Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon

by Jorge Amado and William L. (translators) Amado, Jorge; Taylor, James L.; Grossman

Book Overview

Ilh us in 1925 is a booming town with a record cacao crop and aspirations for progress, but the traditional ways prevail. When Colonel Mendon a discovers his wife in bed with a lover, he shoots and kills them both. Political contests, too, can be settled by gunshot... No one imagines that a bedraggled migrant worker who turns up in town-least of all Gabriela herself-will be the agent of change. Nacib Saad has just lost the cook at his popular caf...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307276651
• ISBN13: 9780307276650
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Vintage
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

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.

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.

You will feel as if you have been to Brazil

This is my favorite novel by my favorite South American writer. The scents, sounds and scenery of Brazil seem to spring from the pages of this book. If it were nothing more that a travel guide, it would be worth four or five stars. I promise that after you read this, you will be consummed with the desire to visit Brazil and sample its cooking.However, this story is more. The best way I can describe it is to say that it is Capra-esque. A beautiful young woman with a peasant background becomes the object of adoration of a businessman. He tries to civilize her and in the process almost destroys that which makes herso sublime. If this was written by Thomas Hardy and the titole character was named Tess, this book would end tragically. However, this is the world of Amado. I do not want to give away too much of the plot, but I will say that Amado loves his characters and has a great faith in the ability of people to change and grow.

Bountiful! A masterpiece!

Gabriela, Cloves Cinnamon is simply bountiful. I bought this book in anticipation of a business trip to Brazil, and found that it was a wonderful story rich with political intrigue, well developed characters and a lush setting that served my initial purpose - as a microcosm through which to gain a little insight into the Brazilian psyche. It is a literary masterpiece with a strong prose / narrative style that prevents it being too 'heavy' a read. It total avoids trite characterizations and predictability in the plot. I am going to follow-up this with reading other of Jorge Amado's work, and buy the movie based upon "Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands" for their own literary value, as opposed to simply as examples of Brazilian / Latin American literature / film.

MY DAUGHTER'S MIDDLE NAME IS GABRIELA BECAUSE OF THIS BOOK

Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon is Brazilian Nobel Laureate Jorge Amado's masterpiece. When it was made into a TV movie in Brazil, the entire country -- including the government--- stopped to watch. I read Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon for the first time 20 years ago, with the result noted in the headline above. Gabriela... is a spell-binding romance and tale of frontier life in Brazil. In 1925, the town of Ilheus burst into prosperity & modernity as cacao plantations gobbled up the land. Cacao barons built nouveau riche monstrosities and cultivated fine airs. And the mulatto girl, Gabriela, filthy, starving and dressed in rags, wandered into town with a stream of others escaping famine. Just as Nacib the Arab loses his cook. What would his Cafe do with no cook? They find each other. Gabriela, bathed and clothed, is a beauty who has every man in town panting. Also-- she's a great cook. Soon, the Cafe is hopping and Nacib is a mess. Can he hold on to her? A melange of political bosses, concubines, proper wives and daughters. Cheating wives and scandal. Boredom in the heat. And the beautiful Gabriela and her food moving through it like a smile. When I read this book 20 years ago, I loved it as a romance. My recent reading impressed me as a woman's book. Amado draws the lives and options of women in Brazilian society at this time very clearly, and shows how one resourceful woman managed to be herself. The book has the flowery language of Latin writing. It's author is older-- I believe that he died not too long ago. So it feels a bit antique. And very exotic.