Olá Bookworms!
You know that thing where you do or say or think something only to realize later that it was a dumb thing to do or say or think? That’s basically my life, to be honest: I’m in a constant state of revision. But, among the dumb things I’ve done or said or thought as it pertains to this blog was that I would not accept pitches for self published books. It was snobby and shortsighted of me. I’m sure there are a lot of self published books out there in which I have zero interest, but there are a lot of traditionally published books that fall into that category too. So. I’m wrong a lot. To nobody’s surprise. All this is to say that I received a pitch from a self-published author I was completely unfamiliar with (which is totally different than reading a book written by a blogger I already love, though that has happened) and I accepted a review copy. Are you ready to hear about The Brazilian Husband
Determined to honor her husband’s final request, Judith embarks on a trip from London to Brazil with her reluctant daughter in tow. The trip turns out to be a bit more than Judith bargained for as she begins to uncover secrets to her husband’s past. She soon encounters Ricardo, the dreamboat/human rights lawyer/activist who helps Judith unravel the tangled web of her husband’s life in Brazil. All of this is set against the backdrop of Brazil’s favelas, corrupt city officials, and familial drama.
I can’t recall having read another book set in Brazil, so I was a little concerned a book about Brazil written by a British woman wouldn’t be terribly authentic. I needn’t have worried. A quick review of Ms. Powell’s bio revealed she spent a year in Brazil working for a women’s shelter, so she knows a little something about the country. Plus, since the protagonist is a British woman visiting Brazil, it was the ultimate “write what you know” scenario. Although, I sincerely hope that the author’s story doesn’t totally mirror this book, because while it was a page turner, it was also heartbreaking.
It reminded me a little of Kate Morton’s work (The Forgotten Garden
Talk to me Bookworms! I want to read more books set in Brazil. Bonus points if they’re written by Brazilian authors. Recommendations?
*If you make a purchase through a link on this site, I will receive a small commission. You’ll also be supporting an independent author, which is pretty great. Given the fact that the editing and formatting were on point, I imagine a professional editor was involved as well, so you’ll be supporting THAT person too. Just in case you needed to feel warm and fuzzy about indulging in the written word.*
Megan M.
Ooh, I love The Forgotten Garden, so this sounds good! I get why you would have said you don’t accept self-published books initially. It’s taken a while for the perception of self-publishing to change. There’s definitely still a lot of typo-riddled “vanity” projects out there, but a lot of really great gems too. And a lot of authors that have been traditionally published for years are making the switch, so they know how to put out a polished product.
wordsfor
I mean, realistically, I doubt I’ll ever become someone who reads TONS of self pubs. I haven’t been accepting a whole lot review books from anyone lately, just sort of reading whatever I feel like. But if a synopsis grabs me like this one did? I don’t give a flying fig newton how it was published.
Jenny @ Reading the End
I have read woefully few books set in Brazil — if any? I’m trying to think now if I’ve read any! That seems kind of ridiculous for such an enormous country. HOWEVER, there is a possibility I might go to Rio not next year but the year after, and if I do that, I will definitely need to read some Brazil-set books beforehand, just to get in the mood.
wordsfor
YES! Jenny in RIO! I WANT TO HEAR REPORTS OF THIS! (But wait, does this mean your Illinois excursion is still happening?)
DoingDewey
I’m glad you found a self published book you like! I’ve found some great ones myself, but when I’m busy, I’m not always willing to put in the work to sort through the pitches I get for the good ones.