"Captain Corelli's Mandolin"
by Louis de Bernieres
A lovely evening, hosted by Kath and with a welcome to new member, Cath,
There was quite a lot of agreement about our reactions to the book.
Most had read the book when it first came out with varying degrees of enjoyment.
For most, it was a book of three parts, in three entirely different styles.
The beginning seemed quite stilted and difficult to access with unnecessarily complex vocabulary.
Then, as if the author had got into his stride, the next section flowed easily, allowing the reader to share the author’s warmth and compassion for most of his characters.
We all felt that the final part of the book was the least successful.
The writer’s style seemed to change and become more rushed.
He allowed his characters to act in ways that seemed to be totally out-of-character.
Despite the end of the war, it was a depressing period, covering the misfortunes of the characters post war,
the 1953 earth quake, the author’s seemingly negative view of Greek communism and tourism.
For most, Corelli’s strange behaviour in not making himself known to Pellagia, was an utter waste of their potential happy life.
The last page or two was optimistic.
All enjoyed the humour in the book, with a particular fondness of “Bunnios” the old Etonian, speaking ancient Greek who was parachuted into the island.
It is a tragedy as well.
Although, despite the heart-rending descriptions of the death of Francesco and the conditions endured by the Greek partisans, including Mandras,
for many the descriptions of the war seemed rather tongue–in-cheek and a history of rather gross incompetence.
It is another love story in a war. (Note from writer and person who chose the book. Oops. Sorry). The book encompasses many love stories and love in its various forms.
The sexual love of Mandras and Pellagia;
the slow growing love based on emotional compatibility; of Pellagia and Corelli; the love of a father for his daughter;
the deep friendships in combat and the mutual support and affection of Pellagia and Droussoula.
For many, the most powerful, moving and selfless love, was that of Carlos for first Francesco and then Corelli.
The descriptions in the book were excellent,
depicting life in a Greek village pre and during the war with warmth, affection and humour.
Post war, the author some felt, lost his affection for his characters and Cephallonia.
In general, it seemed that all enjoyed the book,
but would have re-written or dispensed with the last part completely.
The score reflects this.
JC
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