The storyline itself was great, and I think entirely plausible. The author gave all the necessary details to enable us to accept how a woman could fall in love with a man who has invaded her homeland. I loved the characters too, Corelli, Velisario and Carlo and Dr Iannis and Pelagia. Some of the detail was truly lovely, to the extent that I frequently wondered how the author thought of putting it in.

There were also some lovely phrases and uses of words IMO. I agree with someone who said that a lot of big words were used seemingly for the sake of it (or ot show off!) and I do agree to an extent but many times they enhanced the story and made me think about what things truly mean or gave a very precise meaning that a more commonplace word might have missed.

I loved the story of Pelagia and Captain Corelli and found it totally plausible. I guessed that towards the end Corelli had seen Pelagia with the baby and jumped to conclusions. I felt so sorry for Pelagia that she didn't reunite with Corelli until she was in her 70's but inbetween times she didn't find love with anyone else.

There was alot of detail about the war, with some very gruesome scenes. It's this aspect of the book that I can't make my mind up about. It was a long slog reading through the politics of the Italian / Greek aspect of WW2, but then without it Corelli and Pelegia's story wouldn't have any weight.  I thought the author captured the futility of war excellently and I was in tears when the Germans had to line up and shoot the Italians. The ease with which people lost there lives under a few leaders say so was horrific.

I'm still wondering whether this is historically accurate. I guess I'd need to read more around this subject to find out!

I liked the humour, the bit where Antonio is on all fours in front of Pelagia and the Doctor pipes up, do you two know what you look like? had me giggling out loud as I'd forgotten the Doctor was there. I couldn't believe Antonio was having those thoughts with Pelagia's father in the same room. The characters are great. Dr Iannis has got to be one of the best characters in modern classic literature I think. I also loved Carlos and Velisarios, Alekos, Drousoula, Mandras, Kokolios, Stamatis, Father Arsenios (the scene of him drinking at the back of his church is superb, so funny, and seems an age away after the years that passed in the book). And I think I'll always remember the image of Carlos' grave opening up during the earthquake.

I preferred the chapters with Dr Iannis, Pelagia and local characters in them. I found the more political/war chapters harder to read but interesting. My electronic calculator was used a lot, I have to say, although it didn't recognise a lot of the words. I wonder if what happened in the book during WW2 actually happened? It's made me want to find out more about it.

It's definitely a story worth persevering with. I really felt for Pelagia when it appeared Captain Corelli wasn't going to return. I had no idea he was the ghost, I can be a bit slow! And was annoyed that he hadn't approached her but at the same time can understand why.

I tried really hard not to picture Nicholas Cage as Antonio, even though I haven't seen the film.

Anyway I really enjoyed the story and had a tear in my eye at the end. I'd really like a special copy of the book to reread. Definitely an all time favourite.

Quote:

But it strains credulity that Corelli could not have found out the facts of Pelagia’s child and realized that he was free to love and live with her. Maybe Corelli needed to be the free, roaming Odysseus more than he was willing to admit

I'm sure he could've found out Pelagia's status if he'd wanted to, seeing as he was living in the area. So maybe he didn't want to settle down? Interesting idea.

I didn't like that aspect of the story, that Pelagia was the woman that Corelli was so madly in love with and yet he couldn't even bother to find out the facts about her baby. It was heartbreaking that they didn't get together until they were into their 70's.

So yes, an interesting and very credible theory that Corelli just wasn't ready to settle down and needed to carry on his adventures.