Book reviews
-
Book review: Dandara – Um nome bonito, by Brazilian author Jeferson Pedro
Dandara’s story is also the story of her mother, Luiza; the story of the worker Zélia, and many Brazilian women. In this book, launched in March 2020 by the journalist and writer Jeferson Pedro, readers unfold alongside the heroes the day-to-day in the favelas located in the state of Rio de Janeiro. *** The book is available in Portuguese only:
-
Book review: Encontro com a saudade – Uma história em versos, by Brazilian author C.S. Gama
Brazilian writer living in Germany, C.S. Gama publishes on her IG @cami_causos beautiful poems that, quite often, transcribe what we would like to say. Here, an excerpt of ‘Encontro com a saudade’ (something like ‘A meeting with things we miss’, in a largely free translation) where the story of Ana Luísa is told in verses. And what a big lesson the little girl learns in this adventure. *** The book is available in Portuguese only:
-
Book review: The Green Triangle, by Rachel Homard
Kickass hero? ‘Course she is! We wouldn’t have a fraction of the braveness Savannah has to fight criminals, but well, if we really had to, then we wouldn’t mind the help of a sexy veteran… just saying, y’all! We had the chance to read ‘The Green Triangle’ as advanced readers some months ago, and you can’t believe how much romance and danger Rachel Homard put on the pages! *** *** Ana’s review on Goodreads I really enjoyed Rachel Homard’s The Green Triangle. The characters are compelling and come alive in the narrative, and I caught myself thinking about them when I wasn’t reading it. This novel has a fast pace…
-
Book review: Não tô preparado para viver, by Brazilian author Gean Paulo Naue
An excerpt of ‘One got married and is still happy, what a shock!’, one of the chronicles in the book called ‘I’m not ready to live’ (free translation), by the Brazilian writer Gean Paulo Naue. In this piece, the author ponders over the news of a woman who got married to herself. As in other chronicles, this is one of those writings which makes us want to stand up, point to the page, raise our fist, and say: ‘That’s it, that’s it, I knew that!” *** The book is written in Portuguese only:
-
Book review: Finding Annie, by Katherine Turner
In this novel, we follow Annie, a young woman who, after 12 years, goes back to her hometown where she has to face a terrible trauma and find the strength to overcome it. In a touching and elegant narrative, Katherine Turner transports us to the mind and the heart of a survivor of sexual abuse and rape. She makes us live the process of healing, change of self-perception, and the way back to a path of hope and love of the character..‘Finding Annie’ is a tribute to all victims everywhere, but it’s also a calling for a society that, unfortunately, still lets such crimes happen. Annie’s pain is my pain…