Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon

If you enjoyed spending time with the lively and passionate characters of Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon by Jorge Amado this month, you may also find these titles interesting:

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren

Please join The Reader’s Den in April as we celebrate National Poetry Month!

Have you been enjoying Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon by Jorge Amado? Please join me in discussing this novel by considering some of the following questions, or posting your own questions, thoughts, or favorite excerpts.

The story begins with the shooting of Dona Sinházinha (the wife) and Dr. Osmundo (the lover) by Colonel Jesuino Mendonca (the husband), and with old Filomena leaving Nacib. These two elements set forth the motion of the entire story and set the main thematic element – out with old, in with the new.

• How does the past and future mix on the streets of Ilhéus?
• How does the author use gossip to drive the story?
• What actions are sparked by the murder of the lovers?

The novel touches modernist themes both social and political, while painting a colorful cultural portrait of Brazil.

• How are women’s rights addressed by the novel?
• How does the theme of transportation draw attention to political changes?
• What are some of the customs of the region that lend flavor to the novel?
• Do you think the title, Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon, is appropriate for the novel?

Juan de Onis, writes about Gabriela in 1962 on the event of the American publication of Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon.

“…an exciting and enjoyable romp of a book, rich in literary delights….For Americans, ‘Gabriela’ has additional significance, as a striking portrait of Brazilian reality and change, it may serve to bridge the ‘gap of understanding’ between two culturally and psychologically distinct areas of the New World.” New York Times Book Review

"'Bahiana' in tipical dress" Picture Collection, Postcard Files

Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon is set in the Bahia Region of Eastern Brazil. The author, Jorge Amado (1912-2001), grew up working the cacao groves of the region and became intimate with the plight of the working class. A supporter of the Communist Party, Amado's early career as a journalist and author focused on championing the rights of the under classes and he was both jailed and briefly exiled for his political views.

The publication of Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon in 1958 was a departure from his earlier writing style, becoming less politically motivated and more robust with well-developed characters, and won him popularity in Brazil and around the world. He is distinguished as one of the most prominent 20th century Brazilian writers, and continues to enjoy a celebrated status in the region of Bahia, as well as being translated into 50+ languages. For further biographical information and book reviews, visit NYPL’s Electronic Resources for databases such as Literature Resource Center and The New York Times (1851-2005).

I hope you are enjoying the book! Join The Reader's Den next week for discussion questions on Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon.

Welcome to The Reader’s Den!

Please join me in reading the book selection for March, Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon (Gabriela, cravo e canela) by Jorge Amado.

It’s 1925, and Ilhéus, a small Brazilian export town, is experiencing a disruption in its traditions, and the locals are finding that modern life is subject to comic interpretation. Join them in drinking sugarcane rum at the Vesuvius Bar courtesy of Nacib Saad, the Syrian bar owner; sharing in the gossip of the ill-fated Dona Sinházinha and her lover Dr. Osmundo; and falling in love with Gabriela, a migrant worker who cooks, flirts, and loves, while acting as an unexpected instrument of progress.

Please feel free to post comments, reviews, or questions about the novel at any time during the month of March. And check back for the next post, discussing the author and the region of Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon.

The book is available translated into English and Spanish. Please visit the Leo Catalog or your local Library branch to reserve a copy, or find a copy at your nearest library through WorldCat.