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City of God: A Novel | 
 enlarge | Author: Paulo Lins
Creator: Alison Entrekin
Publisher: Grove Press, Black Cat
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $7.54
You Save: $7.46 (50%)
New (19) Used (10) from $7.54
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 116757
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Pages: 448
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.2
ISBN: 0802170102
Dewey Decimal Number: 869.342
EAN: 9780802170101
ASIN: 0802170102
Publication Date: September 14, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Standard shipping arrives within 6-8 business days. This is the textbook only unless otherwise noted.
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Product Description
The searing novel on which the internationally acclaimed hit film was based, City of God is a gritty, gorgeous tour de force from one of Brazil’s most notorious slums. Cidade de Deus: a place where the streets are awash with narcotics, where violence can erupt at any moment over drugs, money, and love—but also a place where the samba beat rocks till dawn, where the women are the most beautiful on earth, and where one young man wants to escape his background and become a photographer. When City of God erupted on screens worldwide, it became one of the most critically and commercially successful foreign films of recent years. But few were aware of the story behind the film. Written by Paulo Lins, who grew up in the favela (shantytown) Cidade de Deus in Rio e Janeiro and who spent years researching its gang history, City of God began life as a coruscating, harrowing novelistic account of twenty years in the illicit pursuits of the youth gangs born from the favela. Now available in English for the first time, City of God is a raw, powerful portrait of the countless millions of poor people all over the world.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Much more than the movie... October 8, 2006
Derek W. Lipscomb
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Those familiar with the film will find almost instantly that it more or less borrows elements from this book and condenses story arcs. Rocket is not the narratator as in the film, and appears to be nothing more than a background character at first. His role still takes the inevitable course to photography. As with the movie the first part takes place during the early dawn of the City of God's development. the "Tender Trio" from the movie is a revolving door of characters with unfamiliar names. Segments like Hellraiser's pursuit of Berenice and the hotel heist are here as with many other elements. Other characters from the book become condensed in the film's take. The Lil' Dice/ Lil Ze'character becomes Pipsqueak and such. It truly is a flux of thoughts but becomes more involving with each page turn.
For fans of the movie..... February 2, 2007
John P. James (Houston)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
The fact that the film didn't win the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay proves that the Academy Awards are nothing more than a popularity contest. The chore of adapting this massive novel must have been an immense task (it took three drafts before they director and producers got a script they were satisfied with). What was on the screen was basically a summary of the novel.
For instance, Rocket is a minor character in the book, Lil Ze is based on a character named Tiny, and the 'Tender Trio' is based on the characters Squirt, Hellraiser and Hammer. Carrot (called 'Carrots'in the book) and Knockout Ned (simply called 'Knockout') are about the only characters in the book that fans of the movie will recognize right off the bat. There's no mention of The Runts specifically, but dozens of other youngsters are. So many characters are introduced and killed off that it was impossible for me to keep up, but fans of the movie will notice bits and pieces of specific characters. Almost all the characters in the film are creations from several other characters in the book.
The book is more violent than the film. Paulo Lins describes the massacred bodies in grafic detail. The last third of the book (well over 100 pages) deals with the war between Knockout and Tiny.
Cocaine and marijuana is mentioned repeatedly throughout the book. Almost every character seems to use or deal the drugs. The world of dope dealing is thouroughly investigated in this book.
Paulo Lins does an amazing job of telling the story of the City of God, but for me it was hard to keep up with the countless characters. The film makers did a great job of adapting this massive story. So if your a fan of the movie, and want to get a different perspective of this Brazilian hell-hole, then check out the book, just don't expect it to be just like the film.
 My Favorite Movie January 9, 2007
Asia Davis (Miami, FL)
2 out of 15 found this review helpful
City of God is among the best movies I've ever seen in my life. Even if you're not a huge fan of foreign films, this movie will still grip you. The narrator of the movie is Buscape (Rocket), a boy who grows up in the City of God, Rio de Janiero's most notorious favela. Also growing up with him is Dadinho (Lil Dice), who looks up to the hoodlums of the favela and aspires to one day be the most feared hood in Rio de Janiero. After killing all his enemies, Lil Dice becomes known as Lil Ze and becomes the biggest drug lord in the favela. Rocket watches all of these events unfold, and uses his experiences as a way to escape the favela by being a photographer.
This movie was amazing. It shows several stories unfolding simulataneously, and they eventually all come together in a way that blows the viewer's mind. The ending was amazing, and the element of surprise was used perfectly in this film. I would definitely recommend this film to anybody. THIS IS A DEFINITE MUST SEE.
 Too violent May 7, 2007
Terra N. Rothpletz
1 out of 8 found this review helpful
It seemed to be an ok book until it described a man cutting the limbs off of his baby and then I couldn't force myself to read the rest! I just don't think it was necessary to put that in.
Great book to go with great movie January 23, 2007
LT (Charlotte, NC)
I bought this is England a while back and it is fantastic. The movie is spectacular and all, but this goes a step further when it comes to the story. There is just generation after generation of gangsters and warfare and brutality. It serves as a grim reminder of the favelas that exist in this world.
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