Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Magical yet realistic, January 31, 2000
By A Customer
This is a wonderful book; beautiful, realistic, magical, and unbelievably sad. In,for example, the book's gradual transition from the idyllic beauty of the island at first, to the bleakness and the hardship that follows, we can see the real effect of war on people's lives; how some things change and some last, and how neither occurrence is guaranteed. Along the way, we also get insights into not only the central characters' lives, but also of the other characters or even figures of power, as well as the historical background told in a striking, interesting manner. This book had me crying throughout the entire last day that I read it; however, while this to me shows that it must have been great to be so moving, I also do fall into the group of people who did not like the ending. Partly, I admit, it was because I found it too sad; too cruel, like a Hardyish twist of fate, that the child that gave meaning to Pelagia's life after Corelli's departure should have been the reason he stayed away. But partly, I also felt that de Bernieres' condensing of nearly half a century's story into the last quarter of the book was unnecessary, and the events somewhat implausible. Having created such a wonderful world of characters (sometimes when reading it, it seemed more real than ordinary life), it seemed a waste to leave it behind. However, the book itself is an incredible piece of writing, and one of the best books I have ever read. The rating I have given "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" could be counted as full marks for the main bulk of the book, and considerably less for the last quarter/fifth of the book.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Captivating, August 29, 2000
As someone who has been known to consume novels in mere hours, I rearely buy books - I borrow them instead. After countless recommendations, however, I picked up a copy of Louis de Bernieres' novel in an airport bookshop, and read the first sentence, to me always the yardstick of whether a book will be worth the read or not. 25 minutes later the shop assistant was asking me whether I wanted to buy it, a smile on her face. I did, and never have I been alternately amused, entertained, moved, educated and captivated by a novel to actually read it through to the finish without interruption - of any kind. I was near silent for the entire plane journey - an eight hour flight. The only sounds I made were stifled, tearful laughter, and stifled, tearful sobs.Words will not suffice to describe Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Written in a richly lyrical style by a man in utter command of language (and not just English), the humour is infectious, the story compelling, the characters so fully fleshed it is almost as though you know them personally - and this of course means that the tragic events which do eventually follow strike home on the heart like nothing you will have read before or will read again. Tears do not roll down my cheeks that easily, yet Carlo's heroism has stayed with me weeks afterwards, as has Corelli's spirit, Pelagia's beauty and Doctor Iannis' indefatigable spirit. Yes, the last 70 pages add an epilogue that seems a touch out of place - maybe John Madden's film will address this - but nothing can detract from the humanity that has gone before, or the pathos and the sheer beauty of de Bernieres' prose. This is the greatest novel I have ever had the fortune to pick up and anyone with a romantic bone in their body should have it as compulsory reading. In a word? Wonderful.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Informative and emotive, March 19, 2000
As an A Level English student, I have to read many books for my course, however, I have never been so moved by a novel as I have when reading Captain Corelli's Mandolin. It forces a large variety of emotion from it's reader. Moments of delightful comedy can be followed by deep tragedy; in the space of two chapters you will find yourself laughing out loud to crying with sympathy.The narrative of the novel is extremely interesting. There is not one overall use of narative. Instead each chapter moves from the view points of characters from all perspectives of the story. Louis De Bernieres puts particular emphasis on the 'little people' of history and we realise that it is in fact those 'little people' who are the true historical heroes. This form of narrative provides a completely unbiased record of the war. Situations in the novel are actually based on true life situations which makes the novel that bit more personal. De Bernieres also cleverly combines many different themes in the novel, the most important of which (in my opinion) is that of mythology. This creates the message that history contines throughout our own lives and also the moral message that we never learn from our past. It is difficult to define this novel into a certain genre as it combines so many. It is not only a war novel, it provides romance, comdy, tragedy and many more. If I could give one piece of advice to a reader, it would be to give this book a chance. Many people in my English class found that though the book had a very slow start, it was in fact the most beautiful book they had ever read and by the end of the novel, they understood why the beginning of the book had been quite difficult to grasp. Captain Corelli's Mandolin is an extremely refreshing, original novel that also provides some intensely tragic and sensitive moments. It's a must on everybody's book shelf!
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