[.ca] Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon (ISBN 0307276651)

The very best of Jorge Amado:
This book delves into the culture and history of Bahia, one of the most celebrated parts of Brazil. It is one of Amado's best known works, if not the best one. The story depicts Gabriela, a sensous free spirited woman who migrates from famine to the city of Ilheus, where her story meshes with the city's story to form a great mixture. Gabriela works as a cook, and torments the hearts of men with her sensous and pure nature, while she delicately touches the revolving life of the city. The book also depicts with great detail the culture of the region, with special focus on the food. If you have ever been to Bahia, you will know how unique the tastes there are. This book leaves such a taste in the mouth. If you are planning to go on tourism to the Brazilian Northeast, this book should help raise the anticipation level.

Simply extraordinary.:
Historicaly situated at the late 1920's in Brazil, this masterpiece tells a story about the paradox among ingenuity and passion. From all points of view, this perfectly structured argument, lines up love, prejudice and social evolution, using the obsession for progress - sign of those times - as a key to develop the principal love argument of the book with such an extaordinary narrative and descriptive manners, that you could feel the essence of the city, or even recreate its architectural and urban display. This is the kind of books that makes you think "how comes I never read it in high school" but thankfully it is never late to enjoy a book like this.

Hot, Spicy and Delicious:
Jorge Amado takes us back to the mid-1920's in this deliciously enchanting novel, when the cacao kings ruled in the Brazilian backlands, conflicts were solved by gunfire, and a husband was expected to defend his honor by killing an adulterous wife and her lover. There are two parallel and occasionally intertwining plots going on; one is the battle between the old forces that want to maintain the city of Ilhéus as it has been for decades, sleepy and backwards; and the people who want the city to join the 20th century by encouraging international trade and culture. To the old guard, this is anathema; open the city to trade and all kinds of new ideas will rear their ugly heads. The second plot involves the Syrian bartender Nacib Saab; poor Nacib has been deserted by his cook on the eve of catering an important party for the town's upper crust. What to do? Nacib ventures over to the part of town where desperate migrant workers fleeing the drought in Brazil's northern provinces will work for a pittance (it underscores their desperation and devastation that this place is called the "slave market") and finds Gabriela, a young mulatto woman, filthy, dirt-encrusted, but willing to work for next to nothing, and Nacib needs a cook. But in Gabriela, he gets more than he ever bargained for. Once she's washed free of the dirt and dust she is absolutely gorgeous; her cooking wakes visions of paradise, and soon she has most of the men in town, married and single, panting after her. No way is Nacib, going to share this treasure he picked up off the dump heap; he wants her all to himself. But the only way he can have her all to himself is by marriage. Which is fine with him; but Gabriela is like an exquisite wild flower; once you pick it and put it in a vase, it withers and dies. Gabriela loves being Nacib's cook and mistress; she hates being Mrs. Saab, having to mind so many P's and Q's. She doesn't want to be a great lady; she just wants to be Gabriela. Not only does the book have two great plots, it also has some terrific characters: the old reactionary Ramiro Bastos and his wastrel playboy son Tonico; Malvina Tavares, .who refuses to accept her mandated destiny of cloistered young woman and later resigned wife, and makes a destiny of her own; Mundinho Falçao, who arrives in Ilhéus bring the winds of change which are about to sweep out the fusty old order; Dr. Mauricio Caires, the reactionary lawyer fulminating hellfire and damnation; Colonel Amâncio Leal, another old reactionary who realizes it's time for a change; and a host of others. But by far the most fascinating character is Gabriela herself, innocent, enchanting, full of the sheer joy of life. It's a wonderful read, and the excellent translation by James L. Taylor and William Grossman from the original Portuguese into English does full credit to this marvelous book.

Ah, L'amour:
So you won't be disappointed! What about discovering the rich world of Latin America, a love story, a political history, and a psychological mayhem? all of it whilst you are enjoying a beautiful book, an amazing novel and a really great style of writing. Gabriella may be the best of the best you may read as love story, and as "Latin American literature". You will plunge -so easily- in this widely open world of colors, sounds and creatures. The pulse is already there, in all the characters, and everybody is so deeply living: politic is rotten, love is hard, sex is wanted and our human complications are so silly. Reading this book is a unique experience; it will always make you feel better... even after the 3rd time!!

A 'must read' if you going to Brazil!:
This is a fabulous book. Its full of history and love and politics and money and chocolote and greed and violence and the mystical ways in Bahia Brizil. If you going to visit or simply interested in the chocolate days in Brazil this is for you! Enjoy.