In these trying times of self isolation, and a significant decline in (completely understandable) travel requests here at Viare Travel, I’ve found myself spending more and more time doing one of my all time favorite activities: reading. I have always been a reader, but like many of my peers, have found myself reading less and less as I have come in the past few years, to grow my business, find a partner, and with the nature of my business – spent lots of time traveling. Despite long flights being great opportunities to read, it’s just not enough.
Transporting myself through literature, reading inspiring memoirs, and becoming a better person/leader/friend/etc. – it’s all fascinating to me. In essence, I LOVE cuddling up with a good book, and for now, am loving that I get to stay home all weekend to read.
And so, in trying to help our clients travel to Brazil without actually being here, we have thought of ways to keep you entertained whilst in isolation, learn a bit about our country, and keep you inspired to want to visit us, once “this” is all over, and travel is able to take place. For now, stay home, and cuddle up with your e-reader or a physical book from the list below! And please let me know if you read any of these and what you thought of the read!
*Update January 2021*
This post was originally written in April 2020, right after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, when we were scrambling to postpone our clients’ bookings for the following months. Shortly after this, I launched a crowdfunding campaign to write a book of my own – to also transport readers to Brazil, through food, and our local providers’ stories. So besides the books in the links below, I am happy to report our own book, “Travel to Brazil: The Cookbook,” can be purchased through Amazon (Hardcover, Ebook/Kindle), your local bookstore through Bookshop (US based readers), or directly through our site, here! Our site also offers a free sample download in case you’re not sure if you want to make the purchase quite yet.
Now on to our original post…
If you’ve just started to learn Portuguese:
Short Stories in Brazilian Portuguese for Beginners, by Olly Richards
I have heard great things from language learners about books written by this author! Let us know what you think 🙂
Trying To Understand Brazilian Culture: Memoir of a Brit in São Paulo, by Andrew Creelman
Andrew is a dear personal friend of mine, and a Brit living and working as an English teacher in São Paulo. This is a great read for those who are looking to live in or visit Brazil, without making any sort of cultural faux-pas upon arriving here. This book had me laughing out loud, and Andrew’s stereotypical British humour is evident in his writing – which, I personally think is fantastic. The book will give you insight into Brazilian cultural quirks, nightlife, and things you should not attempt saying unless you’re absolutely sure your accent is ok.
If you are a music lover:
Tropical Truth: A Story of Music and Revolution in Brazil, by Caetano Veloso
Full disclosure, I love Caetano and his music. I think he is one of the most important figures in Brazilian music in the 20th century, through today. I equally love reading about the dictatorships of the 20th century in Latin America (I studied this stuff in college and it fascinates me!). This book is about the Tropicalia movement, of which Veloso was a part of, his exile during the dictatorship in Brazil, and reads poetically, like Veloso’s music sounds.
Brazilian Sound, by Chris McGowan and Ricardo Pessanha
This book was recommended to me to include in this list. The book is an encyclopedia of sorts, of Brazilian music which takes you around the country to learn about sounds from different regions of the country. It will also give you plenty to look up on your music streaming services during and after the read!
If you are obsessed with football/soccer:
Doctor Socrates: Footballer, Philosopher, Legend, by Andrew Downie
Downie is an expat living in São Paulo who I’ve also had the pleasure of working with in my previous business, and who is a seasoned sport’s writer who has penned articles for the NYTimes and the Guardian, amongst other major publications. This book in essence, is a memoir of Brazil’s iconic national team captain for the 1982 World Cup, Socrates, who besides this was also a doctor, and fervent activist. You’ll learn about his life, and Brazil’s tumultuous history whilst transitioning back into a democracy in the 1980’s.
Why Soccer Matters, by Pelé (yes, THE Pelé)
An autobiography which looks into Pelé’s 60 year involvement in the sport. If you miss watching football on TV, this book will make you even more nostalgic for the sport, and have even more admiration for Brazil’s king of football/soccer.
If you want to read about Brazil’s socio-economic issues:
Brazillionaires: Wealth, Power, Decadence, and Hope in an American Country, by Alex Cuadros
Alex is also an acquaintance who lived in Brazil for several years as a reporter for Bloomberg. When we’d hang out and he’d tell me about his work, I’d be fascinated by his stories of his interviews with Latin American billionaires. He has a genuine interest in class politics in Brazil, and his writing is engrossing, giving the reader a fantastic front row view to the lives of fascinating Brazilian lives.
Dancing with the Devil in the City of God: Rio de Janeiro and the Olympic Dream, by Juliana Barbassa
A fascinating socio-economic-sport-adjacent work by Barbassa, who I am a personal fan of (she is currently with the Associated Press, and an award winning journalist). The book covers the struggles of the city of Rio de Janeiro on the brink of the 2016 Games in the city. It is a beautiful and heart wrenching portrait of the city and its people.
If you like classic literature:
Rebellion in the Backlands, by Euclides da Cunha
Although technically a non-fiction account of the battle of Canudos, in the late 19th century in the Brazilian northeast, this book reads like a story, and is considered one of the country’s most important classic works of literature. It is also the book that inspired Mario Vargas Llosa’s La Guerra del fin del Mundo, written about the same bloody episode. It is a beautiful and heart wrenching story on the realities of war.
Epitaph of a Small Winner, by Machado de Assis
I would be remiss if I were to write a post on Brazilian literature and not mention Machado de Assis. His most acclaimed work, Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas, translated to “Epitaph of a Small Winner,” was first published in 1881. Assis is one of the most celebrated authors in Brazil, and this particular book is considered the first of the realism movement in Brazil – it is sharp, reflective, and a bit sarcastic – you wouldn’t think it was written in the 19th century! If you want to tout that you’ve read a Brazilian classic, this one’s for you. A new edition just recently published has a brilliant forward by Dave Eggers, who calls it “one of the wittiest books ever written,” which you can read a portion of in the New Yorker.
If you like modern literature:
The Complete Stories, by Clarice Lispector
In Brazil, it has become a sort of meme, where any sort of profound quote, was written by Clarice Lispector. This is because she is not only one of the most celebrated authors of the 20th century, she truly does leave you with phrases that will stick with you after reading anything in her body of work. And since I couldn’t pick just one, I chose this collection of short stories of hers, released just a few years ago in English. Her writing is dense and slow, but at the same time light, and funny. If you like writers such as Virgina Woolf or James Joyce, you will love Lispector.
Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands, by Jorge Amado
I was not raised in Brazil, but was born here and raised by Brazilian parents in the United States. I first came across Amado when doing a study of Brazilian music for an anthropology class in college. My professor said – before you get into the music, you must read Jorge Amado. And so I did, and loved his work. Years later, after visiting Bahia myself, I understood more deeply where he was coming from. Jorge Amado captures perfectly day-to-day lives of baianos in the mid 20th century. His prose is that of the local people he is depicting – light hearted, funny, and at the same time, moving and passionate. His work is accessible, yet profound. This book is perfect for fans of magical realism, and novella-esque stories.
If you want to read books by an up and coming Brazilian author:
Saga of Brutes, by Ana Paula Maia
I discovered Maia last year, when I read Enterre Seus Mortos (could not find this book in English), and it was by far, the best book I read in 2019. Her books are easy to read when it comes to the actual language, but not so easy to read when it comes to the harsh topics she faces her readers with. She writes about the “working man” and woman, and about their invisibilities in society. She has said she has been influenced by Dostoievski and Tarantino (the cinematography in her work is evident!). I want to read more and more of Maia, and hope you enjoy reading her books too!
Two Brothers, by Gabriel Bá and Fabio Moon
A graphic novel, this book is about brothers who were separated for some time when one was sent to live with relatives in Lebanon. It is also written by twin brothers who hail from São Paulo. It is set in Manaus, on the riverbanks of the Amazon. I have not read this yet, but it came highly recommended, and I am excited to read it, as I also love a graphic novel, love the Amazon, and love Lebanon!
The links above are Amazon affiliate links, but I do recommend looking at a local bookstore searching for some of the older books for free on the Gutenberg Project. I also highly recommend Better World Books, which has an incredible selection of new and used copies of books, offers free international shipping, and contributes to literacy and education causes around the world. This is not an ad, I really do love the site for book buying!
I hope you’ve found in this list, a book that may have interested you, and would love to hear if you get a chance to read any of them and share your thoughts with me. If you’d like more suggestions, please also feel free to reach out, I’d love to nerd out with you!
Main photo from FreeWalkerTours.com, book covers from Amazon.com.
