THE BRAZILIAN HUSBAND by Rebecca Powell

4.5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK HERE
On Amazon.com HERE
On Goodreads HERE

Reviewed by me as a member of Rosie Amber's Review Team

I liked this book a lot.  It's simply but so well written, the words just flow; lovely to come across a book like this by someone who has a real talent for writing.  It's all about making the reader want to keep turning the pages, after all, and I certainly did with this! 

Judith Summers' Brazilian husband, Edson, has just died, and she is determined to fulfil his final wish by 'taking him home' ~ ie, back to the village of his birth to scatter his ashes.  His fifteen year old daughter goes with her, and together they uncover the mystery of Rosa's birth, and many more besides. 

The story is told mostly from Judith's point of view, interspersed with occasional chapters inside the head of Rosa, and Edson's friend, Ricardo, who runs a shelter for young people in trouble.  The plot slowly unravels via tapes of conversations between twelve year old Luciana, and Ricardo's wife, Flavia.  I'd more or less guessed the outcome before we were told, though not all the details, and it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story. 

Judith's a great character, pretty screwed up after taking her share of wrong turns throughout her life.  Tempestuous teenager Rosa is portrayed perfectly, but I think the star of the show is Brazil itself; Ms Powell clearly has a great love for the country and its poorer corners are depicted with much colour and warmth.  The people Judith and Rosa meet are so real, the dialogue is great, and there are some heartrending moments, too (too sad!).   

The writing style reminded me of Emily Barr, whose books I like very much.  I have nothing negative to say about this novel at all; highly recommended, and I'll definitely read her next one.