Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
Corelli’s
Mandolin is historical fiction of the old school, a sweeping story to
get lost in and fall in love with. Set on the Greek isle of Cephalonia
during the Italian occupation of World War 2, the book follows a panoply
of unforgettable characters- beautiful Pelagia, her father the doctor,
Captain Corelli, Mandras the rebel, Carlo the soldier and more- each
with his or her own heartbreaking, beautiful arc. This is a wonderful
summer read, a book to linger over, smile over, cry over, a book that
will leave its mark on your heart forever.
At the End of a Dull Day by Massimo Carlotto
Bad
boy of the Veneto Giorgio Pellegrini has been living the quiet life
running a restaurant with his beautiful wife after killing and robbing
his way to respectability 11 years ago. But now his crooked lawyer is
cheating him and serving him up cold to the Mob, and Giorgio doesn’t
like it one bit. To get revenge, he’s back to his old tricks- killing,
robbing and more killing. This book is the definition of Mediterranean
noir, with a character who gives “mad, bad and dangerous to know” a
whole new set of wheels.
