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A review by joyfulpages
Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières
5.0
Beautifully written epic story. A tragic tale of the horrors of war and the tenacity of the human spirit. Heroism and sadism are equally represented. The chapters on Fascism, Communism, and the battles of WWII are written with sarcastic, witty, ironic sensibility that recalls Catch-22 or Vonnegut. At times these chapters were impenetrable - I was glad when the author moved away from the chapters written from the perspectives of dictators, etc. The magic of this book was all Cephallonia and its cast of characters. Pelagia and Iannis represent a beautiful depiction of father and daughter that is without patriarchal drivel. It’s a loving, complicated relationship of equals, both fiercely protective and loving of each other. The blossoming of the relationship between Corelli and Pelagia is also without tropes or stereotypical romantic nonsense.
My love for this book is also probably affected by my own love for a Greek, my grandfather Spyros. The stories of the men on the island and their mannerisms reminded me so explicitly of him and sometimes made me weep with memory, love, and loss. It was a gift to be reminded of those little things and also to realize there was so much of a life in him before he was my Papou. I know he lived through the war but never asked him much about it and he didn’t offer much himself. I always got the sense there was nostalgia and pain tied up in the concept of home. This brought all those thoughts and feelings to the surface and added a depth to the book that others may not feel.
Five stars for the cunning wit and lyrical writing, the depth of characters spun, and the visceral memories stirred in me. My only regret is knowing a movie was made starring Nic Cage as Corelli OF ALL PEOPLE! I must never, ever watch it and ruin the images I have.
My love for this book is also probably affected by my own love for a Greek, my grandfather Spyros. The stories of the men on the island and their mannerisms reminded me so explicitly of him and sometimes made me weep with memory, love, and loss. It was a gift to be reminded of those little things and also to realize there was so much of a life in him before he was my Papou. I know he lived through the war but never asked him much about it and he didn’t offer much himself. I always got the sense there was nostalgia and pain tied up in the concept of home. This brought all those thoughts and feelings to the surface and added a depth to the book that others may not feel.
Five stars for the cunning wit and lyrical writing, the depth of characters spun, and the visceral memories stirred in me. My only regret is knowing a movie was made starring Nic Cage as Corelli OF ALL PEOPLE! I must never, ever watch it and ruin the images I have.