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São Paulo Noir
On the heels of Rio Noir, beloved Brazilian rock star and best-selling novelist Tony Bellotto ushers another world-class city into the Akashic Noir Series.
Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book.
Featuring brand-new stories by: Tony Bellotto, Olivia Maia, Marcelino Freire, Beatriz Bracher, Maria S. Carvalhosa, Fernando Bonassi, Marcelo Rubens Paiva, Marçal Aquino, Jô Soares, Mario Prata, Ferréz, Vanessa Barbara, Ilana Casoy, and Drauzio Varella.
From the introduction by Tony Bellotto:
Encyclopedias will say that São Paulo is the main financial, corporative, and commercial center of South America. The census will show that São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, the Americas, the Portuguese-speaking world, and the entire Southern Hemisphere. Scholars will inform us that São Paulo is the most multicultural city in Brazil, having received, since 1870, millions of immigrants from every part of the planet, and that it is the city with the largest populations of people of Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish, and Lebanese/Arab origin outside their respective countries. Experts will assure us that São Paulo has a high crime rate. Sociologists will confirm that the city has an area known as Cracolândia (Crackland) and that among the violent and neglected communities spread along its periphery one bears the ironic name Paraisópolis. Politicians will roar that São Paulo is the engine that drives Brazil . . .
More than historians and sociologists, writers have always been able to transform cities into great characters. This is the way we decipher devouring sphinxes.
Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book.
Featuring brand-new stories by: Tony Bellotto, Olivia Maia, Marcelino Freire, Beatriz Bracher, Maria S. Carvalhosa, Fernando Bonassi, Marcelo Rubens Paiva, Marçal Aquino, Jô Soares, Mario Prata, Ferréz, Vanessa Barbara, Ilana Casoy, and Drauzio Varella.
From the introduction by Tony Bellotto:
Encyclopedias will say that São Paulo is the main financial, corporative, and commercial center of South America. The census will show that São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, the Americas, the Portuguese-speaking world, and the entire Southern Hemisphere. Scholars will inform us that São Paulo is the most multicultural city in Brazil, having received, since 1870, millions of immigrants from every part of the planet, and that it is the city with the largest populations of people of Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish, and Lebanese/Arab origin outside their respective countries. Experts will assure us that São Paulo has a high crime rate. Sociologists will confirm that the city has an area known as Cracolândia (Crackland) and that among the violent and neglected communities spread along its periphery one bears the ironic name Paraisópolis. Politicians will roar that São Paulo is the engine that drives Brazil . . .
More than historians and sociologists, writers have always been able to transform cities into great characters. This is the way we decipher devouring sphinxes.
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2018
14 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
Tony Bellotto
17 books34 followersAntonio Carlos Liberalli Bellotto is a Brazilian musician and writer, best known as the guitarist of Brazilian rock band Titãs.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 1, 2017
Por conta da minha paixão por São Paulo, mais o fato da terra da garoa ser o cenário do meu embrionário romance de fantasia urbana, coloquei São Paulo Noir na frente da minha lista de leituras assim que descobri que ele existia. Quando vi o nome dos autores, minha expectativa ainda aumentou. Então confesso que comecei a ler com um certo medinho de me decepcionar. Mas, felizmente, não só não me decepcionei como me surpreendi com a solidez e a variedade da coletânea, que tem contos incríveis do começo ao fim, dos mais diversos gêneros e tons.
--
“Mancha de café”, de Olivia Maia
O livro já começa com um tapa na cara, um dos contos mais intensos da coletânea. Junto com o último conto, do Drauzio, é o texto em que a cidade de São Paulo menos aparece como personagem, mas sim como cenário mesmo, um ambiente que molda a personagem. É um dos contos mais líricos também, o que nem por isso tornou a leitura menos fluida.
“Qualquer semelhança não é mera coincidência”, de Marcelino Freira
Não dá pra falar muito desse conto além de: "plot twist". É um conto curtíssimo, o que torna ainda mais impressionante como a história dá uma reviravolta de 360º!
“Panamericana”, de Beatriz Bracher e Maria S. Carvalhosa
Esse é uma conto que, mesmo dentro desse tema noir, inesperadamente flerta com o realismo mágico. Quase caí pra trás quando descobri que uma das autoras, Maria, ainda nem terminou o ensino fundamental (sim). O conto alterna parágrafos no ponto de vista da tia com parágrafos no ponto de vista da sobrinha. Não sei se foi assim que o conto foi escrito - com Beatriz escrevendo um POV e Maria o outro - mas achei demais. Adorei a atmosfera desse conto.
“Atendimento 24 horas”, de Fernando Bonassi
Engraçado e trágico ao mesmo tempo. Apesar de não saber nem o nome do protagonista, e apesar dele não estar fazendo as coisas mais morais do mundo, foi fácil se afeiçoar a ele. Achei que ia ser o conto mais engraçado de todos, mas ainda não tinha chegado o do Jô Soares.
“Baixo Augusta”, de Marcelo Rubens Paiva
Esse é o conto que mais fala sobre a cidade de São Paulo. Sem parecer chato ou infodump, esse conto traz várias coisas interessantes sobre a história de SP, em especial da Augusta. A história é bem legal, dá pra imaginar certinho na cabeça os acontecimentos.
"Como se o mundo fosse um bom lugar", de Marçal Aquino
Esse é o conto mais "aberto" - mas na realidade ele não é exatamente um conto, e sim um trecho de um romance. Os personagens são bem interessantes, então mesmo sem um fechamento mais concreto, dá pra curtir bastante.
"Meu nome é Nicky Nicola", de Jô Soares
Cara, tinha lido o começo de o Xangô de Baker Street há muitos anos, quando ainda era bem novinha. Acho que era muito complexo pra mim e acabei largando, sem guardar memórias da escrita do Jô, então foi uma surpresa incrível pra mim quando comecei a ler o conto e RIR ALTO das piadas... Foi uma das coisas mais divertidas que li nos últimos tempos, apesar de ser um plot simples, com um fim meio zoeira. Demais.
"Teresão", de Mário Prata
O momento humor continua no conto do Mário Prata, como já seria de se esperar. Muito louco o conto, com um toque de "é non sense mas não é" que me deixou bem pensativa até. Uma história super ágil, ótimos personagens.
“Contaminação cruzada”, de Vanessa Barbara
Mano, esse conto me deixou meio com medinho de dormir em quarto de hotéis. Só digo isso. Tensão muito bem construída, um plot twist bem massa também.
“Diário inútil”, de Tony Bellotto
Nunca tinha lido nenhuma obra do Tony, então não conhecia ainda o Remo Bellini. Curti demais o investigador, achei o plot interessante também. Curti a alternância de pedaços da investigação com reflexões sobre o assassinato de Lennon.
"Fluxo", de Ferréz
Depois do primeiro conto, esse é o texto mais lírico da coletânea. Cru, um tapão na cara, muito legal mesmo. Muito bom ver a periferia representada nesse conto, e muito bem representada.
"Boniclaide e ela", de Ilana Casoy
Um ótimo conto com uma ótima crítica social, a imagem de alguns outros contos. Curti a originalidade também, e o uso de alguns personagens com perfis surpreendentes. Muito bom, apesar do fim melancólico.
"Margot", de Drauzio Varella
Um maravilhoso conto a la Drauzio Varella. Conta, sem muitos preâmbulos, a história de como uma menina pobre do Norte se tornou prostituta em São Paulo, depois de tomar muita porrada da vida. Gostei da agilidade do conto, acompanhando um longo tempo da vida da protagonista. O fim, que pode ou não pode ser um plot twits (fiquei em dúvida) é amargo e forte, mas curti muito, muito mesmo.
--
O livro é leitura RECOMENDADÍSSIMA. Me surpreendi positivamente, e até vou passar o Rio Noir na frente da minha lista de leitura pra ver se segue o mesmo padrão!
--
“Mancha de café”, de Olivia Maia
O livro já começa com um tapa na cara, um dos contos mais intensos da coletânea. Junto com o último conto, do Drauzio, é o texto em que a cidade de São Paulo menos aparece como personagem, mas sim como cenário mesmo, um ambiente que molda a personagem. É um dos contos mais líricos também, o que nem por isso tornou a leitura menos fluida.
“Qualquer semelhança não é mera coincidência”, de Marcelino Freira
Não dá pra falar muito desse conto além de: "plot twist". É um conto curtíssimo, o que torna ainda mais impressionante como a história dá uma reviravolta de 360º!
“Panamericana”, de Beatriz Bracher e Maria S. Carvalhosa
Esse é uma conto que, mesmo dentro desse tema noir, inesperadamente flerta com o realismo mágico. Quase caí pra trás quando descobri que uma das autoras, Maria, ainda nem terminou o ensino fundamental (sim). O conto alterna parágrafos no ponto de vista da tia com parágrafos no ponto de vista da sobrinha. Não sei se foi assim que o conto foi escrito - com Beatriz escrevendo um POV e Maria o outro - mas achei demais. Adorei a atmosfera desse conto.
“Atendimento 24 horas”, de Fernando Bonassi
Engraçado e trágico ao mesmo tempo. Apesar de não saber nem o nome do protagonista, e apesar dele não estar fazendo as coisas mais morais do mundo, foi fácil se afeiçoar a ele. Achei que ia ser o conto mais engraçado de todos, mas ainda não tinha chegado o do Jô Soares.
“Baixo Augusta”, de Marcelo Rubens Paiva
Esse é o conto que mais fala sobre a cidade de São Paulo. Sem parecer chato ou infodump, esse conto traz várias coisas interessantes sobre a história de SP, em especial da Augusta. A história é bem legal, dá pra imaginar certinho na cabeça os acontecimentos.
"Como se o mundo fosse um bom lugar", de Marçal Aquino
Esse é o conto mais "aberto" - mas na realidade ele não é exatamente um conto, e sim um trecho de um romance. Os personagens são bem interessantes, então mesmo sem um fechamento mais concreto, dá pra curtir bastante.
"Meu nome é Nicky Nicola", de Jô Soares
Cara, tinha lido o começo de o Xangô de Baker Street há muitos anos, quando ainda era bem novinha. Acho que era muito complexo pra mim e acabei largando, sem guardar memórias da escrita do Jô, então foi uma surpresa incrível pra mim quando comecei a ler o conto e RIR ALTO das piadas... Foi uma das coisas mais divertidas que li nos últimos tempos, apesar de ser um plot simples, com um fim meio zoeira. Demais.
"Teresão", de Mário Prata
O momento humor continua no conto do Mário Prata, como já seria de se esperar. Muito louco o conto, com um toque de "é non sense mas não é" que me deixou bem pensativa até. Uma história super ágil, ótimos personagens.
“Contaminação cruzada”, de Vanessa Barbara
Mano, esse conto me deixou meio com medinho de dormir em quarto de hotéis. Só digo isso. Tensão muito bem construída, um plot twist bem massa também.
“Diário inútil”, de Tony Bellotto
Nunca tinha lido nenhuma obra do Tony, então não conhecia ainda o Remo Bellini. Curti demais o investigador, achei o plot interessante também. Curti a alternância de pedaços da investigação com reflexões sobre o assassinato de Lennon.
"Fluxo", de Ferréz
Depois do primeiro conto, esse é o texto mais lírico da coletânea. Cru, um tapão na cara, muito legal mesmo. Muito bom ver a periferia representada nesse conto, e muito bem representada.
"Boniclaide e ela", de Ilana Casoy
Um ótimo conto com uma ótima crítica social, a imagem de alguns outros contos. Curti a originalidade também, e o uso de alguns personagens com perfis surpreendentes. Muito bom, apesar do fim melancólico.
"Margot", de Drauzio Varella
Um maravilhoso conto a la Drauzio Varella. Conta, sem muitos preâmbulos, a história de como uma menina pobre do Norte se tornou prostituta em São Paulo, depois de tomar muita porrada da vida. Gostei da agilidade do conto, acompanhando um longo tempo da vida da protagonista. O fim, que pode ou não pode ser um plot twits (fiquei em dúvida) é amargo e forte, mas curti muito, muito mesmo.
--
O livro é leitura RECOMENDADÍSSIMA. Me surpreendi positivamente, e até vou passar o Rio Noir na frente da minha lista de leitura pra ver se segue o mesmo padrão!
June 13, 2018
São Paulo Noir is an anthology of thirteen short stories situated in São Paulo, the largest city in South America famed for its contradictions, its deep poverty and conspicuous wealth, privation and consumption, lascivious celebrations and deep piety. A collection of short stories that captures those contradictions seems impossible, but São Paulo Noir seems to succeed with ease.
Anyone who follows my reviews knows I am a big fan of the series of anthologies from Akashic Books called Akashic Noir. They are the ultimate armchair travel, not just to another place but to another mood, the mood of noir. In this edition, there are thirteen stories by Brazilian authors in different neighborhoods of the famed city. I listed the contents at the bottom if you’re familiar with Brazilian authors. I am not, so each was a fresh voice.
This collection is more classically noir than many others in the series. Bellotto felt no need to prove something by stretching the boundaries of noir. I appreciate the truth in advertising. Many stories have elements of that most Latin American of literary genres, magic realism, but others are completely realistic. The first, “Cross Contamination” is one of my favorites, a maid cleaning a murder scene is also teaching the new trainee and you realize her years as a maid give her a Holmesian deductive capacity and interest, to perhaps her detriment. One short story, in particular, cracked me up. It was written by the humorist Jô Soarest and had a detective remarkably skilled in the pratfall. Mario Prata’s “Teresão” is very surreal, though I suppose it’s possible. “24-Hour Service” is opens with a remarkable game of Telephone, particularly remarkable in its ability to keep the message consistent.
There are stories of corruption, madness, compulsion, snobbery, and vanity. All the vices that drive the noir world.
São Paulo Noir has the best introduction of all the Akashic Noir series. It’s short, without specifics about the different stories, but it still sets the mood beautifully in a very short and poetic essay. I loved the stories and think this is one of the stronger in the series.
I received an e-galley of São Paulo Noir from the publisher through Edelweiss.
São Paulo Noir at Akashic Books
Akashic Noir Series
Tony Bellotto on GoodReads
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
Anyone who follows my reviews knows I am a big fan of the series of anthologies from Akashic Books called Akashic Noir. They are the ultimate armchair travel, not just to another place but to another mood, the mood of noir. In this edition, there are thirteen stories by Brazilian authors in different neighborhoods of the famed city. I listed the contents at the bottom if you’re familiar with Brazilian authors. I am not, so each was a fresh voice.
This collection is more classically noir than many others in the series. Bellotto felt no need to prove something by stretching the boundaries of noir. I appreciate the truth in advertising. Many stories have elements of that most Latin American of literary genres, magic realism, but others are completely realistic. The first, “Cross Contamination” is one of my favorites, a maid cleaning a murder scene is also teaching the new trainee and you realize her years as a maid give her a Holmesian deductive capacity and interest, to perhaps her detriment. One short story, in particular, cracked me up. It was written by the humorist Jô Soarest and had a detective remarkably skilled in the pratfall. Mario Prata’s “Teresão” is very surreal, though I suppose it’s possible. “24-Hour Service” is opens with a remarkable game of Telephone, particularly remarkable in its ability to keep the message consistent.
There are stories of corruption, madness, compulsion, snobbery, and vanity. All the vices that drive the noir world.
São Paulo Noir has the best introduction of all the Akashic Noir series. It’s short, without specifics about the different stories, but it still sets the mood beautifully in a very short and poetic essay. I loved the stories and think this is one of the stronger in the series.
I received an e-galley of São Paulo Noir from the publisher through Edelweiss.
São Paulo Noir at Akashic Books
Akashic Noir Series
Tony Bellotto on GoodReads
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
July 3, 2018
I am loving this series of noir fiction from around the globe. Not everyone lives in the house with the porch and white picket fence. And the social gap is never more evident is this tome - a city with a high crime rate, violence and neglected communities.
And yet ..... there is our first story with the almost comical Nicky Nicola, and such querky lines as ".. his next step was a false one: he fell down ..."!
The cast of characters range from a neglected wife " a crafty bitch with more tricks than a cruiseship magician"; a gang member; a prostitute; a political advisor " it's not easy to get rid of a dead body nowadays"; a policeman; a young girl; a honey trap; and a grandmother. Each story so evocatively different yet reflective of the period of time in which they are set.
These are the stories of a truly cosmopolitan city - and not everyone is as wholesome as apple pie.
And yet ..... there is our first story with the almost comical Nicky Nicola, and such querky lines as ".. his next step was a false one: he fell down ..."!
The cast of characters range from a neglected wife " a crafty bitch with more tricks than a cruiseship magician"; a gang member; a prostitute; a political advisor " it's not easy to get rid of a dead body nowadays"; a policeman; a young girl; a honey trap; and a grandmother. Each story so evocatively different yet reflective of the period of time in which they are set.
These are the stories of a truly cosmopolitan city - and not everyone is as wholesome as apple pie.
May 31, 2021
There were a couple stories I liked, & it was interesting to get a glimpse of the geography & culture of São Paulo, but the misogyny & homophobia & transphobia in many of the stories diminished my enjoyment.
October 11, 2021
The Akashic Noir series is a brilliant idea. Each issue is a collection of Noir-esque short stories from different locations around the world, beautifully pulling from known and lesser-known writers in that region. The idea itself is 5/5.
Tony Bellotto, an impactful rock star and writer in his own right from Brazil, does the editing and curation of São Paulo Noir. He even adds one of his own short stories to the bunch (who could resist!?). Like any short story collection, the stories themselves are varied in style and quality. Here are some that stuck out.
My Name is Nicky Nicola - This one is comical instead of dark and gritty: a "detective" with no credentials who makes mistakes at every turn and, despite his efforts in unreliable narration, betrays his own laziness and incompetence. Very fun, 4/5.
Cross Contamination - Probably the most clear and digestible of the bunch, this one is about a hotel cleaning lady who prides herself in her ability to understand the lives and personalities of the guests simply by rummaging around in their room. She wants to use this invasive superpower to solve a recent murder. 3.5/5.
Boniclaide and Mrs. ALS - This one sticks out for falling so flat. I read this aloud to my wife while we were at the beach, the whole time wondering where it was going. But by the end we were unimpressed and also surprised that it was one of the longer stories. 1.5/5.
Useless Diary - Not an amazing ending. One of two where the ending is just TA-DA a person is trans! Weird. Luckily it never devalues the characters for their trans-ness. But what makes this one awesome is that it takes place when John Lennon dies and the world is shaken by it. Our detective is on the hunt for a missing person, and every interview and every TV and every newspaper is weeping at the loss of this celebrity: "The dream is dead!" or "I am the Walrus!" Brilliant setting, really. 4/5.
Teresão - Started out interesting. A chubby middle-aged rich woman makes ridiculous schemes in order to lose weight, culminating in her working with real criminals to schedule her own kidnapping so that she'll be forced into a low-calorie lifestyle in a locked room. The ball drops around the second half when the narrator shifts voices to the author himself, and then feels a lot like he's just setting up an extended world starring this character. 2.5/5.
The Final Table - An old man plays casual poker with his friends during the 70s and gets angry as it becomes a real business, becomes more professional, becomes too real. He eventually feels pushed out and decides to take revenge. This one is pretty simple but well told. I felt it. 4.5/5 stars.
As If The World Were A Good Place - This one was disappointing because it was good. The characters felt like they had weight and history, and just as the plot was catching up to become interesting, it ended! It was an excerpt from a book instead of a short story! No! That's not why I came here! But okay, I was interested, so I decided to look up the author, Marçal Aquino. Maybe I'd buy this book and finish it. But after my wife and I dug around for almost an hour, we discovered that this is a book he gave up on! He never finished it! Why did you let this into the collection, Tony Bellotto! Whhhhhhhy! 0.5/5 stars.
Tony Bellotto, an impactful rock star and writer in his own right from Brazil, does the editing and curation of São Paulo Noir. He even adds one of his own short stories to the bunch (who could resist!?). Like any short story collection, the stories themselves are varied in style and quality. Here are some that stuck out.
My Name is Nicky Nicola - This one is comical instead of dark and gritty: a "detective" with no credentials who makes mistakes at every turn and, despite his efforts in unreliable narration, betrays his own laziness and incompetence. Very fun, 4/5.
Cross Contamination - Probably the most clear and digestible of the bunch, this one is about a hotel cleaning lady who prides herself in her ability to understand the lives and personalities of the guests simply by rummaging around in their room. She wants to use this invasive superpower to solve a recent murder. 3.5/5.
Boniclaide and Mrs. ALS - This one sticks out for falling so flat. I read this aloud to my wife while we were at the beach, the whole time wondering where it was going. But by the end we were unimpressed and also surprised that it was one of the longer stories. 1.5/5.
Useless Diary - Not an amazing ending. One of two where the ending is just TA-DA a person is trans! Weird. Luckily it never devalues the characters for their trans-ness. But what makes this one awesome is that it takes place when John Lennon dies and the world is shaken by it. Our detective is on the hunt for a missing person, and every interview and every TV and every newspaper is weeping at the loss of this celebrity: "The dream is dead!" or "I am the Walrus!" Brilliant setting, really. 4/5.
Teresão - Started out interesting. A chubby middle-aged rich woman makes ridiculous schemes in order to lose weight, culminating in her working with real criminals to schedule her own kidnapping so that she'll be forced into a low-calorie lifestyle in a locked room. The ball drops around the second half when the narrator shifts voices to the author himself, and then feels a lot like he's just setting up an extended world starring this character. 2.5/5.
The Final Table - An old man plays casual poker with his friends during the 70s and gets angry as it becomes a real business, becomes more professional, becomes too real. He eventually feels pushed out and decides to take revenge. This one is pretty simple but well told. I felt it. 4.5/5 stars.
As If The World Were A Good Place - This one was disappointing because it was good. The characters felt like they had weight and history, and just as the plot was catching up to become interesting, it ended! It was an excerpt from a book instead of a short story! No! That's not why I came here! But okay, I was interested, so I decided to look up the author, Marçal Aquino. Maybe I'd buy this book and finish it. But after my wife and I dug around for almost an hour, we discovered that this is a book he gave up on! He never finished it! Why did you let this into the collection, Tony Bellotto! Whhhhhhhy! 0.5/5 stars.
May 27, 2018
SAO PAULO NOIR edited by Tony Bellotto is a new release by Akashic Books. It is a welcome addition to their Noir series which was launched in 2004 with BROOKLYN NOIR. Each title is an anthology of short stories with a mandatory, distinctive ‘noir’ style.
The format is similar in each title. There is an introduction by the editor(s); a map of the area; a Table of Contents; an About the Contributors section which highlights the authors.
I particularly like the introductions as they ‘set the stage’ for the particular city or area we are about to visit.
Tony Bellotto’s introduction to SAO PAULO NOIR is comprised of very interesting facts about Sao Paulo. He says this area was once called ‘The Land of Mist’ and though he was born in Jardim Paulista, he knows “little of the great metropolis that comprises it.” “More than historians and sociologists, writers have always been able to transform cities into great characters. This is the way we decipher devouring sphinxes.”
I like the map. Looking at the map and reading the corresponding stories ignites my curiosity and I often read a ‘Noir series’ book with an atlas in hand.
I like reading about the authors in the Contributor’s Section.
The stories are top-notch and exemplify all the aspects of true noir - a genre characterized by cynicism, fatalism, moral ambiguity; dark, brooding and raw.
SAO PAULO NOIR is divided into 3 parts (Part I: Hallucination City; Part II: Sao Paulo, Inc.; Part III: Discreet Inelegance) with 13 stories.
“Cross Contamination” by Vanessa Barbara - 2 very interesting chambermaids, Cleo and Lena
“Boniclaide and Mrs. Als" by Ilana Casoy - Wow, very dark. “It wasn’t she who had killed. It was He who didn’t save her.”
“Useless Diary” by Tony Bellotto - liked the shifting ‘case’ and the death of John Lennon
“My name is Nicky Nicola” by Jo Soares - 16 chapters; hilarious in a sad, noir sort of way; liked the ‘Bastos Exercises’
“Teresao” by Mario Prata - teeth wired together?; very complicated kidnapping plot
“As if the world were a good place” by Marcal Aquino - an excerpt from the novel with the same title
“Margot” by Drauzio Varella
“ 24-Hour Service” by Fernando Bonassi - “It begins at 2 a.m.”
“The Final Table” by Marcelo Rubens Paiva
“The Force is with Me” by Beatriz & Maria S. Carvalhosa
“Flow” by Ferrez
“Coffee Stain” by Olivia Maia
“Any similarity is not purely coincidental” by Marcelino Freire - very bizarre
An excellent addition to Akashic Book’s Noir series. The reader will not be disappointed.
The format is similar in each title. There is an introduction by the editor(s); a map of the area; a Table of Contents; an About the Contributors section which highlights the authors.
I particularly like the introductions as they ‘set the stage’ for the particular city or area we are about to visit.
Tony Bellotto’s introduction to SAO PAULO NOIR is comprised of very interesting facts about Sao Paulo. He says this area was once called ‘The Land of Mist’ and though he was born in Jardim Paulista, he knows “little of the great metropolis that comprises it.” “More than historians and sociologists, writers have always been able to transform cities into great characters. This is the way we decipher devouring sphinxes.”
I like the map. Looking at the map and reading the corresponding stories ignites my curiosity and I often read a ‘Noir series’ book with an atlas in hand.
I like reading about the authors in the Contributor’s Section.
The stories are top-notch and exemplify all the aspects of true noir - a genre characterized by cynicism, fatalism, moral ambiguity; dark, brooding and raw.
SAO PAULO NOIR is divided into 3 parts (Part I: Hallucination City; Part II: Sao Paulo, Inc.; Part III: Discreet Inelegance) with 13 stories.
“Cross Contamination” by Vanessa Barbara - 2 very interesting chambermaids, Cleo and Lena
“Boniclaide and Mrs. Als" by Ilana Casoy - Wow, very dark. “It wasn’t she who had killed. It was He who didn’t save her.”
“Useless Diary” by Tony Bellotto - liked the shifting ‘case’ and the death of John Lennon
“My name is Nicky Nicola” by Jo Soares - 16 chapters; hilarious in a sad, noir sort of way; liked the ‘Bastos Exercises’
“Teresao” by Mario Prata - teeth wired together?; very complicated kidnapping plot
“As if the world were a good place” by Marcal Aquino - an excerpt from the novel with the same title
“Margot” by Drauzio Varella
“ 24-Hour Service” by Fernando Bonassi - “It begins at 2 a.m.”
“The Final Table” by Marcelo Rubens Paiva
“The Force is with Me” by Beatriz & Maria S. Carvalhosa
“Flow” by Ferrez
“Coffee Stain” by Olivia Maia
“Any similarity is not purely coincidental” by Marcelino Freire - very bizarre
An excellent addition to Akashic Book’s Noir series. The reader will not be disappointed.
July 31, 2023
“A literatura noir se caracteriza por apresentar histórias que misturam terror, mistério e elementos policiais, detetives e investigações que vão além dos conhecimentos de investigação criminal. O gênero recebeu esse nome justamente por ter como ambiente, na maioria das vezes, a noite (noir = preto em francês), os bares, as ruas desertas e casas repletas de assombrações. O gênero nasceu nos Estados Unidos pouco depois da Primeira Grande Guerra, em publicações baratas chamadas revistas pulp. Nomes como Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett e James M. Cain escreveram histórias noir que permanecem até hoje com sucesso entre as listas de livros mais procurados”.
Fonte: https://purs.com.br / Acesso: 31/07/2023
Portanto nada mais natural do que ambientar histórias noir na maior metrópole brasileira: a grande cidade de São Paulo.
Essa foi a ideia levada adiante pelo guitarrista dos Titãs Tony Bellotto, ele mesmo um escritor que costuma trafegar pela literatura noir adaptada para a realidade da cidade de São Paulo e protagonizada pelo detetive que ele criou, o cínico Remo Bellini, personagem central de quatro livros e descendente (muito) distante do igualmente cínico Sam Spade o imortal detetive protagonista de “O falcão maltês” de autoria do estadunidense Dashiell Hammett (1894/1061), um dos gigantes da literatura noir.
“São Paulo Noir” traz 13 histórias elaboradas por escritores e escritoras que procuram, com variados graus de eficiência, traduzir a linguagem noir para a realidade paulista.
O livro começa um tanto quanto claudicante com histórias pouco empolgantes mas ganha fôlego e até certo brilho na segunda metade com destaque para histórias como a divertida “Meu nome é Nicky Nicola” do recentemente falecido e já saudoso Jô Soares (1938/1922), a tragicômica “Teresão” de Mário Prata, a realmente macabra a com certeza a mais noir de todas as histórias, “Contaminação cruzada” de Vanessa Bárbara, a sorumbática “Diário Inútil” (protagonizada por Remo Bellini) de Tony Bellotto, a brutal e extremamente realista “Boniclaide e Ela” de Ilana Casoy e a melancólica “Margot” de Drauzio Varela.
Boa pedida!
Fonte: https://purs.com.br / Acesso: 31/07/2023
Portanto nada mais natural do que ambientar histórias noir na maior metrópole brasileira: a grande cidade de São Paulo.
Essa foi a ideia levada adiante pelo guitarrista dos Titãs Tony Bellotto, ele mesmo um escritor que costuma trafegar pela literatura noir adaptada para a realidade da cidade de São Paulo e protagonizada pelo detetive que ele criou, o cínico Remo Bellini, personagem central de quatro livros e descendente (muito) distante do igualmente cínico Sam Spade o imortal detetive protagonista de “O falcão maltês” de autoria do estadunidense Dashiell Hammett (1894/1061), um dos gigantes da literatura noir.
“São Paulo Noir” traz 13 histórias elaboradas por escritores e escritoras que procuram, com variados graus de eficiência, traduzir a linguagem noir para a realidade paulista.
O livro começa um tanto quanto claudicante com histórias pouco empolgantes mas ganha fôlego e até certo brilho na segunda metade com destaque para histórias como a divertida “Meu nome é Nicky Nicola” do recentemente falecido e já saudoso Jô Soares (1938/1922), a tragicômica “Teresão” de Mário Prata, a realmente macabra a com certeza a mais noir de todas as histórias, “Contaminação cruzada” de Vanessa Bárbara, a sorumbática “Diário Inútil” (protagonizada por Remo Bellini) de Tony Bellotto, a brutal e extremamente realista “Boniclaide e Ela” de Ilana Casoy e a melancólica “Margot” de Drauzio Varela.
Boa pedida!
June 3, 2019
I received this book for free from Early Reviewers. Part I of the book was great. I tried to read the stories in Part II but couldn't get past them, either boring or not my cuppa tea. In part III, only one of the stories held my interest. Therefore, the stories I read fully are listed below with each of my reviews:
Cross Contamination - Excellent story about two maids who clean up a murder. The one maid goes on and on about weird stories that go on in the motel. Cool ending that I didn't see coming.
Boniclaide and Mrs. ALS - So a woman who is bedridden with a disease hears gunshots. Somehow it's related to her maid. Very interesting and very shocking ending! Great story.
Useless Diary - At first, I thought hey this should be an interesting story. The P.I. looking for a missing man at the same time John Lennon got shot and killed. It was good until the end. The end was dumb and I just shook my head thinking why?
My Name is Nicky Nicola - My favorite! It's a Brazilian Inspector Clousseau! I laughed the entire story about the bumbling P.I. I can't give this story enough praise. I can't understand how someone can be so stupid... and he thought he solved the case. :)
Teresao - Different kind of story where a rich woman purposefully gets herself kidnapped in order to lose weight. Strange story and it was just okay.
The Force is With Me - Good story. Loved the Star Wars references. Two perspectives from two women. One is sick and the other
is accidently with men in the arms business. Interesting ending.
I give it 3 stars.
Cross Contamination - Excellent story about two maids who clean up a murder. The one maid goes on and on about weird stories that go on in the motel. Cool ending that I didn't see coming.
Boniclaide and Mrs. ALS - So a woman who is bedridden with a disease hears gunshots. Somehow it's related to her maid. Very interesting and very shocking ending! Great story.
Useless Diary - At first, I thought hey this should be an interesting story. The P.I. looking for a missing man at the same time John Lennon got shot and killed. It was good until the end. The end was dumb and I just shook my head thinking why?
My Name is Nicky Nicola - My favorite! It's a Brazilian Inspector Clousseau! I laughed the entire story about the bumbling P.I. I can't give this story enough praise. I can't understand how someone can be so stupid... and he thought he solved the case. :)
Teresao - Different kind of story where a rich woman purposefully gets herself kidnapped in order to lose weight. Strange story and it was just okay.
The Force is With Me - Good story. Loved the Star Wars references. Two perspectives from two women. One is sick and the other
is accidently with men in the arms business. Interesting ending.
I give it 3 stars.
December 1, 2022
What do you want to see reflected in Noir?
These three anthologies have given the usual shocking crimes and expected detestable acts, but they also delivered stories that remained firmly in the gray areas of these cities and the people who live there.
– The city kills because it devours choice – from Coffee Stain
This anthology started with stories that focused on individuals who reacted in the moment, in which they or the ones they loved were wronged and which prompted them to respond to what they saw as betrayal or a disregard.
I never thought that I would be humored by noir stories, but there were a couple that knocked on the door of the absurd and got laughs out of me. Stories with scams and tricks so clear to the reader that it is easy to question the capacity of the dupe in the story. But when faced with similar situations in which one is showered with favour, how hard is it to take a step back.
These three anthologies have given the usual shocking crimes and expected detestable acts, but they also delivered stories that remained firmly in the gray areas of these cities and the people who live there.
– The city kills because it devours choice – from Coffee Stain
This anthology started with stories that focused on individuals who reacted in the moment, in which they or the ones they loved were wronged and which prompted them to respond to what they saw as betrayal or a disregard.
I never thought that I would be humored by noir stories, but there were a couple that knocked on the door of the absurd and got laughs out of me. Stories with scams and tricks so clear to the reader that it is easy to question the capacity of the dupe in the story. But when faced with similar situations in which one is showered with favour, how hard is it to take a step back.
February 6, 2018
This book was given to me by Edelweiss for an honest review (thank you for the opportunity!)
Being born and raised in São Paulo, this book called out to me when I saw it available for review. Every single story takes place in a neighborhood that I have a personal attachment to, and it felt like going back home through the pages, living there once again and experiencing everything the city gives to us - history, fun, love, nightlife... the only way São Paulo is able to.
The writers are amazing, each one giving life to the characters and adding to this anthology. It's an amazing opportunity to show the world what the greatest city is made of!
LOVED IT!
Being born and raised in São Paulo, this book called out to me when I saw it available for review. Every single story takes place in a neighborhood that I have a personal attachment to, and it felt like going back home through the pages, living there once again and experiencing everything the city gives to us - history, fun, love, nightlife... the only way São Paulo is able to.
The writers are amazing, each one giving life to the characters and adding to this anthology. It's an amazing opportunity to show the world what the greatest city is made of!
LOVED IT!
October 9, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy from LibraryThing in exchange for a review.
This is an enjoyable collection of stories, and I say that as someone who doesn't usually like short stories. Although its focus is the noir genre, I feel like it's a pretty good intro to modern Brazilian fiction in general. Not all of the stories really succeed in being noir as I understand it but most are good stories despite that. I like seeing how different authors interpret the noir genre outside of a North American setting (a stereotypical hardboiled US city setting especially). I've been trying to expose myself to more Lusophone literature in general, so this was a welcome find.
This is an enjoyable collection of stories, and I say that as someone who doesn't usually like short stories. Although its focus is the noir genre, I feel like it's a pretty good intro to modern Brazilian fiction in general. Not all of the stories really succeed in being noir as I understand it but most are good stories despite that. I like seeing how different authors interpret the noir genre outside of a North American setting (a stereotypical hardboiled US city setting especially). I've been trying to expose myself to more Lusophone literature in general, so this was a welcome find.
July 31, 2021
Maybe for somebody who knows the city
No memorable stories, and even some of the average ones have abrupt endings that are more clumsy than artful.
I could have gone to three stars if it weren’t for the long, seemingly plotless, rambling stories. One was actually a chapter from a book and that is exactly what it read like.
Those familiar with Sao Paulo would enjoy the book more than I did, I guess. The city is a very powerful presence throughout the book and some stories even managed to convey its intoxicating vibe very well.
No memorable stories, and even some of the average ones have abrupt endings that are more clumsy than artful.
I could have gone to three stars if it weren’t for the long, seemingly plotless, rambling stories. One was actually a chapter from a book and that is exactly what it read like.
Those familiar with Sao Paulo would enjoy the book more than I did, I guess. The city is a very powerful presence throughout the book and some stories even managed to convey its intoxicating vibe very well.
December 20, 2019
O livro tem uma proposta muito interessante e criativa. A primeira metade do livro possui contos muito confusos, pois achei a escrita dos autores confusa. Isso fez com que as histórias fossem perdendo a graça e fez com que o meu interesse pelo livro diminuísse também. Tudo mudou após a história do Jô Soares, que foi clara, bem escrita e divertida. A partir desse conto, os outros que seguiram foram bem melhores e mais interessantes que os iniciais.
October 31, 2022
Bem irregular. Contos muito bons misturados com contos muito ruins, alguns nem se encaixando na temática noir...
Os melhores foram escritos por mulheres, talvez por fugir do machismo, homofobia e transfobia apresentado nos outros: Mancha de Café e Contaminação Cruzada, ótimas histórias, diferentes e que surpreendem. São contos 5 estrelas que elevam a classificação do livro. Se não fosse por eles, a coletânea teria no máximo 2 estrelas
Os melhores foram escritos por mulheres, talvez por fugir do machismo, homofobia e transfobia apresentado nos outros: Mancha de Café e Contaminação Cruzada, ótimas histórias, diferentes e que surpreendem. São contos 5 estrelas que elevam a classificação do livro. Se não fosse por eles, a coletânea teria no máximo 2 estrelas
May 16, 2018
Thank you to Akashic Books for an ARC of this new installment in the noir series! This one had some good stories, but didn’t seem as strong overall as many of the others in this series I have read. It was good, but not great.
May 28, 2021
Pra uma coleção de contos que esbanja nomes conhecidos como jô soares, drauzio varella, marcelo rubens paiva e até o próprio tony belloto, esse livro me pareceu um grande amontoado de histórias amadoras. Pouca São Paulo, pouco "noir", muita história confusa, muito preconceito desnecessário.
September 21, 2023
O conto de autoria do Jô Soares ("Meu nome é Nicky Nicola") é simplesmente genial! A quebra de expectativa a cada frase é construída com um jogo de palavras brilhante, num estilo de escrita cheio de personalidade. E, diga-se de passagem, hilário! Ri alto e sozinha mais de uma vez.
February 5, 2018
I have read many books in the Akashic Noir series, and this is one that I would not recommend reading. The subject matter is about poverty, squalor, and drug abuse.
August 25, 2019
3.5 - a fun introduction to the city.
January 29, 2020
There are only a few fine stories in this book, and one unfortunately horrible one.
November 15, 2024
A mixed bag
April 13, 2022
I’ve really enjoyed Akashic’s Noir series; they’ve been uniformly good and some have been excellent, so the stories chosen by Tony Bellotto for São Paulo Noir were a disappointment. Even after rereading, many of them left me saying "Huh?". They seemed like the sort of stories you’d expect (desire? dread?) to find in an Brazilian version of The New Yorker. Their primary effect was to make me glad I don’t live in São Paulo, and that may be the root of my problem with the book - the Noir collections I’ve enjoyed have all been set in the U.S. or the Caribbean, and I may well be too provincial to "get" foreign noir. I’m moving on to European Noir, so we’ll see. Meanwhile I guess I can recommend São Paulo Noir to fans of the genre who also like stories by Raymond Carver or Don Delillo.
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December 7, 2017Duas estrelas. São Paulo é um deserto segundo estes autores, o ponto baixo sendo o conto ridículo e sem graça do Jô Soares, tentando fazer humor de canequinha de programa de TV.
É claro que tem alguns contos bons, o ponto alto sendo o ritmo alucinante e a linguagém e imaginários periféricos do Ferrez ... um oasis no deserto de ideias a maior parte escrita por paulistanos de classe média cuja única relação com a cidade real é por meio do funcionários domésticos.
Versões chulas e inacabadas da Hora da Estrela.
Isto remete ao apartheid social racial paulsitano que nunca será vencido até todos terem voz, serem reconhecidos como sujeitos e não dependerem de outros para se assujeitarem.
São Paulo Noir poderia ser outra coisa, mas foi, para mim, un livro de despedida das cidade antiga que não se inova mais nos jardins e abre espaço para tudo que vem acontecendo de novo nas periferias, novos centros, co-working, slams, consciência afrobrasileira, ritmo alucinante das redes sociais e de vários movimentos artísticos e sociais.
Em comparação, se pegarmos os relatos sobre Nova Iorque e seus personagens, veremos que eles não vivem nesta dependência centro-periferia e mito menos na dicotomia empregado-patrão, na qual a vida de um só pode existir para servir o outro como doméstica, segurança, motorista, jardineiro.
Ferrez se destacou nesta coleção exatamente porque ele fez isso: não relativou a vida de seus personagens de periferia à sua profissão de funcionário doméstico e deu a essência da perferia que é se virar no mundo informal pela ausência proposital do Estado.
O mofo dos anos 80 e 90 entraram pesados neste livro, mas como adoro ler, ouvit e assitir filmes sobre minha cidade li até o fim.
É claro que tem alguns contos bons, o ponto alto sendo o ritmo alucinante e a linguagém e imaginários periféricos do Ferrez ... um oasis no deserto de ideias a maior parte escrita por paulistanos de classe média cuja única relação com a cidade real é por meio do funcionários domésticos.
Versões chulas e inacabadas da Hora da Estrela.
Isto remete ao apartheid social racial paulsitano que nunca será vencido até todos terem voz, serem reconhecidos como sujeitos e não dependerem de outros para se assujeitarem.
São Paulo Noir poderia ser outra coisa, mas foi, para mim, un livro de despedida das cidade antiga que não se inova mais nos jardins e abre espaço para tudo que vem acontecendo de novo nas periferias, novos centros, co-working, slams, consciência afrobrasileira, ritmo alucinante das redes sociais e de vários movimentos artísticos e sociais.
Em comparação, se pegarmos os relatos sobre Nova Iorque e seus personagens, veremos que eles não vivem nesta dependência centro-periferia e mito menos na dicotomia empregado-patrão, na qual a vida de um só pode existir para servir o outro como doméstica, segurança, motorista, jardineiro.
Ferrez se destacou nesta coleção exatamente porque ele fez isso: não relativou a vida de seus personagens de periferia à sua profissão de funcionário doméstico e deu a essência da perferia que é se virar no mundo informal pela ausência proposital do Estado.
O mofo dos anos 80 e 90 entraram pesados neste livro, mas como adoro ler, ouvit e assitir filmes sobre minha cidade li até o fim.
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