Captains of the Sands (Penguin Classics)

I have mixed feelings about this one from Amado, at the same time it was written when he was just 24, and he himself admits in a personal note at the end to be aware of the flaws it might have.I have read it in an English translation as I can't read Portuguese, and the writing is smooth. Living in Salvador de Bahia (how did one of the reviewers above get the impression the book was set in Fortaleza?), he must have daily witnessed the situation of the "ninhos da rua", a tragic reality still today in most of Brazil.Though, I'm not sure the portrayal is so honest he claims at the end as the best quality of the book. Amado clearly cares a lot about those kids, the benign point of view towards them so obvious, at a point that when a rape is committed, it seems no big deal.Amado describes several different type of "Captains of the sands" each one with his peculiar attributes, but the look is always too sympathetic and he cannot keep a more detached viewpoint to the extent of somehow undermining the pedagogical intent of the book of portraying the reality of Brazilian abandoned kids.Subjects as the poverty, the solidarity among the poor, the right of the workers, the strike, the Communist ideology of social justice, the hypocrisy of some clergymen, the magnanimity of others, are all touched here and there, sometimes maybe too ambitiously, in "black and white" characterization. Impossible not to notice that basically at the same time, John Steinbeck was laying the foundations for his masterpiece "The Grapes of Wrath" published in 1939 (three years later than Amado's), where these same topics are addressed in such a sublime form of literature.Still, Amado sincere participation to these kids' fate, his felt contribution in letting everyone know, the peculiar traits of the multi-ethnic Brazilian culture, makes this read enjoyable and I look forward to some oh his later, and best known works

I rated this book 4 stars because of the challenge I met when I first started reading it. I found it hard to follow the characters and the story. As I continued reading the book started becoming more and more intriguing. I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. The author write with such great details throughout the book. It helped with creating pictures in my mind and with understanding what was happening. This story is very relative to what is happening in 2020. Oppressed people everywhere have the same struggles. I would recommend this book.

This author portrays in a sensitive and engaging way the story of how children survive by forming groups and learning through their experiences. It is revealing that the group is full of individuals with their own ways of coping. I loved the part of the story where the boys learn to accept a girl as a sister/mother figure. Fascinating story.

Very interesting book about the orphans living in the street of north of Brazil.How they deal with their burdens and what they have to go through.A must read.

Amado captures with brilliance the pathos and humanity of the homeless orphans of Bahia who belong to a gang which serves as a surrogate family. At once known as rough and tumble gang members and petty criminals, at times cruel and at times tender, we see the dreams, yearnings for love and connection and identity, and the bonds of trust and friendship with which these young boys and girl create uncertain lives and futures for themselves.

After reading Violent Land decided to stick with author, to see if he could redeem himself & he sure did. The book was spellbinding the characters were really appealing. Couldn't put the book down.Although the setting was Brazil it was a universal story

This is really classic novel and enjoy reading as soon it delivered. The story emphasize the culture of Bahia stat in Brazil and it gives you a good understanding what really happening in Brazil in early 20th century.

Well written, the dispondency of the boys are palable, the drive to be happy and find a place in their pecking order is no different from us, except maybe our lives are easier. Good translation.

Captains of the Sand, or in its original, Capitaes da Areia, is a beautifully told story of my home town, JOrge Amado's home town, Salvador da Bahia. It paints the perfect portrait of what it is like living as street urchins in Salvador, therefore it is taught in schools all over Brazil, teaching about its socialist idealism. It isn't just a story, it is a detailed account of what the reality of many children is. A book written in 1937 and is still relevant in 2016. It is timeless because these problems still exist in Bahia and all over Brazil.Normally I would rate this book a 10 out of 5 if that was even an option.I rate it less purely because the English translation is very poor, keeping out some important descriptions and names.There are indeed some things that get lost in translation between Portuguese and English, but some local Bahia terms are also lost unfortunately. Ideally you would want to read it in Portuguese or find a well translated copy to be able to get the full blast of the story.

Pretty engaging story so read it to the end with no problems (but I must say by the last 50 pages I was looking forward to finishing it so I could get on and start another book.I'm not expert reviewer of books but an avid reader and would say this reads like a book written by somebody early on in their career who hadn't perfected their style, which is exactly what it was and what Jorge Amado confesses to in his postscript. Although in this instance, one can always blame the translator (always a little unfair unless you know both languages almost completely fluently).Anyway, good book, would recommend. But maybe read something a little later if you want to get a true flavour of his later mastery.

A good read!

Amado comments on human reaction to situations encountered in life by using the struggles of a group of homeless children in Salvador, Brazil

found it rather drawn ,none engaging ,not my type ,other may find it otherwise ,it has given insight only sorry am not to write further ,thank you