Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Louis de Bernieres
When the Axis powers reach the Greek island of Cephallonia, a young Italian captain is billeted in the doctor's house. Captain Corelli turns out to be an accomplished musician, and for a while the war seems to suit them well. But then the brutality of the conflict catches up with them.
Posted by bbh (1 year ago ) Sentiment doesn't die in war, people do. the pains, torments and dilemmas thrown up by that simple truth are well told in this tale of Italian, then German occupation of a Greek island.
Posted by tcook@abctales.com (1 year ago ) I really don't think the book is awful - but it's not great either. It's a perfect 'beach read', especially if you are on holiday in Greece. It's unchallenging, a tad sloppy in its construction, the dialogue can be a touch wooden - but the story is compelling, the characters have enough complexity to make them interesting and the denouement is heart warming. Good family stuff!
Just avoid the film like the plague.
If you like this then try Andreas Koumi's 'The Cypriot', which is a far better book in my opinion (but then I might be a little biased).
Posted by xantippe (1 year ago ) I loved this book so much that I did not see the movie, for fear of ruining the book forever. A fun, but satisfying read.
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