his promise to return much sooner, not at 80 years old! Overall, a beautiful novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Tedious
Review: I had high expectations, but 200 pages into the book I was still wondering when it was going to start. Rambling, devoid of a coherent story line, cardboard characters, unbelievable ending...by the time I finished I was angry for sticking with it until the bitter end.
Rating:
Summary: a sublime novel on the nature of love and friendship
Review: I have owned this novel for four years, but did not read it until this past week. I wanted to avoid having anything about the movie (likely to be simplified and sentimental) to ruin the reading of this. I can say that 'Corelli's Mandolin' is a first-rate novel, a cut above anything that passes for literature in Oprahfied America these days. It's moving, powerful and sad, and should open most any reader's eyes to the horrors of WWII, perpetrated in this case by Germans, Greeks, Italians and most anyone who chose to fight. But the heart of 'Coreeli's Mandolin' is in the language, the way de Bernieres uses language and action to show the various ways in that love may take form. Whether it's the doomed Carlo, never to have his affections returned in the way he needs, or Pelagia, whose love for Corelli is a temptestous storm of conflicting desire, this novel is never off the mark in its ability to make you feel the longing and sadness of what love cannot overcome: death, betrayal, the passing of the years. More than any other novel I have read since 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being,' there is at the heart of 'Corelli's Mandolin' an example of a true and perfect love: that between Dr. Iannis and Pelagia, his daughter. What he passes on to her is the invaluable gift that ideally every parent may give to his or her child. I'll say no more so that a new reader may enjoy this novel, at once a treaty on the nature of the heart, the indiminishable bond of family and a chilling reminder of the costs of war.
Rating:
Summary: more of a message to reviewers than a review
Review: Please do not reveal endings of novels. I made the mistake of starting to read reviews of this book while I was less than a hundred pages into it -- curious whether others enjoyed it as much as I am. Plot is not everything, but it adds to enjoyment of the story, and customer reviewers should not reveal what happens to characters.
Rating:
Summary: Heil De Bernieres!
Review: As an author with my debut novel in initial release, I am quite pleased to see that this fabulous novel is soon to become a film. I enjoyed CORELLI'S MANDOLIN upon its first release, and I am certain I will enjoy the upcoming motion picture. In this novel, Louis de Bernieres has created a romance set against the backdrop of a horrific war. Dr. Iannis practices medicine on a Greek island, and his daughter, Pelagia, is engaged to a young fisherman named Mandra. World War II disrupts their ideal life. The Italian's invade, and Captain Corelli arrives with his mandolin. Mandra flees to join the partisans, and the good captain becomes romantically interested in Pelagia. Complications arise. This book has heart. It is a fabulous read. As Antonio Corelli in novel replies to "Heil Hitler!" by shouting "Heil Puccini!", I have to add "Heil De Bernieres!"
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece!!
Review: Captain Corelli's Mandolin is truly a masterpiece. The story introduces us to unforgettable characters in the dramatic backdrop of war. The main characters are fully developed and the author makes us care about what happens to them. Combine these factors with the setting of a gorgeous Greek island and a very humorous writing style, and you have one terrific book. This novel is beyond a simple love story. I highly recommend!!
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