Becky the Bookworm: Captain Corelli's Mandolin (Louis de Bernieres)
Unlike most books I've read, this one was really tough to read at times. It took me long enough to read it and I'm usually a fast reader especially if I'm interested in the book. I'm not saying that this book is not interesting, but when you're used to reading fictional romance, fictional adventure/mystery, it certainly is a different experience to read a book that is somewhat based on reality, the war to boot. I usually don't like reading books that have very overpowering tones like war, cultural oppression and abuse. I just feel frustrated, helpless and extremely, extremely sad. For example, reading about the war, it makes me angry to think that people of one race is capable of hurting another group of people. For what reason? A flawed one indicating that one race is more superior to another. When I was reading this book, it reminded me of a side trip Keith and I took with our tour group in Germany on the way to Munich. A number of you reading this entry may have seen Schindler's List, but have you actually walked through an internment camp??? Have you actually looked at an incineration chamber??? It is horrifying, gut-wrenching and nauseating. How can people commit such acts? How can one standby and let millions of people get slaughtered simply because they didn't have the right color of hair or eyes???
The book wasn't all about the war, but portions of it were and when I got to that part, I had such a hard time reading it. The one thing I liked about the book was the fact that in one minute you're reading something entertaining then the next minute you're reading something intellectual or heart-breaking or horrifying. It was a constant rollercoaster and you never knew what you will be reading next. The book also talked about the relationship that developed between Pelagia (a Greek woman) and Captain Corelli (an Italian soldier) during the years of Italian occupation in Greece. It focused on the strength of one's love for another and how it goes beyond the color of one's skin or the language they speak. The dedication and patience that Pelagia had waiting for Captain Corelli to come back after the war was heartbreaking at times. I admired Pelagia's faithfulness to Corelli, eventhough she had no idea whether he was still alive or if he had forgotten her and married someone else. I always wonder how women with husbands in the military service cope with their husband's occupation. If I was in their position, I'm not quite sure that I would've been strong enough to not breakdown everyday worrying about his safety.
It certainly was an interesting read and if you want to relive the experiences of people during the war, this book will give you an idea of how it was. The story did not just evolve around the civilians. It also gave one an opportunity to look at what higher ranking officials were going through as the situation progressed from diplomacy to war, and how one man can be sacrificed or utilized to progress one's political agenda and tip the power scale to where one finds it is suitable to be.
