Customer Reviews

The Two Deaths of Quincas Wateryell (50047)

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This is a very short, unpretentious book. Nevertheless, inside it there lies the essence of brazilian culture. I read this book firstly when I was 14, and I enjoyed it quite a lot. Now I have been reading it again, and I can tell you that it is one of the good books I have read throughout my life. If you are a little (you only need to be very little) interested in Brazil, or in having some pleasant hours of reading, I strongly advise you to buy it.

Jorge Amado (1912-2001) is one of Brazil's most famous writers, and in this little book we are able to realize why he has such recognition. "The Two Deaths of Quincas Wateryell" is a translation of one of his shortest but more original books, "A morte e a morte de Quincas Berro D'Água", first published in 1958.

The author is part of a movement in Brazilian literature that was called "regionalism", mainly characterized because each one of the authors strived to write about his region, and tried to incorporate in his works words closely related to the local speech. Amado does just that, and in his books we can see a little of his beloved "Bahia". He deliberately ignores orthographic and grammatical rules, and adds in his written work expressions that so far could only be found in informal conversations. Amado wrote for everybody, in a language that the average person in Bahia, and Brazil, understood. He loved to be considered a "story-teller", rather than a "serious" writer that wrote only for a few.

I read this book for the first time during a course I attended regarding "A Literatura brasileira através dos contos". Most of the students (myself included) thought that "A morte e a morte de Quincas Berro D'Água" was only a long story. Our professor, Adriana Almeida, told us that it was a novel, due to the fact that it includes a lot of parallel stories and coexisting dramatic incidents, among other reasons.

But... What is this book about?. An essay that I liked a lot says that the action is, in this book "nitidamente imbricada no Realismo Mágico, mistura sonho e realidade; loucura e racionalidade; amor e desamor..." ("nitidly imbricated in Magical Realism, mixture of dream and reality; craziness and rationality; love and hate..."). I can only dream of saying something more accurate... You can find all that, an much more, in the few pages that compound this book. Yes, "A morte e a morte de Quincas Berro D'Água" is about the two deaths of a person (possibly three deaths?), and about how a person can change dramatically his life, if he wishes to do so.

After reading "A morte e a morte de Quincas Berro D'Água" you will be able to decide by yourself who was happier, and who led a better life, if Joaquim Soares da Cunha or Quincas Berro D'Água. Any opinion is valid, as far as you can give reasons for it.

On the whole, I strongly recommend this book, as an excellent example of the kind of work that a really gifted author can write. If you can, try to read this book in portuguese. If you are unable to do so, read a translation, because even if you won't appreciate all the subtle shades of meaning and feeling that can only be grasped in the original language, you will still enjoy it a lot.

Belen Alcat

If laughter is good for the soul, your soul will be in very good condition after reading this humorous account of Qunicas Wateryell.

Anyone who has read Amado knows already that his characters are unforgettable.
I read this book in one sitting. Bought a second copy because I was lending it to so many people I couldn't get it around fast enough.
Just the name of the title character should tell you that you are in store for an entertaining story and a great adventure.
One gets the sense that you are participating in the caper and gladly agreeing to do so.
Grab drink or a coffee and give yourself the delight of reading this book
Don't worry that the main character is dead. We should all be so lucky to have this zany mix of friends to see us off.

In general, to read the books of Jorge Amado is best appreciated if you know Bahia. I am rereading the books I have- and remembering my experiences. To understand Amado you must go to Bahia. To understand Bahia, I have had to read Amado.

I have read the six precident reviews of this book. They seem so diverse, yet: Among them all, the essence, breadth & intricacies are captured. I especially appreciate that another reviewer has captured my impression: The THREE deaths... Perhaps Amado deliberately ignores the significance of the physical death? Interesting...

That aside, The Two Deaths of Quincas Wateryell (Desculpe o ingles) is a universal story anyone can appreciate. As such, it clearly demonstrates the sensitive humanism of Jorge Amado.

Don't miss the opportunity!

This story, and the story "Forest Gump" are two of the best and most entertaining works of short fiction I have ever read. A real gem, and a delightful insight into Brazillian culture and humor.

This was my first foray into contemportay Brazilian fiction. Amado wove a short tale -- a fairy tale or fable -- with great ease and artistry. The descriptions of the characters and the setting fill the imagination with sights and sounds and "characters" of all types.

Loved the illustrations. Facinating artwork.

This was a pleasure to read.