Synopses & Reviews
From well-known Brazilian playwright Francisco Azevedo, a heartwarming debut novel about three generations of a family whose kitchen contains the secret ingredient for happiness—sure to appeal to fans of
Like Water for Chocolate.
Once Upon a Time in Rio tells the story of eighty-eight-year-old Antonio Custódio, desperate to get his entire family together for dinner, and the captivating tale of their journey from Portugal to Brazil. What separates his family from any other is its possession of a secret ingredient for happiness: a sack of magical rice. During the preparation of the feast to celebrate the centenary of his parents’ wedding, Antonio looks back at the lives of his parents, his aunt, his brothers, their children and grandchildren, and his own—and their ties to a mystical bag of rice. He knows that family is a difficult dish and that happiness must be cooked up day by day; however, his family has been blessed. With the help of the rice, whose magic is as old as fire and time, Antonio’s family has been guided through the most trying of life’s tribulations.
Filled with humor and tender moments, Once Upon a Time in Rio is a beautifully told tale about the wisdom of past generations and the inextricable ties of family.
Review
“This novel evokes the flavors of Brazil and will be...appreciated by readers interested in South American fiction.”
About the Author
Francisco Azevedo is a world-renowned scriptwriter, playwright, and poet and was a finalist for the Sao Paulo Prize in literature. Once Upon a Time in Rio is Azevedo’s debut novel. He lives in Brazil.