Review of Maria Aurora Couto's book by Selma Carvalho

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Carvalho

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Sep 21, 2024, 4:40:42 PM9/21/24
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Tino de Sa

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Sep 22, 2024, 10:14:16 AM9/22/24
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  A beautifully written review, Selma.
And like every good review by a renowned writer, it makes me want to go out, get the book and read it for myself - and see whether my reactions to it are the same as, or differ from, those of the reviewer!
I recall her amused delight when, meeting her for the first time, I told her that I'd read "A Daughter's Story" like it was a thriller, from cover to cover in a matter of two or three days. "Alban, hear this," she called out to her husband, "my book has been called many things, but it's the first time anyone has called it a thriller!"
I was privileged to know D. Aurora fairly well, and visited her in her home in Aldona a few times during my all too brief annual visits to Goa. During one of these visits I left a copy of my manuscript of 'One for Sorrow, Two for Joy' for her to read. A fortnight later she e-mailed me: "There is so much detail, humour, pathos and a sense of both place and culture in your stories." I was naturally thrilled with her compliment, and immediately wrote back asking if I could use it as a blurb on the cover of my book, to which she graciously and readily agreed. It was just days before the book went into print, and I was adamant that the publisher modify the cover to add her comment to those of Wendell Rodricks and Rajdeep Sardesai.
My regret was that she died just before I moved to Goa, and that I could not spend time with her as I had intended, learning from her and picking her brains on the vast swathe of topics that her conversation always encompassed.
Tino de Sa


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Dr. Anthony de Sa, IAS (Retd), PhD, FRICS, MPA (Harvard)
Former Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh,
Former Chairman, MP Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA)
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William Robert Da Silva

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Sep 23, 2024, 6:44:44 PM9/23/24
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I liked the review very much. So, I put it on my FB page. Thank you
very much the review.
W R Da Silva
> To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAPf%3DrhuOua-mmbCj%2B6FTibaUQHecutF8ez6rcGbqYaUwDLLrYA%40mail.gmail.com.

Eugene Correia

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Sep 24, 2024, 11:54:32 AM9/24/24
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Maria Couto was as Peter Ronald deSouza wrote in a tribute to her on her passing away in 2022 for Scroll that she was 

"was the grand dame of letters and culture of Goa." There's no question she was the quintessential Goan. Having read books, with the exception of the one under review, which I believe is a collection of essays, she did speak and write eloquently on things Goan. In a line of fine writers in Konknai and English, she stood out with her grace, poise and stature. I may not meet anyone in Goa like her. I was touched by her humility and casualness when suddenly she approached sitting at a table having tea/snacks in the open space some years ago when I attended GALF.

I was taken aback when she stood there and introduced herself. I said to her in amazement that I know who she was. She said to m that I was pointed out to her by someone and that she decided to meet and exchange few words. It gladden my hearts as I knew the story of her life and how her husband was a "big shot" in Goa after Liberation.

In all my years in journalism in Bombay and Toronto, I was never startled by someone like Maria Couto. It spoke a lot of her as a person of class -- and without any pretense. She was a remarkable woman, indeed.

She protrayed Goa in the best light as possibly can, and we Goans owe a great tribute to her works in speading the Goenkarponn that we so often shout about. I am not sure when this book was published, as I didn't see during my visits to bookshops when I was in Goa from Janurary to mie-June this year.


Eugene Correia


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Carvalho

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Sep 24, 2024, 11:54:43 AM9/24/24
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Thank you Mr da Silva. Much appreciated.
All best wishes,
Selma

Tony Gomes

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Sep 24, 2024, 5:01:12 PM9/24/24
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Dear Selma,

I tried to read you review on Aurora Couto’s book on the link you provided. It keeps on saying continued after ads but I cannot locate the complete review. I would much appreciate if you could send a copy to me. My email: tong...@gmail.com.

Best,

Dr. Anthony Gomes

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