Corelli's Mandolin - (Bookray)
3 journalers for this copy...
I haven't read this but it is my second copy so I'll be starting a US-only bookray for this book. It is on the list of 1001 books you should read before you die. Please PM me to join.
From Amazon.com
In the early days of the Second World War, before Benito Mussolini invaded Greece, Dr. Iannis practices medicine on the island of Cephalonia, accompanied by his daughter, Pelagia, to whom he imparts much of his healing art. Even when the Italians do invade, life isn't so bad--at first anyway. The officer in command of the Italian garrison is the cultured Captain Antonio Corelli, who responds to a Nazi greeting of "Heil Hitler" with his own "Heil Puccini," and whose most precious possession is his mandolin. It isn't long before Corelli and Pelagia are involved in a heated affair--despite her engagement to a young fisherman, Mandras, who has gone off to join Greek partisans. Love is complicated enough in wartime, even when the lovers are on the same side. And for Corelli and Pelagia, it becomes increasingly difficult to negotiate the minefield of allegiances, both personal and political, as all around them atrocities mount, former friends become enemies, and the ugliness of war infects everyone it touches.
British author Louis de Bernières is well known for his forays into magical realism in such novels as The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts, Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord, and The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman. Here he keeps it to a minimum, though certainly the secondary characters with whom he populates his island--the drunken priest, the strongman, the fisherman who swims with dolphins--would be at home in any of his wildly imaginative Latin American fictions. Instead, de Bernières seems interested in dissecting the nature of history as he tells his ever-darkening tale from many different perspectives. Corelli's Mandolin works on many levels, as a love story, a war story, and a deconstruction of just what determines the facts that make it into the history books.
Participants:
1. caridad
2. RalieghDog
3. starbrightxx <---- Book is on its way here!
4. RayneQueen
5. ???
From Amazon.com
In the early days of the Second World War, before Benito Mussolini invaded Greece, Dr. Iannis practices medicine on the island of Cephalonia, accompanied by his daughter, Pelagia, to whom he imparts much of his healing art. Even when the Italians do invade, life isn't so bad--at first anyway. The officer in command of the Italian garrison is the cultured Captain Antonio Corelli, who responds to a Nazi greeting of "Heil Hitler" with his own "Heil Puccini," and whose most precious possession is his mandolin. It isn't long before Corelli and Pelagia are involved in a heated affair--despite her engagement to a young fisherman, Mandras, who has gone off to join Greek partisans. Love is complicated enough in wartime, even when the lovers are on the same side. And for Corelli and Pelagia, it becomes increasingly difficult to negotiate the minefield of allegiances, both personal and political, as all around them atrocities mount, former friends become enemies, and the ugliness of war infects everyone it touches.
British author Louis de Bernières is well known for his forays into magical realism in such novels as The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts, Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord, and The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman. Here he keeps it to a minimum, though certainly the secondary characters with whom he populates his island--the drunken priest, the strongman, the fisherman who swims with dolphins--would be at home in any of his wildly imaginative Latin American fictions. Instead, de Bernières seems interested in dissecting the nature of history as he tells his ever-darkening tale from many different perspectives. Corelli's Mandolin works on many levels, as a love story, a war story, and a deconstruction of just what determines the facts that make it into the history books.
Participants:
2. RalieghDog
3. starbrightxx <---- Book is on its way here!
4. RayneQueen
5. ???
I mailed this book yesterday to caridad to start the bookray!
Received today. Will PM next person for mailing address and put in the soon TBR pile. Thanks, chamberjd!
I just loved this story. The history, characters, etc. were so believable. Never saw the film and I am sure it would never do the book justice. It makes me dream of going to Greece. Thank you for sharing, chambejd!
Will mail to RaleighDog this week.
Will mail to RaleighDog this week.
Headed to the post office to mail to RalieghDog. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Book arrived today. It is second in line after I finish the one I am reading now. Thanks Caridad for sending it on.
I can't rate the book because I was not able to finish it. I am disappointed in myself as it is the first BC book I was not able to complete. From what I did read, I liked the characters and the writing style. What I was having a difficult time getting past was the peppering of Greek throughout with no translation. This is something that really bothers me while I am reading. Thanks for sharing it all the same I hope you all enjoy it very much and maybe I will pick it up another time and see what I missed.
Mailing off to starbright today.
Mailing off to starbright today.
