No comments about Fodor's Brazil, 5th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides).

5 comments about Rio de Janeiro (Writer and the City).

1. As a lover of Rio de Janeiro (like every carioca), I was amazed by Ruy Castro's inspired view of Rio. He manages to make this book as interesting for someone looking just for a travel guide as for the most serious student of the city's history and soul.
   
   Rio is more than just a beautiful city, and he captures it. No one who's ever been to Rio or who lives here can ignore the fact that the city, with its problems and wonders, like a being greater than its buildings, streets, beaches and mountains, is a major character of our lives.
   
   He pictures everything the make us cariocas: the history, the geography, the habits, the music of the city.
   
   This is no common book about Rio. Ruy Castro offers, in a good-humored and elegant style, a guide to the carioca soul: a fresh, original and colorful view of the city and the people that make it the best place to live in the world.



2. Castro seems to work pretty hard at sounding like a real writer. The result is a lot of over-thought poeticisms, overstatements and generalizations for the sake of the book and at the expense of a real look at Rio. Crudely crafted and flippant at times.



3. I first read Ruy Castro's 'Bossa Nova' and wanted more! Then I found this book, and loved it. I also went on to read Ruy Castro's next book (translated into English) Garrincha which is about a Futebol star. I am not into soccer but I loved the book.
   I recommend this book.



4. Ruy Castro's slim volume on Rio de Janeiro provides the casual reader a compelling portrait of that most intriguing of cities. Providing a rapid history of the city from the first Portuguese explorers to the celebrations of the dawn of the 21st century, he tells the tale of a city that has at times been the height of fashion, that has provided the world with at least its share of memorable movie scenes, more than its requisite portion of compelling rhythms, and a plentiful supply of legends, scandalous and otherwise.
   
   Seemingly influenced by the flaneur approach to writing on cities (though not adopting the majority of that form's conventions) and with the long memory that comes of living in and loving a city for his whole natural life, Castro gives plentiful insight into a genteel experience of the city. He tells how Rio rose over its first few centuries, and then fell into the same morose situation that afflicted so many metropolises through the Cold War years, a conflation of the effects of over-exposure that turned an exciting, exclusive experience like early Copacobana into the banality of over-exposure, and a structuralist approach to cities that sucked them of life. Alongside the allusions to many a scandalous encounter, there are nods to the less glamorous aspects of Rio's underbelly, but the favelas, the drugs trade and Brazil's notorious crimeworld are skipped over with only the scantest of mentions.
   
   Despite the vivid picture he draws, for all the talk of hypnotic rhythms, the book never quite grips the reader or imparts the carnival spirit on which its first half is almost entirely focussed. It may be that that detachment is telling of a divorce that has taken place between the Rio of legend and the Rio as experienced by a man who has lived through the city's awkward middle years and is still trying to work out a place in a new age, but it results in a less engaging book than one might hope this city would inspire. As a quick read, Rio is worth a look, but its not quite the mesmerising experience readers may be looking for.



5. Castro is a fair writer, presenting an honest view of the city. I've never been, so I cannot base this on my own experiences. The book presents a little bit of everything which seems to be central to Rio: the nightlife, Carnival, the cuisine and, most importantly for me, the history. The problem with small books such as this one, which in a standard layout would maybe top 130 pages, is that the writer is prohibited from straying from the main path of introducing the city to the reader. I would say this book is the equivalent of spending two days in a major city - seeing the major sights, creating opinions and generalizations without really getting to know any citizen or neighborhood too well. However, the book did succeed in what I took as its major goal: to get the reader to go to Rio. Brazil is now definitely near the top of my travel list.

5 comments about Samba.

1. Samba is a highly personal account by a journalist who takes us into the center of the carnival experience in Rio, seen from the point of view of a very poor neighborhood with a rich carnival tradition. Through this we learn worlds about Afro-Brazilian culture, the notion of "exotic" as often applied to the tropics, and about Ms. Guillermoprieto's fascinating way of understanding and relating, as a Mexican, to a powerful Latin tradition quite other than hers. While there are some problems of organization, this is a very informative book, but mostly I found it fun, and it made me want to be in Rio and to dance.



2. This is a good book written by a journalist who consistently produces some of the most insightful work on Latin America in the U.S. print media. Writing from a journalist's perspective about her own experiences as a white Mexican living in Brazil it's a great read. I was captivated when I read it. Other reviewers are correct, there are better studis of all the subjects she covers, and as a Latin American historian, lusophile, and student of Capoeira I could find flaws to; here historical sections are simplistic, etc. But why bother? She did live there and join a Samba school, she freely admits her limitations, concerns, and desires, and she writes like a dream. That is hard to find and worth reading.



3. For an author whose first language is spanish, her skill in writing in english has to be commended -but she ain't Borges. Planning a research trip/adventure for a year in Rio, and then writting about her life there obviously demonstrates Guillermoprieto's ability to earn money by doing what she likes. Her style is journalistic and if you've never visited a third world country you can get a good idea from her observations of what living in one, as an average citizen, is like, eg. people accustomed to little prosperity evidently will go to great lengths for entertainment, and to achieve a feeling of importance. If you want to learn about samba, well- guillermoprieto is not omniscient. Conclusion: If you want to read something, you could do a lot worse than this book, but it's not a keeper. get it from the library.



4. Guillermoprieto is both a skilled writer and a serious scholar. That combination makes this erudite, and exceedingly detailed study of the black underclass in Brazilian society both readable and engaging. She employs an inductive approach, using the culture surrounding the Samba and Carnival in Rio as a base for exploring the status of blacks in Brazilian society and the many contradictions and ironies in light of their prevailing influence in all levels of Brazilian culture.

   The story is fascinating and the author admirable, because in order to learn and effectively represent the culture of the Samba and black Brazilian society (which she pretty effectively demonstrates are in many ways largely synonymous) she not only joined a Samba club in order to participate in Carnival, but also moved into the favelas of Rio.

   Guillermoprieto depicts the injustice of the blacks' fate in Brazil in a dispassionate, yet also very poignant and sympathetic manner. She allows the compelling facts to represent themselves without embellishing them with personal assessments, which makes her writing that much more powerful.

   This is really a great book: a fascinating story about the complex organization and serious part of the Brazilian economy that the Samba and Carnival comprise, and a distinctive and holistic representation of black Brazilian society and the rest of that nation in its reflection.




5. If you are interested in learning the true roots of Samba and Brazilian Carnaval(and not just the obligatory blurbs that you see in guidebooks), then this book is an absolute must for you to read. Alma Guillermoprieto does a superb job describing the rich religious, historical, and socioeconomic roots of Brazilian Carnaval and Samba - both of which have become famous around the world, yet remain remarkably poorly understood.

   Guillermoprieto writes in a very engaging, enjoyable style, which occassionally seems more like an engrossing novel than a non-fiction work. If you have ever been curious to learn more about Brazilian culture, this is the book to start with!

4 comments about The Sea and the Jungle (Marlboro Travel).

1. H M Tomlinson, a newspaper office employee, sets off on an adventurous and dangerous trip in a steamer in 1909. He is in for a wild winter Atlantic crossing that brought to mind A PERFECT STORM. This if followed by a medically risky and awesome adventure up the Amazon-with all the crew popping quinine and wrapping themselves in mosquito netting. The book was particularly enjoyably for me, in part because the author seemed so ordinary--he had read travel books and refers to them in the text, but he had a pretty ordinary day job. He also was just my grandfather's age and they both loved travel--and shared the family name of Tomlinson-a connection with some unknown, but now sort of knowable, British cousin. There was something of John McPhee's LOOKING FOR A SHIP in this book--the character sketches and the palpable heat of the tropics. But it does not have the tight focus of that work. There are parts of this book that had me roaring out loud in an airport waiting room. But, the man could have used an editor. When he was good he was very good. But this work might best be used as fodder for a good editor a la Mary Morris's wonderful MAIDEN VOYAGES.



2. When I first read this book six years ago, I was struck by its leisurely pace -- some readers in today's "now" technological age might find the text maddeningly slow -- but that is the delight in a book of this sort, written in 1912. Tomlinson's meditations, ruminations and wanderings are part of the larger adventure reflected in the times in which he took the "Capella" voyage. And, from these digressions come crisp, first-rate descriptions of the ship, its crew, and the surroundings. Even today, I can recall certain passages that still strike me in their clarity and precision (Ex: the huge, turbine arms of the Capella's engines whir and thump with "bird-like alacrity."). This book requires patience and indulgence, but is extremely rewarding for someone in this right frame of mind.



3. Tomlinson traveled in a ship hauling cargo to the head of navigation on the Madeira River, cargo for construction of the Madeira-Mamore railway. At that time, the upper reaches of the Madeira were as wild and inaccesible as any place on earth, including Antarctica. It's said that a man died for every crosstie on the railroad, and that's probably not a huge exaggeration. So Tomlinson's trip was a true adventure, even though his writing style is modest.

   His account of the Amazon and the Madeira near the beginning of the 20th century is fascinating, and his anecdotes about his time at the construction site are hilarious. He comes across as a modest man with an adventurous streak and a wonderful sense of humor. This book is a delight to read as a sheer travel adventure.

   It is also the only easy-reading description I've encountered of what was then the sheer wilderness of much of Amazonia was like before it was opened up by the advent of airplanes and the construction of the Trans-Amazon Highway. Even now, much of Brazil's part of the Amazon basin is wild, but now one can get in and out of all but the most remote spots conveniently. In Tomlinson's day, a million square miles was still mostly unmapped and almost unexplored; reading this book is an easy way of learning what true wilderness was like.

   I recommend it highly; it's one of my favorite books.




4. I loved this book for its dramatic yet humorous portrayal of a sea voyage across the Atlantic and an exploratory trip up the Amazon River in the early 20th century. If you can handle long sentences, he is a wonderful writer. I will never forget the passage about the shrunken head!

5 comments about Salvador for Partiers.

1. I had considered purchasing the guide in preparation for my next trip to Salvador, thinking it might present some new insights and recommendations. However, reading some of the sample pages proudly displayed on the author's website [...], I could barely contain the urge to vomit at the sight of senseless and superficial drivel this guy wrote. Most of the time I could not figure out if he was mocking foreign tourists by constantly assuming their complete brainlessness and total lack of cultural competence, or if the author himself is the kind of guy whose idea of a fun vacation is pure consumption - of alcohol, women, food, must-do items, whatever - without any regard for the local culture or people. Aside from the fact that Salvador for Partiers is generally a cheap cut and paste job (as evidenced by the reference to Ipanema in the 10 Salvador commandments section), it only reinforces the already existing negative perception of and attitude towards "first world" tourists in countries like Brazil. I would be ashamed to be seen with this guide.



2. Overall, I was pleased with this guide. I found the cultural background, sightseeing suggestions, musical genre overview, and street price guide to be quite useful during my trip. However, it was the cuisine and food sections (which might be even better if they were combined into one section) that were especially helpful and informative--good explanations and pictures.
   
   As an additional bonus of getting this book, the author offers to forward complaints against taxi drivers who are problematic to the local authorities. I had one bad situation, and the author responded to my email the next day telling me that he had passed on the information. (I should add that all the other taxi drivers I had in Salvador were honest and professional.)
   
   It is true that the book has a few "non-PC" sections, although nothing that is overly offensive for most people, or nothing that can't be ignored for those that might be. In addition, some of the places listed have vague or missing information (e.g., no street numbers or even addresses), and the maps are not very detailed, which made it difficult to find certain places. The bottom line, however, is that this book is a useful, quirky guide to a magnificent city in a gorgeous country. Don't be put off by the title either if you're over 30--there is still good information in here for everyone, even if your partying days are fewer than in previous years . . .



3. This book was very helpful for my recent trip to Salvador da Bahia. Because I was given the inside view I didn't have any surprises, it prepairs you for the foods, the people, the taxis the beggers, everything. The book does have a lot of typeo's and some missing page numbers. That is made up for by the humor and the vivid pictures. It is a very quick read, but very informative and helpful, for everyone not just partiers!



4. This book is produced by pretty much the same team that produced the excellent "Rio for Partiers". Surprisingly, it has much the same content - literally. It also is riddled with so many typographical errors, it appears as if it was assembled in a careless, mad rush. There is relatively little here on Salvador or Bahia and what there is lacks the knowing sophistication of the Rio book. Come on guys, do a second edition and do it RIGHT.



5. Lots of information. Some quite funny and very useful. Needs to be edited properly with many items from 'Rio for Partiers' accidentally copy and pasted into this book and many page references filled in with 'See page???'. Info on nights out and places to go is also a little out of date with venues and events having changed almost 2 years ago.
   
   If you want info on local food and drink or best tourist sites in Salvador then buy this book. If not, then don't bother.

1 comments about Carnival In Rio mini: Samba, Samba, Samba.

1. This is a lovely depiction of Carnaval in Rio. The photos are from recent carnavals, it makes a good coffee table book. Surprisingly the CD accompanying the book is excellent. Its worth buying the book for the CD alone.

No comments about Fodor's Brazil, 4th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1 comments about Wallpaper City Guide: Rio de Janeiro (Wallpaper City Guide Rio De Janeiro).

1. just a bunch of pretty pictures with short descriptions. Maybe useful for a few restaurants to go to (like Garcia e Rodriguez for brunch). Other books are better.

5 comments about Brazilian Adventure (Marlboro Travel).

1. This is contemporary American adventure: buy an SUV, watch game shows based on Lord of the Flies, try the risotto recipe Martha Stewart used on her ascent in the Himilayas. Please! Brazilian Adventure is the real thing for those who don't own their own snowshoes. Sure, the author and his companions set off with pith helmets worthy of Ralph Lauren and more elaborate gear than they'll ever use; true, Fleming is something of a good old boy circa 1932 Oxford style. Skin to be shed. When reality hits, which it does early in the adventure and continues to the bedraggled end, he rises to the occasion. The narrative is suffused with clear-eyed wit, honesty and optimism. I hope there are other Peter Fleming books out there.



2. Every so often I have to buy a new copy of Brazillian Adventure because I lend my copy to someone and they flatly refuse to return it again. This is one of the most engaging and good-humoured travel books ever. It was Fleming's first adventure and his first book - yet it became a classic work going into several editions early on and being used in schools as a study piece. It is seriously well written, and seriously engaging.

   It starts with his blandly describing how he got involved in the expedition in the first place- answering an advertisement in the paper to go on a 'Fawcett hunt" (as he later called it). He thought he would go on a grand expedition to find the missing explorer Colonel Fawcett and get a little hunting done at the same time. There have been numerous books and studies done on the disappearnce of Fawcett in Brazil in the 1920's - to this day no one quite knows what happened to him, and as it turns out the expedition that Fleming was joining was not going to throw new light on matters either.

   In fact the trip deteriorated badly the moment they hit Brazil, and Fleming's dry wit turns it all into a hilarious read - although it must have been desparately uncomfortable for them all. The expedition Leader was incompetent, the expedition split into two warring factions and they all ended up in a race back down the Amazon to try to get the banks in time.

   Peter Fleming, in case you didn't know, is the brother of the 'James Bond' author Ian Fleming - a talent for writing seemed to run in the family. Peter continued his travels and writing career but I think this first book is the best of them all. There is also a wonderful biography on his life available but I think that is now out of print.




3. I brought this book for my Brazilian trip this past Dec. I found this book slow and boring in the beginning. This may be due to the fact that the author used lot of what I assume to be late 19th and early 20th century references which I have no idea about and the British writing. But after half way through, I learned to read past the subtle British writing and concentrate on the story and this make the book more enjoyable.



4. I bought this book because I am fascinated by South America, the Amazon River, etc..and also because this looked like a real life adventure book searching for clues into the dissappearance of Major Fawcett.
   
   This book starts out slow because of the british style of writing in the early 20th century. For me it was too "flowery" and maybe that is not the right word. I nearly stopped reading the book because of it, but I didn't. Thankfully, the last half of the book, describing the race back to civilization, was much better.
   
   This book is okay, but nowhere near great



5. This is certainly not an adventure book in the classical sense. The style of writing does not allow for it. Buy it for its British humor and charm, not for adventures which don't take place.

No comments about Brasil.