The Parrot's Perch: A MemoirThe Parrot’s Perch opens in 2013, when Karen Keilt, age sixty, receives an invitation to testify at the Brazilian National Truth Commission at the UN in New York. The email sparks memories of her “previous life”—the one she has kept safely bottled up for more than thirty-seven years. Hopeful of helping to raise awareness about ongoing human rights violations in Brazil, she wants to testify, but she anguishes over reliving the horrific events of her youth. In the pages that follow, Keilt tells the story of her life in Brazil—from her exclusive, upper-class lifestyle and dreams of Olympic medals to her turmoil-filled youth. Full of hints of a dark oligarchy in Brazil, corruption, crime, and military interference, The Parrot’s Perch is a searing, sometimes shocking true tale of suffering, struggle—and survival. Karen Keilt lived through the darkest days of Brazil’s military dictatorship. In her courageous and compelling memoir, Keilt narrates an emotionally honest reckoning of her desire to find true happiness. Forbidden by her wealthy family to even mention her imprisonment, torture, and rape, Keilt is forced to make a change that will affect the rest of her life. Seen through her testimony to the Brazilian National Truth Commission at the UN, readers become witnesses to both her vulnerability and her quiet strength. |
Contents
Section 26 | |
Section 27 | |
Section 28 | |
Section 29 | |
Section 30 | |
Section 31 | |
Section 32 | |
Section 33 | |
Section 9 | |
Section 10 | |
Section 11 | |
Section 12 | |
Section 13 | |
Section 14 | |
Section 15 | |
Section 16 | |
Section 17 | |
Section 18 | |
Section 19 | |
Section 20 | |
Section 21 | |
Section 22 | |
Section 23 | |
Section 24 | |
Section 25 | |
Section 34 | |
Section 35 | |
Section 36 | |
Section 37 | |
Section 38 | |
Section 39 | |
Section 40 | |
Section 41 | |
Section 42 | |
Section 43 | |
Section 44 | |
Section 45 | |
Section 46 | |
Section 47 | |
Section 48 | |
Section 49 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
anymore arms Army-Navy game baby beautiful Bête Bibi Brazil Brazilian breath brother caipirinhas can’t Chris cocaine dad’s didn’t know door everything eyes face father father’s fear feel feet felt floor friends front gone guys hadn’t hair hand happened happy he’d He’s head heard Henri husband I’ve Jack Junior Karen knew later laughed leaned Little Rick living looked Mauricio Mezarobba asked mother mouth move never night Nivaldo nodded okay pain police pulled pushed quickly reached remember Rick’s Ricky riding São Paulo screaming seemed shook Silvinha sleep smell smiled somehow stared stay stepped stood stop sure talk tears tell Thank there’s things thought tiny told Tom Petty took torture Truth Commission turned voice walked wanted wasn’t watched we’d We’ll We’re What’s Winyah Bay woke wondered You’re