The Discovery of America by the Turks - First Reading

Again I find myself frustrated by the lack of a half-star option on Goodreads. Goodreads, if you read the reviews on your app, I beseech you, give us a half-star option.

This is the second Amado book I've read. It was quite a surprise in how different this one was to The Violent Land . It starts out a bit confusing and jumbled; but, it ends quite well. It's a bawdy, raucous tale. Amado notes toward the end that God is a Brazilian. IF man was created in the image of God the Brazilian  then this book captures perfectly what His creation would be like. It's a very funny read and at less than 80 pages totally worth the short time it takes to read!

Violent Land - First Reading

This was truly a great story to read, utterly gripping. I found myself rooting for both sides and against them as well, depending on the circumstances. It was good to read a more serious and more traditional story after having read two Queneua books in a row. It was also extremely gratifying to read a story that takes place in a setting I know so very little about. In spite of my comprehensive lack of knowledge concerning Brazilian history and the cacao rush that this book entails I felt transported to that region and time by Amado - That is the hallmark of a fantastic storyteller and a good book.