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This is the companion book to an exhibition at the Museu do Folclore Edison Carneiro in Rio about the Círio de Nazaré, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, celebrating Nossa Senhora de Nazaré in Belém do Pará. |
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Divino Toque do Maranhão was the companion book to an exhibition in Rio about the festa do Divino in that state, the women drummers called "caixeiras," who play such an important role in the festivities, and the relationship between this Catholic festival and local Afro-Brazilian cults. |
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One of the most beautiful books I've ever seen, Que Chita Bacana tells the story (in text and marvelous photographs) of the humble Brazilian cotton fabric that's become the darling of interior and fashion designers in that country. |
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This is a book about buildings in São Paulo, from nineteenth-century and Art Deco gems to Niemeyer's Bienal creations to sleek metro stations...clearly a labor of love...architecture buffs, do not miss this one! |
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Bellini e a Esfinge. Tony Bellotto. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2002. Tony Bellotto spins a great yarn and his P.I. Bellini is a lovable character...don't miss the movie either, because the story takes a completely different turn. Bellotto, guitarist for the rock group Titãs, is also known as actress Malu Mader's husband...The second volume in the series is Bellini e o Demônio. Tony's latest is BR 163. |
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Uma janela em Copacabana. Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2001. The Delegado Espinosa series of detective novels from Rio actually starts with O silêncio da chuva, followed by Achados e perdidos and Vento sudoeste. I believe the hero is psych professor Garcia-Roza's alter ego (having done Maria-Brazil for 8 years, we have a Ph.D. in alter egos): sensitive, well-read, named after a Spanish philosopher, this policeman from Copacabana spends his weekends trying to figure out what to do with the piles of books in his apartment...great stuff, especially if you're into crime fiction. His latest, Berenice Procura, features a female taxi driver in Copacabana. |
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Guia Amoroso do Rio 2001-2002. José Inacio Parente. Rio de Janeiro: Interior Produções, 2001. The best of Rio for cariocas and tourists alike. There's also an English edition. These people are in love with their city and it shows: beautiful photos, maps, insider tips, vignettes of life in that crazy and marvelous place...Imperdível, as they say in Portuguese. |
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100 Anos de Carnaval no Rio de Janeiro. Haroldo Costa. São Paulo: Irmãos Vitale, 2001. The history of carnaval in Rio from someone who knows it well indeed. |
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Arte Barroca, Mostra do Redescobrimento. Last year, we made the pilgrimage to see the exhibitions in honor of Brazil's 500th anniversary...it was an unforgettable experience, especially considering that I'll not be around for the next big party. I was finally able to get a copy of the Baroque Art catalog...to die for! A lot of this art is in the hands of wealthy, private collectors, so this was really the chance of a lifetime. It's a hefty volume, but try to get a copy somehow, somewhere! |
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Dicionário das Mulheres do Brasil. Schuma Schumaher and Érico Vital Brazil. Rio de Janeiro: Jorge Zahar Editor, 2000. Everything you've always wanted to know about Brazilian women, from the artist Abigail Andrade to the martyr Zuzu Angel (whose son was tortured and killed by the military dictatorship). After years of desperately searching for the truth, she was killed in a mysterious car accident in Rio. |
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Rio Botequim 2000. As the title says these are 50 bars and botequins with a carioca soul. From Leblon to Lapa downtown, the best botequim food, the best chopp (draft beer is as close as I can say it), the best waiters, etc. Published by City Hall! Get yourself a copy and go on a gourmet, architectural, sentimental -- as was my case -- tour of these beloved, traditional Rio feeding/watering holes.
They keep coming up with a new edition every year, of course! If nothing else, it's a great excuse to drink your way (and eat it, too) through these little treasures... |
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Mas será o Benedito? Dicionário de provérbios, expressões e ditos populares. Mario Prata. São Paulo: Editora Globo, 1996. Ever wondered what the origin is of expressions like this one, or perhaps, "água que passarinho não bebe?" You've got to read this book...when the author wasn't able to find the origin of an expression, he simply made it up, with extremely funny results! |
