Journey Through The Backlands

City of God

"It was kite-flying time in City of God."

About the Book

Title: City of God Author: Paulo Lins Published: 1997 Original Title: Cidade de Deus

Summary

If you’ve ever heard of the Brazilian movie City of God, you already have an idea of how the story unfolds. The novel follows the lives of the residents of Rio de Janeiro’s most notorious favela, offering a glimpse into the harsh reality of poverty.

Key Themes

Crime

Violence

Drug Trafficking

Social Inequality

America

"Who has taught you, white warrior, my brothers' tongue? From where have you come to these woods, which have never seen another warrior like you?"

About the Book

Title: Iracema Author: José de Alencar Published: 1865 Original Title: Iracema

Summary

The story follows the romance between Iracema, an indigenous woman, and Martim, a Portuguese colonizer. Iracema's name is an anagram of America. There is a lot of critique of colonialism in this story, as Martim represents the colonizers (the Portuguese).

Key Themes

Colonialism

Heritage

Cultural clash

National Identity

Clove and Cinnamon

“Isn’t that what it is? Love—the most wonderful and most terrible thing in the world.”

About the Book

Title: Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon Author: Jorge Amado Published: 1958 Original Title: Gabriela, cravo e canela

Summary

The book is set in the 1920s in Ilhéus, a town experiencing a boom in the cacao industry. The novel follows Gabriela, a migrant worker who captivates the bar owner, Nacib, and from this, their love story unfolds. As with most of Jorge Amado's works, it is a highly sensual story.

P.S. There are at least three TV adaptations of this novel in Brazil. It is a very popular story.

Key Themes

Desire

Power dynamics

Gender roles

Social change

Tradition vs. Progress

Love and Revenge

"Convinced that all those who professed love for her, without exception, sought only her wealth, Aurelia reacted to this affront by responding to these individuals in kind."

About the Book

Title: Senhora: Profile of a Woman Author: José de Alencar Published: 1875 Original Title: Senhora

Summary

Senhora follows Aurélia Camargo, a young woman who inherits a fortune and uses it to buy back her former fiancé, Fernando Seixas, who once abandoned her for a wealthier match. As her plan for revenge unfolds, Aurélia finds herself torn between love and pride.

P.S. There is a happy ending.

Key Themes

Love vs. money

Female agency

Honor

Idealist vs. reality

This book was burned during the military dictatorship

"In the mysterious night of the macumbas the drums resound like trumpets of war."

About the Book

Title: Captains of the Sand Author: Jorge Amado Published: 1937 Original Title: Capitães da Areia

Summary

Captains of the Sand is set in the city of Salvador and follows the story of a group of orphaned boys living on the streets. They survive through petty theft and share a deep sense of brotherhood. Their leader is Pedro Bala, a boy who is protective of his gang.

The book was banned during the Brazilian military dictatorship for its portrayal of poverty and its perceived communist ideas. It was even burned in a public square in November of 1937, alongside other books (mostly from Jorge Amado).

P.S. There are many things you will not agree with in the book, and it contains an explicit rape scene.

Key Themes

Poverty

Injustice

Social Exclusion

Survival

Did she cheat or not?

"Capitu, in spite of those eyes the devil gave her … Have you noticed her eyes? They’re a bit like a gypsy’s, oblique and sly."

About the Book

Title: Dom Casmurro Author: Machado de Assis Published: 1900 Original Title: Dom Casmurro

Summary

Dom Casmurro follows the story of Bentinho, a man who reflects on his past, particularly his relationship with Capitu. He raises questions about whether his suspicions regarding Capitu's fidelity are true or merely the result of paranoia. Additionally, they have a son who Bentinho believes does not resemble him at all.

Bentinho is an unreliable narrator, as he is the sole person telling the story, and the author makes us question whether he is telling the truth or not.

Key Themes

Jeaslisy

Memory vs. Perception

Love and Trust

Unreliable Narrator

A true story

"It is truly regrettable that in these times we do not have a Maudsley, who knew the difference between good sense and insanity, to prevent nations from committing acts of madness and crimes against humanity."

About the Book

Title: Backlands: The Canudos Campaign or Rebellion in the Backlands Author: Euclides da Cunha Published: 1902 Original Title: Os Sertões

Summary

This book is a retelling of the War of Canudos (1896–1897), which took place in the state of Bahia. The writer, Euclides da Cunha, was a correspondent for the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo. It is considered the first livro-reportagem (reportage book) in Brazil. Mixing science and literature, the story narrates the war between the republican army and the sertanejos.

Key Themes

True story

Resistence

War

Brazilian backlands

Finding Your Destiny

"The boy could see in his father’s gaze a desire to be able, himself, to travel the world—a desire that was still alive, despite his father’s having had to bury it, over dozens of years, under the burden of struggling for water to drink, food to eat, and the same place to sleep every night of his life."

About the Book

Title: The Alchemist Author: Paulo Coelho Published: 1988 Original Title: O Alquimista

Summary

The Alchemist follows the journey of Santiago, a shepherd from Spain who dreams of finding a hidden treasure near the Egyptian pyramids. His quest takes him to many places, where he encounters wise mentors and people who help him along the way.

Santiago learns about the importance of following his heart and pursuing his personal legend. The story is very spiritual and talks a lot about philosophy.

Key Themes

Destiny

Dreams

Self-discovery

Spiritual enlightenment

What is sanity?

“Were they all really insane? Did I really cure them? Or is not mental imbalance so natural and inherent that it was bound to assert itself with or without my help?”

About the Book

Title: The Alienist Author: Machado de Assis Published: 1882 Original Title: O Alienista

Summary

Dr. Simão Bacamarte is a brilliant but obsessive physician that made his life mission the study of mental illnesses in the small town of Itaguaí. Convinced he know how to determine who is sane and who is insane, the doctor begins commiting patients based on a rigid and weird criteria. Too emotional? Locked up. Too rational? also locked up.

This book is a mix of satire, irony, and existential dread. Who gets to decide what is insane? What is sanity? Machado de Assis challenges the reader to question everything about reason, while also critiquing the medicalization of traits that, in his time, were considered mental illness (like hysteria).

Key Themes

Science vs Humanity

Satire

Power

Madness vs Reason

Slum

"And on the muddy ground covered with puddles, in the sultry humidity, a living world, a human community, began to wriggle, to seethe, to grow spontaneously in that quagmire, multiplying like larvae in a dung heap."

About the Book

Title: The Slum Author: Aluísio Azevedo Published: 1890 Original Title: O Cortiço

Summary

The Slum tells the story of a tenement in Rio de Janeiro and the lives of its inhabitants. There are many characters in this story, but the slum itself is considered the main protagonist. Aluísio Azevedo paints a portrait of Brazilian society in the late 19th century.

Key Themes

Social commentary

Urbanization

Prejudice

Class struggle

Environment influence on human behavior