I think you found a good equilibrium between writing a critical review and not straining your friendship with the author.

Other than the errors made about Doctorow and the like, which perhaps an American would've avoided, how obvious is the "Brazilian-ness" of this novel? Considering your interest for SF influenced by foreign cultures or wholly set in them, and the "global village" idea that seems to play a prominent role in this book, I'm curious to what extent Fernandes depicts his protagonist as a "world citizen", so to speak. Or to put it a different way, if Fernandes hires you to translate this novel , would someone reading your translation learn a lot about Brazil?