Rio Gringa

Book Review: The New Brazil

With Brazil's entrance on the world scene, there's been a profusion of good reading about modern Brazil. The New Brazil, written by Latin Americanist Riordan Roett and published in August 2010, is one of several recent books aimed to educate about Brazilian politics, economy, and history.

To understand the style of the book, you first have to understand the author. Roett is a Latin Americanist of the old guard, a long-time academic who has worked at numerous prestigious universities and was awarded major honors by the Brazilian and Chilean governments. He's involved in several think tanks and international organizations, and has served as an advisor to Wall Street businesses and the US government (to be more specific, the National Intelligence Council). In short, he's one of the leading Latin America experts in the US, after decades of studying the region.

The book is definitely a must-read for foreigners interested in Brazil; for Brazilians, it could be interesting to see Roett's perspective. As a warning, though, it's a very dense text - it's essentially a textbook. (For a bit of a lighter read with a much more personal perspective, I recommend Brazil on the Rise) Though Roett is a political scientist, there's a lot of focus on macroeconomics, particularly in the second half, which can get you bogged down a bit.

My favorite part were the first couple of chapters, where Roett does a great job condensing Brazilian history in a really effective way. It made me want to explore different parts in more detail, particularly the history of education and life during new empire period. The second half would probably interest those looking to learn more about business in Brazil, since it's full of economic indicators. Still, the parts about modern politics are also very interesting.

Like any foreigner writing about Brazil, Roett doesn't hide his opinions, and quite openly offers his views on different subjects. He's particularly critical of government corruption, and is also pro-business, in favor of certain neoliberal reforms. This may seem like a turn off, especially for Brazilian readers, but he keeps personal views to a minimum, though if you read between the lines you'll see more of them. I don't necessarily love his prescriptive tone at times, which seems to reflect an old school Washington approach, but he's full of facts and figures to defend his position.

While Roett does an excellent job tracing Brazil's history, seeing the book's references end in 2009 made some of the last parts nearly outdated; he finished the manuscript before Dilma's election victory, and a lot has happened since then has changed some of his conclusions. Maybe he'll write a follow up at some point.

Available at: Amazon   Barnes and Noble  Android

Extras

Listen to Roett discuss the book on this podcast [Part I below, Part 2 here]

 

And here's a lecture with Roett and Henrique Meirelles from December 2010:

 

Q&A With Leighton Gage

Continuing with my Q&A series, I had the chance to chat with Leighton Gage, an American crime novelist who sets his books in Brazil. Leighton has lived all over the world, and like many of us who write about Brazil, is married to a Brazilian and has spent a great deal of time living and traveling in Brazil. I've read four of his novels, which star Chief Inspector Mario Silva, who investigates crimes throughout Brazil. There's a lot of detail about São Paulo and Brasília, but there's also scenes in Rio, Manaus, rural São Paulo state, and other areas of Brazil. While his books are fiction, he incorporates real themes into the plots, things like the MST, police corruption, and immigration, blending reality and fantasy. His latest book, A Vine in the Blood, is coming out this year. Leighton also contributes to a crime novelist blog, where he writes about Brazilian news, history and culture.

Using Brazil as the setting for a series of crime novels isn't very common. Why did you decide on Brazil?
The answer to that one is embedded in the question. I decided to do it exactly because it isn’t very common. I’m an avid reader of the genre, and after I’d worked my way through Garcia-Roza’s work, and Rubem Fonseca’s and Patricia Melo’s, I started running out of options. A friend of mine, a lady I share a blog with, lives and works in Iceland. They have a population of a little over 300,000 people, hardly any crime at all, and more crime writers than Brazil does. It’s crazy.

You use a fair amount of Portuguese in the novels, and not just in the dialogue. Why was that important to you as a writer?
I think it adds atmosphere. Hemingway did too. Some folks, including my editor, don’t particularly like it. And, sometimes, they tell me to either explain those words – or take them out.

You've spent a lot of time living and traveling in Brazil. Which place or city is your favorite?
Currently? Florianopolis. But I might feel differently next week. Or even tomorrow. My preferences change. Sometimes, it’s because I’ve changed, or the locale has changed. Or because the season makes a difference. Or because I’m keeping different company. But I will say one thing: there’s not a single city, not a single state, in Brazil that I dislike. I love them all.

Read the rest of the interview after the jump.

Brazil on the Rise

One of the golden rules of writing is to write what you know, which is especially true when it comes to non-fiction. And who better to write about Brazil than Larry Rohter, arguably one of the top American experts on Brazil who's able to write in an engaging, personal manner? After years of living in Brazil and writing about the country, he finally has a book out, Brazil on the Rise, chronicling Brazil's ascension and its continuing challenges, following his Portuguese-language book Deu no New York Times. Peppering personal anecdotes with historical analysis and fascinating facts, it's one of the best English-language non-fiction books you'll read about Brazil.

Unfortunately, like with any critical analysis of Brazil, comes criticism: looking at some of the reviews, readers thought he either wasn't analytical enough, or too stereotypical, or too biased. While I may not be a professional writer, I can attest to the fact that it's impossible to write in depth about Brazil without injecting at least a part of your opinion, particularly if you've lived there, and I think it's laughable when people make these types of criticisms. My response is, can you really do better? I don't think so. I know I couldn't, though I'd love to be able to write something like this someday.

The book is an excellent read, both for Brazilians interested in a gringo perspective and Americans interested in getting a deeper, more comprehensive view of Brazilian history and current affairs. The first chapter does a brief but extensive overview of Brazilian history through the dictatorship, and then the next four chapters cover culture, cultural idiosyncracies (the jeito, amongst other things), religion, race and racism, music, film, beach culture, and soccer. If you've read my blog for awhile, you'll find my views on these subjects are very similar to Rohter's, except for his strong dislike of Oscar Niemeyer. He really can't stand that guy. Anyway.

In the next chapters, he discusses industry, agriculture, and energy, which are key chapters if you're looking to learn about the Brazilian economy. He gives a fantastic overview that really pieces together Brazil's development in a way that's easy to understand. Chapter Eight is a very enlightening section, where Rohter talks about the Amazon, including the conspiracy theories about a hostile takeover, development and deforestation, and the huge obstacles for Brazilians living in the Amazon region. Finally, the last two chapters are devoted to politics, analyzing Lula's presidency and making predictions about the upcoming administration.

Buy this book! (Buy here if you're in the US and here if you're in Brazil) I promise it's worth a read. Next on my list is The New Brazil.

Further Reading - Reviews

Christian Science Monitor

ABC

Miami Herald

The Economist

Rio Gringa's Reading List

Sometimes I think I may end up in academia, since I'm happiest when I'm in school and I would love to be a professor. Plus, sometimes professors or students link to my blog from courses on Blackboard. So until I can teach someday, I'll just have to pretend. Here's a reading list to learn about Brazilian history and modern day Brazil and Rio de Janeiro. I haven't read these yet, so I'll feature some of them over the course of the coming months. Feel free to read along with me!

Brazil on the Rise: The Story of a Country Transformed, Larry Rohter NEW

From Amazon: "In this rich and textured account, New York Times reporter Larry Rohter gives us the definitive look at the country’s amazing rebirth. As the paper’s bureau chief in Rio, Rohter had a front-row seat for many of the dramatic changes that have unfolded in Brazil in recent years. Through interviews with every important political, business, cultural, and religious leader on the scene, Rohter delivers a sharp and fresh account of the country’s rapid and radical changes."

The New Brazil, Riordan Roett NEW

From Amazon: "In this engaging book, Riordan Roett traces the long road Brazil has traveled to reach its present status and discusses the many challenges it has overcome and those that lie ahead. Roett, a veteran scholar and writer on Brazil, discusses the country's development as a colony, empire, and finally a republic; the making of modern Brazil, beginning with the rise to power of Getulio Vargas in 1930; the advent of military government in 1964; the return to civilian rule two decades later; and the pivotal presidencies of Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Luis Inacio Lula da Silva."

Myth of Marginality: Urban Poverty and Politics in Rio de Janeiro, Janice Perlman

Favela: Four Decades of Living on the Edge in Rio de Janeiro, Janice Perlman

From Oxford University Press: "Janice Perlman's award-winning The Myth of Marginality  was the first in-depth account of life in the favelas, and it is considered one of the most important books in global urban studies in the last 40 years. Now, in Favela , Perlman carries that story forward to the present. Re-interviewing many longtime favela residents whom she had first met in 1969--as well as their children and grandchildren--Perlman offers the only long-term perspective available on the favela families as they struggle for a better life. Perlman discovers that much has changed in four decades, but while educational levels have risen, democracy has replaced dictatorship, and material conditions have improved, many residents feel more marginalized than ever."

Drugs and Democracy in Rio de Janeiro: Trafficking, Social Networks, and Public Security, Enrique Desmond Arias

From Amazon: "Taking an ethnographic approach to understanding urban violence, Enrique Desmond Arias examines the ongoing problems of crime and police corruption that have led to widespread misery and human rights violations in many of Latin America's new democracies. Employing participant observation and interview research in three favelas (shantytowns) in Rio de Janeiro over a nine-year period, Arias closely considers the social interactions and criminal networks that are at the heart of the challenges to democratic governance in urban Brazil."

Lula of Brazil: The Story So Far, Richard Bourne

From Amazon: "Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's dramatic life story has captured the imagination of millions, and his progressive politics have brought hope and excitement to Brazil--and the world. This compelling work is the first major English-language biography of the metalworker who became president of Latin America's largest and most powerful country. In a clearly written, vividly detailed narrative, Richard Bourne describes Lula's childhood hardships in an impoverished family, his days as a revered trade unionist, and the strike movement that brought down Brazil's military dictatorship. The book chronicles Lula's campaigns for the presidency, his first term in office beginning in 2002, a major corruption scandal, and his reelection in 2006."

The Accidental President of Brazil: A Memoir, Fernando Henrique Cardoso

From Amazon: "Before recalling his presidency, Cardoso devotes much of the book to the complexities of Brazilian history and politics, including the appeal of communism to Brazilians looking for solutions to social inequities and the nervousness that has provoked in the U.S. Readers interested in the political history of this fascinating nation, of huge importance on the American continent, will enjoy this book."

A History of Modern Brazil, Colin MacLachlan

From Amazon: "This book provides a well-rounded, brief history of Brazil that is unique because of its focus on both the politics and culture of the republic. Colin MacLachlan uses a political narrative to frame the evolution of national culture and the formation of national identity. He evaluates Brazilian myths, stereotypes, and icons such as soccer and dancing as part of the historical analysis."

Brazil as an Economic Superpower? Lael Brainard & Leonardo Martinez-Diaz

From Amazon: "Brookings gathered scholars and policymakers from Brazil, Europe, and the United States to examine the present state and likely future of Brazil's economy. Their findings can be found in "Brazil as an Economic Superpower". The authors' analysis focuses particularly on five key topics: agribusiness, energy, trade, social investment, and multinational corporations. The net result is an invaluable analytical contribution and a provocative look into the future of our global economy and into the workings of one particularly important component of that system."

Brazil: A Century of Change, Jerry Davila

From Amazon: "Brazil, the largest of the Latin American nations, is fast becoming a potent international economic player as well as a regional power. This English translation of an acclaimed Brazilian anthology provides critical overviews of Brazilian life, history, and culture and insight into Brazil's development over the past century. The distinguished essayists, most of whom are Brazilian, provide expert perspectives on the social, economic, and cultural challenges that face Brazil as it seeks future directions in the age of globalization."

Brazil: Five Centuries of Change, Thomas Skidmore

A historical overview of Brazil from a renowned Brazilianist, especially useful for those new to Brazil

 

Book Review: Traveler's Companion

A few week's ago, I stumbled across a collection of short stories about Brazil called Brazil: A Traveler's Literary Companion. While I'd argue that it's not necessarily a very helpful travel companion, it's definitely a fun way to sample different Brazilian writers and see which you'd like to read more of.

The book is divided into regions: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, the Amazon, the Northeast, the Central West, and the South. Some of the stories do give you a feel for what different cities and regions are like, and give a taste of things to see or expect. But others are just short stories that happen to take place in these areas and don't really have much to do with the location. Plus, the Northeast section is sorely lacking, especially since the longest story doesn't even seem to take place there.

My other quibble is the translations. Some of them are better than others, but some of them are pretty bad (see: municipal school, commemorative dates), which can make for a bit of a painful read. Some of the stories made me want to go back and read them in Portuguese, since I got the impression there was something lost in translation.

The best sections, in my opinion, were the Rio and SP sections, since they really gave an interesting snapshots of both regions, although the Rio section didn't have a single story from Jose Carlos Oliveira, which it could have used. Some of my favorites were "Taxi" and "The Real Jose," which were very funny and charming.

I'd especially recommend this for people new to Brazil and Brazilian literature, since it's a helpful first look before you delve in with full-length novels or non-fiction. To see more great books about Brazil, click here.

O Rio é Assim

Shortly before I left Brazil, I was wandering through a bookstore in Rio when I stumbled upon a book with a stunning cover, a night scene of a street near where I lived for the two years I spent in the Cidade Maravilhosa. I knew nothing about the book or author, but facing the prospect of leaving for a long time and deeply missing the neighborhood that had become my home, I grabbed the book and added it to my pile of "to-read" books when I got home. Months passed before I picked it up, when I was back in New York starting a new job. I started reading during my commute, and I fell so in love with the book that I purposely read only bits at a time to stretch it out as much as possible.

That book, called O Rio é Assim: a crônica de uma cidade by José Carlos Oliveira, is by far the best book I have ever read about Rio de Janeiro and is one of the most realistic, jarring, heartbreaking, inspiring, hilarious, and truly Carioca literary visions you will find of the city. It's little snippets of life in the city, snapshots of a city during nearly four decades.

José moved to Rio from Espirito Santo, so in a sense, he had an outsider's perspective, even though he became a Carioca himself living there for many years. His sense of detail and his ability to take a step back and see things from a different angle is what sets the book apart from other more "scholarly" books about Rio. Granted, he has plenty of prejudices; the usual touch of xenophobia mixed with an adoration of European culture, a somewhat machista view of women, and a little bit of classe media syndrome. And there are times when he gets just a little Manoel Carlos on you. But nonetheless, he manages to rise above with his incredibly sharp eye and critical analysis, and shows his readers the city in an unexpected and refreshing way. Basically, he is what I have aspired to be and do by writing this blog.

One of the scary things about the book, a collection of essays, is that they were all written between 1953 and 1984, but so many things have changed very little since then, particularly the poverty, violence, and urban chaos. Though José tries to be optimistic, his general consensus is that change in Rio never quite seems to stick, and that old habits die hard, and sadly, in many ways, he was right.

Nevertheless, the book isn't all gloom and doom. It's partially a love story, where Rio is the object of his affections. There's plenty about soccer and Rio teams, of the beaches and forests, of Rio's many neighborhoods, of the seasons, of pop culture, of music, of restaurants and bars, and of Rio's great festivals. Homenagem is not a good enough word to describe his reverence for the city - it really is a declaration of love, despite his frustrations and anger with the negative aspects of living there. 

Despite his clear affections for Rio, José is most certainly damning. He condemns the corruption, the murders and robberies, the police, and all of the problems that still plague the city today, with words like this that left me weeping on the subway:

"Nesse dia descobri a cisão irremediável entre os miseráveis e nós. Lamentei não perceber, em nenhum desses homens, o sentimento revolucionário por excelência: a vergonha. Mas tive medo do dia em que esses infelizes se reunissem para marchar sobre a cidade decadente. Palavra de honra, não devemos ter orgulho de ser cariocas." - Criminosos, 1960

Don't let that turn you off - just be prepared for in your face, no BS, raw emotions and real eyewitness accounts of both wonderful and horrible events. I'd love to include more snippets here, but you'll just have to read the book yourself.

O Rio é Assim is available on Amazon and Livraria Cultura, amongst other sites. It's also available on Google Books, where you can read a good portion of the book for free. But it's so wonderful, it's worth buying. Confie em mim!

Rachel Recommends: Brazil Books

• The Brazil Reader: History, Culture, and Politics edited by Robert M. Levine and John J. Crocitti, 1999 (English)

This book is a collection of articles and short stories about Brazil. It is an excellent overview of the country, its culture, history and social and economic trends. The editors devote chapters to different periods of history, to Brazilian women, race and ethnic relations, slavery, "realities" and "saudades" (nostalgia). It is an excellent way to gain a great snapshot of the country and to learn about both important historical facts and also lesser known interesting cultural trends, like about the indigenous movements.

• Culture Shock!: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette in Brazil, by Volker Poelzl (English)

This book is Brazil in a nutshell, giving you all the essential information in a condensed fashion about everything you ever needed to know about Brazil, including Brazilian history, culture, food, holidays, regional differences, and vital information you need to know when visiting or moving to Brazil. Includes a section on Brazilian Portuguese and a nice little cultural "Dos and Don'ts" section that include such fun advice as: "Don't be alarmed by people randomly talking to you in public," or "Don't use the American OK sign. It is considered an obscene gesture."

• Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life, by Alex Bellos, 2002 (English)

One of my absolute favorite books about Brazil, and one of my favorite books in general. Alex Bellos did extensive research and interviews about Brazilian soccer and managed to show, in his charming British way, just how incredibly intertwined soccer is with absolutely every aspect of Brazilian life: politics, the economy, popular culture, immigration, sociology, the media, religion, and much more. Here are a few key tidbits:

1. About 5,000 Brazilians play soccer abroad, not only in Western Europe but even in "Armenia, Senegal, China, Jamaica, Lebanon, Vietnam, Australia, and Haiti."
2. Brazilians love soccer so much they have invented new sports using football as the base, including something called "autoball" that involved men in cars knocking around a huge ball. It is now outlawed.
3. Many professional Brazilian soccer teams have a personal Candomble priest who tries to provide the team with luck from the spirits, though this fact is not well-publicized.

• Brazil: A Traveler's Literary Companion, edited by Alexis Levitin, 2010 (English)

An interesting collection of short stories by Brazilian authors divided into sections based on region. A great overview of Brazilian literature in translation.

• Deu no New York Times, (The New York Times Had It) by Larry Rohter, 2007 (Portuguese)

A collection of the former New York Times Brazil correspondent's most important articles about Brazil, including the best of culture, society, politics, the Amazon, and science/economy. He also provides interesting insight in the introductions, giving a unique outsider perspective from a foreigner who knows Brazil and Brazilians after decades of living and working in the country.

• O Rio é assim, (That's Rio) by José Carlos Oliveira, 2005 (Portuguese)

The absolute best non-fiction book on Rio de Janeiro, though only available in Portuguese (as far as I know). A collection of essays and columns written between 1953 and 1984, it's a fascinating look at a changing city with a mixture of pure love and complete frustration. He casts a critical eye on the city's problems (many of which still persist) and also poetically expresses his adoration for all there is to love about Rio.

• O que faz o brasil, Brasil? (What Makes Brazil, Brazil?) by Roberto da Matta, 1999 (Portuguese)

A non-fiction book that summarizes most of his major works, this short work by a famous Brazilian anthropologist helped shed light on some of the things I didn't understand about Brazilian society and culture and confirmed in a very astute and concise way the things I did understand.

• Brazil on the Rise, by Larry Rohter, 2010 (English)

Larry Rohter analyzes Brazil, this time in English. It's a must-read for any foreigner interested in Brazil, and is one of the best non-fiction reads you'll find in English about Brazil. You'll learn about Brazilian history, economy, and politics as well as important cultural idiosyncracies. Plus, there's fun reading on music, film, soccer, and interesting perspectives on race and religion.

• The New Brazil, by Riordan Roett, 2010 (English)

An excellent non-fiction account by one of the great Brazilianists, this book focuses on Brazilian history and also on current events, outlining political and economic changes that have transformed the country in the last decade. It's more on the academic side, but fascinating nonetheless.

• Gabriela, Cravo e Canela (Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon), by Jorge Amado, 1958 (Portuguese; translated editions in English and Spanish)

One of Brazil's most famous novels about the shift from the old-fashioned to modern Brazil. It takes place in Ilheus, Bahia and has a Dickensian amount of characters. One of the best fictional books you can read to understand Brazil.

• Memórias póstumas de Brás Cubas,  (The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas) by Machado de Assis, 1881 (Portuguese, available in English)

One of the greatest works of Brazilian literature, this novel provides a look into 19th century Brazil, including social classes, slavery, and life in Rio. It's one of Machado de Assis' most famous works that's required reading for Brazilian high school students.

• Rio de Janeiro: Carnival on Fire, by Ruy Castro, 2003. (Portuguese, available in English)

A quick and easy read about the history and spirit of Rio de Janeiro. While it actually subscribes to a lot of Rio stereotypes, there are some great stories about Rio's history and important characters from the city, as well as an explanation of why certain things are the way they are in Rio. It's a good read as long as you also read some more realistic visions of the city, too.