Little Star of Bela Lua: Stories from Brazil [Paperback]

A miraculous fish appears to an old woman in a small town in Northeast Brazil -- and so begins a series of comical, poignant, beautiful, and bizarre tales imagined by a remarkable storyteller whose singular voice resonates with lyrical grace.

Featuring an unforgettable cast of players such as a penitent priest who falls in love with a river spirit, an alcoholic alchemist plumbing the depths of his arcane knowledge for the mysteries of death and immortality, and a young beauty torn between Jesus and the lustful earth goddess who has possessed her since childhood, Little Star of Bela Lua is a rich and luminous collection of wonders that marks the arrival of a talented new voice in American fiction.

A miraculous fish appears to an old woman in a small town in Northeast Brazil -- and so begins a series of comical, poignant, beautiful, and bizarre tales imagined by a remarkable storyteller whose singular voice resonates with lyrical grace.

Featuring an unforgettable cast of players such as a penitent priest who falls in love with a river spirit, an alcoholic alchemist plumbing the depths of his arcane knowledge for the mysteries of death and immortality, and a young beauty torn between Jesus and the lustful earth goddess who has possessed her since childhood,Little Star of Bela Luais a rich and luminous collection of wonders that marks the arrival of a talented new voice in American fiction.

This book is dazzling. Lyrical and original, fierce and wise, sensual, intelligent, observant, and laugh out loud funny. -Elizabeth Berg, author of The Year of Pleasures and Open House

Monteiro manages the high wire act of making the magical commonplace and the commonplace magical . . . a lovely debut collection. -Jane Hamilton, author of The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World

Wonderful imagery and an original voice. What a talented writer! -Sheila Kohler, author of Cracks and CrosswayslãC