Louis de Bernières

A historical novel of the very best kind...full of actual history, human stories of love, sacrifice, joy and sorrow sweeping the reader along with all the emotions. I saw the movie based on this novel, and remember being relatively unmoved by it. That probably kept me from visiting the book for years, unfortunately.

In World War II, a Greek physician and his lovely young daughter on the Isle of Cephalonia live through the occupation of their paradise by both Italians and Germans; the privations and horrors associated with war in general; the treachery and brutality of an army on the verge of defeat; and the ultimate insult added to those injuries: the massive earthquake of 1953 that destroyed their homes. Through it all, the islanders manage feats of bravery and resistance; find some sympathy, friendship, and even love among the occupiers; question the ancient gods, philosophers and poets; endure. The lively irreverent Captain Antonio Corelli and his mandolin lighten the mood, and encourage hope for the future, but circumstances do not bode well for any sort of happy ending. Reviewers have aptly compared this novel to Tolstoy and Dickens, for it is tragic and comic in equal measure. Sometimes it's hard to know which mask you're seeing. 5 stars… (més)

I was encouraged to read this book following our recent visit to Turkey. I'm so glad I did. It might be fiction, but it's strongly rooted in the early 20th century history of this region, giving an overview of the life and times of Kamal Ataturk, and the bloody, tempestuous history of the former Ottoman Empire and parts of the Balkans. The book centres on the lives of the inhabitants of Eskibahçe. We meet its Muslim and Christian inhabitants, living in neighbourly harmony together. There's Rustem Bey, their neighbourhood aristocrat; imams, priests, teachers, beggars,prostitutes, boys who grow up to be soldiers, girls who grow up to be wives, or soon-to-be-wives. We become rooted in the simple rhythms of life in this community. So when it all goes wrong, when war starts, we care. This is a disturbing but compulsively readable book which serves as a helpful and accessible introduction to 21st century Turkey, as well as being a wonderful story, with many skilfully interwoven threads.… (més)

This is a story of two ordinary lives, that are, of course, extraordinary. Chris is a bored travelling salesman, living with a wife he no longer loves. Roza is Serbian who's found herself living in London. These two meet, and over the course of time, Roza tells Chris her story. Or does she? How much is fact? How much is a product of her imagination? Is she really someone who's slept with her best friend, her father, dropped out of university, lived as a prostitute? We become as fascinated by her as Chris is. This is a story of missed opportunities, of lives turning out differently because of decisions made, or not made, and the ending leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

This is a story about story-telling.… (més)

A wonderful romance, with a cast of - well - dozens. Set in an imagined South American country, the plots involves simple village dwellers, a haughty aristocrat, corrupt politicians, corrupt army types, incorruptible army types and guerrillas. The book is generally racy and light in tone. There you'll find farce, political satire, ribald sex scenes as well as tender ones, and even supernatural events. But de Bernieres doesn't shy away from describing sickening scenes of torture either. Somehow, he conveys the horror without either cheapening it, or detracting from the generally optimistic and up-beat tone of the book.

The characters conform to type on the whole. The peasants are clever, the whores full of common sense, the soldiers brutish and stupid - apart from the ones who are saintly - the politicians self- aggrandising, and the forest-dwellers spiritual. But this in no way spoils the story, which is best read as a magical fable. Justice prevails in the end, the good live happily ever after, and the evil receive their just deserts. A book that demands not to be put down before it's finished.… (més)