Week One
Thursday 12th Febuary
Book :
Captain Corellis Mandolin
Author :
Louis de Bernieres
Quote ;
‘Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion, it is not the desire to mate every second minute of the day, it is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every cranny of your body. No, don't blush, I am telling you some truths. That is just being "in love", which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident ’ - Louis de Bernières
Why you should read this :
Captain Corelli's Mandolin, a personal favourite, has sadly become so fashionable that now no one wants to read it! Do no let the fact that Hugh Grant reads it at the end of Notting Hill or that it has been turned into a mediocre film put you off. This book is unbelievably moving. If you have not read it then you are in for a treat, unless you have already seen the film – I imagine it would really suffer from the reader picturing Penelope Cruz and Nicholas Cage as they read it.
When it comes down to it, this is another love story, but the odd-ball characters, the father and daughter adoration, the patriotic Greeks and some pretty gruesome descriptions of the effects of WWII make this book a lot better than many other romantic novels that you have ever and will ever read. The writing is beautiful and despite being taught this text (which, sorry teachers, can really ruin the flow of things), I could not put this book down and adored reading it multiple times. Just try it, give in to the little trend, you won’t regret it. Well, you might, but if you do then don’t tell me, I might stop liking you otherwise.
Where you should read this : Ideally, on a very small Greek island, sipping wine, where reality can't get you.