Loyalty and betrayai in the @ Captain Corelli’s Mandolin — Louis de BerniAres, Minerva 1994, 435 pp, $16.95 paper. The recent November-like weather has made this July the perfect month to read our book club selection Captain Coretli’s Mandolin by Louis de BerniAres. The richly descriptive novel takes place on the small Greek island of € ephallonia, and is lush with warmly evocative descriptions of idyllic lite in the Mediterranean. But in as much as the rain has intruded on our summer pleasures, the invading Italian army inter- rupts the magical life of the Cephallonians when the island is occupied by members of Mussolini’s army in World War I. The namesake of the novel is Captain Antonio Corelli, an officer who prefers to play his mandolin and greets a fellow Asis officer with “Heil Puccini” rather than Hitler. He falls in love with the island doctor's daughter, Pelagia, who is already betrothed to the handsome Mandras, a young fisherman sent to fight for Greece. A love triangle ensues which masterfully foils the escalating war between the Allies and the Axis nations. Captain Corelli's Mandolin is ranypant with emotion, and is woven around the themes of loyalty and betrayal, both national and individual, and MEGAN VERCHERE BOOK REVIEWS Its Americai. publisher, Random House, has put the following questions for book groups on their web page. Xcep them in mind while vou read the novel, and send me your thoughts. 1. Why do you think de BerniAres chose to make his romantic here 2 musician? 2. What is the role of the Church (and religion) in Cephallonian litt? 3. How does their awareness of the island's history and prehistory color the way the Cephalionians sce themselves? . +. Why do vou think de BerniAres has chosen the Humbert Wolf poom Te Suldier to saunch his narra- tne: 5. “Honor and common sense; in the light of the other, both of them are ridiculous.” (p.320) What does de BerniAres mean by this? How do the nevel’s events confirm or iNustrate this? Those are just a fav te muse on over the next ovo weeks. If you prefer te read along and think cbout overall themes, then perhaps investigate the paratle! layers of the nuvel and how they are instruments for loyalty and betrayal. agua On a different note, it has now been six weeks since we start- ed this North Share book cub column, and perhaps there are a few of you wishing to form your own group. There are many resources available to help vou get started and your local library The North Vancouver Public Library has pub- lished 2 tun little brochure called Oprah and You: Some Ideas for Starting a Baak Club. Ln addition to listing a number of won- dertul book titles, it offers the following rea- sons why you should consider joining one, in case you need any more prodding: it will ensure that vou read at least ong good book a month;-vou will discover great new authors who you had never heard of;-vou will Mect new and interesting people; you will always have something to talk about at parties; you love a good argument; and, nw per- sonal favorite, this quote from Rachel Jacobsohn, professional book club organizer -- “Book clubs provide positive reassurance of the value of human discourse and afford a place where the imagination is free to explore.” Enjoy the rest of July and in pvo weeks I'll finish up our dis- cussion of Caprain Corelii’s Mandolin and have a new selection for the rest of the summer. Happy reading! — Megan Verchere can be contacted at mverchere@ibm net - or fax CAPTAIN COR Ly pe MANDOLIN 5 it should lead to fascinating book club discussion. is an excellens resource. New study explores the lives of Klondike women - © Gold Diggers of the Klondike— Sav Ryley, Watson & ' Dwyer 1998, 144 pp, 40 berw photos, $19.95 paper. AUTHOR Bay Ryley will be signing her new book Gold Diggers of the Klondske at Barista’s Coffee Co., 2698 West 4th, Vancouver next Thursday, July 23 at 7:30.p.m. The study is an exploration beyond the myths and popular accounts of the dance-hall girls and prostitutes of the Klondike gold rush of 1898. Gold Diggers of the Klondike cxposes the role of sexual commerce in a frontier mining town, and ; approaches the fascinating story of the gold rush from a unique Bay Ryley is a Toronto cditor and writer. She is currently ‘Author Bay Riley signs studying law at Dalhousie University. : her new book at Barista's. 14th ‘Annual Clam Caowder Cook-Cii Sunday July 19, 1998 Noon to 4pm Waterironi Park (just west ef Lensdaie Quay) Competition categories are Business, Professional and Open. Prizes awarded in each category, People’s Choice and Most Outstanding Chowder. There will also be prizes for best Team Costumes. ‘For More Information: Call the Chowder Committee at 950-3841 Yes, it’s back again... for a third year. Teams. have from 12:3@ until 2:30 pm to build a “boat from recycled materials then at 3:15 pu launch their vessels ‘and with two teem members abeard attempt to paddle, sail or submerge their way out to sea and back again. Prizes will be awarded so be there or be a bievalve! Per info call 990-3841. ee ee a er we eee 08 em eee me, (POO a ee we ewe wee meee wenn the News at 985-2104. Win Hooks for the beach Doubleday Canada continues its release of summer thrillers with the publication of James Lee Burke’s Sunset Limited and Philip Kerr’s A Five-Year Plan. They have aiso released Phillip Margolin’s novel The Undertaker’s Widow in a four-cassette audio version narrated by James Naughton. You can win the books or the audio version of Margolin’s novel (four cassettes/360 minutes) by telling us the name of the new Elmore Leonard film starring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez. Send in your name and phone number to the North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 3H4. You can also fax your entry to us at "985-2104 or e-mail them to johng@nsnews.com.- ; Deadline for the contest is Friday, Fuly 24, 5 p.m. Please stipulate which. . prize you would like (two novels or audio cassette novel) — if your — name is drawn you will be notified by phone. “o Inchedes: Cose battery @ Auto focus, auto flesh ond auto exposure OY dd . © Lorge viewfinder / All glass lens © Red eye reduction / Self Timer MIN@LA RIVA 70 QD KIT © Exciesive kit indudes: Case, battery, remote control cad mini-tripod © Auto focus, auto fash, auto exposure, 35-70mm less © Red-eye reduction sia 179" © Quortz date Give us your memories. We'll make you Smile. 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