Tag Archives: Brazil

Book Review: 501 Portuguese Verbs

Posted on February 8, 2020 by

501 Portuguese Verbs, by John J. Nitti and Michael J. Ferreira I love random verb lists and other types of word lists [1], perhaps more than most people.  So when I say that this book is precisely the sort of … Continue reading →

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Book Review: The Everything Essential Brazilian Portuguese Book

Posted on February 8, 2020 by

The Everything Essential Brazilian Portuguese Book, by Fernanda Ferreira In general, I have to say that this is a well-organized book for those who want a basic understanding of Portuguese.  I’m not sure exactly how many people are looking for … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Backlands

Posted on January 24, 2020 by

Backlands:  A Novel, by Victoria Shorr This book seems custom-made to make into a movie.  I do not consider that a bad thing, even if this story is not precisely the sort of story I am most fond of.  There … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Bellini And The Sphinx

Posted on January 24, 2020 by

Bellini And The Sphinx, by Tony Bellotto, translated by Clifford E. Landers The author is apparently a noted musician in Brazil that I am not familiar with and also a noted writer in Brazilian noir fiction.  As someone who is … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Run For It

Posted on January 24, 2020 by

Run For It:  Stories Of Slaves Who Fought For Their Freedom, by Marcelo D’Salete This is the sort of book that is designed to appeal to contemporary sensibilities of self-hating whites and blacks who want to point to the dignity … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Berlitz Brazilian Portuguese Phrase Book & Dictionary

Posted on January 19, 2020 by

Berlitz Brazilian Portuguese Phrase Book & Dictionary, by Berlitz Berlitz has acquired a good reputation for their efforts to instruct others in foreign languages, and this book certainly demonstrates why that is the case.  This book doesn’t approach Brazilian Portuguese … Continue reading →

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Book Review: A Concise History Of Brazil

Posted on November 6, 2019 by

A Concise History Of Brazil, by Boris Fausto In writing about history, many historians (like this author), make Faustian bargains.  On the one hand, such writers want credibility for being sound historians, even when they write about areas that other … Continue reading →

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Book Review: River Of Darkness

Posted on November 6, 2019 by

River Of Darkness:  Francisco Orellana’s Legendary Voyage Of Death and Discovery Down The Amazon, by Buddy Levy This is a compelling story, to be sure, and a reminder of the time before Brazil was ruled over by Portuguese speakers and … Continue reading →

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Book Review: A Land Of Ghosts

Posted on November 6, 2019 by

A Land Of Ghosts:  The Braided Livees Of People And The Forest In War Western Amazonia, by David G. Campbell As is often the case, this book would have been way better with a different author.  There are certainly some … Continue reading →

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Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due: Carnauba Wax

Posted on August 3, 2017 by

If you are like me, from time to time you enjoy looking at the odd ingredients of your food and wondering what in the world they are.  I don’t know how many people share this interest, but as someone with … Continue reading →

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