Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Bossa Nova: The Story of the Brazilian Music That Seduced the World by Ruy Castro, Lysa Salsbury ISBN: 1-55652-494-3 Publisher: Chicago Review Press Pub. Date: 01 April, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.38 (8 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Important facts and entertaining gossip :)
Comment: This book intends to show us how the Bossa Nova started, and succeeds marvelously in doing exactly that. The author, Ruy Castro, introduces us not only to the lives of the musicians who influenced the creators of Bossa Nova, but also to those who "made" the Bossa Nova. For example, we get to know more about Joao Gilberto, and learn about the events that lead to the revolution he provoked in Brazilian music with his 1958 song, "Chega de saudade". We are also introduced to Tom Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, Sylvia Telles, Ronaldo Boscoli, Carlinhos Lyra, Nara Leao and Roberto Menescal, among others...
Ruy Castro tells us Bossa Nova's story as if it were a tale: we get to know important facts about that movement, but also entertaining gossip regarding the people who were part of it. Reading this book is quite easy, and you will find that the author makes you smile from time to time, with acerbic commentaries that are often close to the truth.
I love this book because I think that it adds a "human dimension" to Bossa Nova. I like to enjoy the songs, but also to know about the lives of those who wrote them, and what inspired the creators regarding each particular song... Have you ever asked yourself if "The girl from Ipanema" ("Garota de Ipanema") was inspired on a real girl?. Ruy Castro gives you the answer to that question, and to many more....
On the whole, I highly recommend this book. I give it 4 stars instead of 5 only because the English translation has some small flaws when compared to "Chega de Saudade", the original version in Portuguese. However, that is only a minor shortcoming when you take into account that this translation allows many people who don't speak Portuguese to know more about Bossa Nova.
A final word of advice?. If you can, listen to the songs this book speaks about while you read it. Remember to listen to the different versions of those songs: not only in English, but also the original versions in Portuguese. The reason for that suggestion is that in many cases I have listened to both versions and they are remarkably different... Don't worry, even if you don't understand the meaning of the words in Portuguese, you will delight in the rhythm, the sound of the words, and the differences you will find. The result?: you will enjoy this book even more.
Belen Alcat
Rating: 4
Summary: Really wonderful
Comment: The previous reviewers are being too picky. I'm sure there are mistakes in the translation but this book captures Ruy Castro's writing voice amazingly well. It's really a sweet book, a sweet story and of course sweet music. I know next to nothing about pre-Bossa Brazilian music and I wasn't confused. I did keep a pad by the book to write down names of singers and songs I need to search for. It's fascinating how all these different stories led to Bossa Nova. It's a lot more diverse than you'd think. I only wish there was a companion CD to hear all this great music, especially the more obscure early stuff.
Rating: 4
Summary: Great intro. though keep your Internet connexion on.
Comment: This is a fantastic book. It's not useful as a "reference" because it's meant to be more story oriented. Written in a friendly style - as if you're having a chat w/ the author. There's a problem w/ this, however, as he expects you to know *everything*. I found myself confused at the beginning because there were so many names that I was simply not familiar w/. I may be the only person who doesn't hate footnotes, but this would've been a perfect book for them. These people become familiar through the course of the book, so it doesn't matter in the end. If you truly want the low-down on Bossa Nova (& who doesn't), this is one book to sit down w/.
 |
Title: The Brazilian Sound: Samba, Bossa Nova, and the Popular Music of Brazil by Chris McGowan, Ricardo Pessanha ISBN: 1566395453 Publisher: Temple University Press Pub. Date: 25 February, 1998 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
 |
Title: Tropical Truth: A Story of Music and Revolution in Brazil by Caetano Veloso, Barbara Einzig ISBN: 037540788X Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Pub. Date: 24 September, 2002 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
 |
Title:Wave ASIN: B000002G6J Publisher: A&M Records Pub. Date: 25 October, 1990 List Price(USD): $9.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $9.98 |
 |
Title: Antonio Carios Jobim for Fingerstyle Guitar by Antonio Carlos Jobim ISBN: 0634000071 Publisher: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation Pub. Date: 01 December, 1998 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
 |
Title: Rhythms of Resistance: The African Musical Heritage of Brazil by Peter Fryer ISBN: 0819564184 Publisher: Wesleyan University Press Pub. Date: 01 June, 2000 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
