Books About Brazil

Winding its way down the anarchic backstreets of bohemian Rio de Janeiro, this intriguing adventure looks at the extraordinary musical culture, unapologetic hedonism, and rampant infidelity that rule this far-flung paradise of the tropics. Carmen Michael, a 28-year-old travel-industry executive, ditches her job in London and visits the Brazilian hotspot for a vacation. Wary of the allure of glossy brochure promises, she starts out as a jaded jetsetter but soon finds her skepticism swiftly overcome when she moves into a yellow mansion owned by a flamboyant bachelor named Gustavo. In the forgotten neighborhoods of old Rio, Carmen embraces Latin American life with all its color, danger, and unpredictability. She flirts with Brazilian high society, collaborates with an Italian revolutionary, walks straight into the well-sprung trap of a local hustler, runs away from him to Buenos Aires, and runs back—only to fall for a samba musician from the local bohemian quarter. Far from the glitzy beaches for which the city is famous and written with great vivacity, this recollection reveals the surprising truths that can emerge from poverty, isolation, and an entirely different culture.

Website: www.chasingbohemia.com