A selection of works that will help you, through fiction, to better understand the different realities of the country
In preparing for the entrance exam, it is common for students to summarize their literary contact with the works required in the tests – which, for the most part, are classics by older authors, such as Machado de Assis and Carlos Drummond de Andrade. But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be that way. Immersing yourself in contemporary books, especially national ones, is a great opportunity to collect repertoire, better understand the Brazilian reality and, of course, also improve your writing.
+ Brazilian literature: 5 contemporary books that fall into the entrance exam
We have separated six fictions by contemporary Brazilian authors dealing with relevant social issues. They are accessible works, about different realities and which address issues present in Brazilian society.
+ Enem: 8 books to read (although they are not mandatory)
1. “The sound of the jaguar’s roar”, by Micheliny Verunschk
the novel of Micheliny Verunschk, winner of the “Literary Romance” category of the 2022 Jabuti Prize, creates a fictional narrative based on a historical fact. In the 19th century, German explorers Johann Baptist von Spix and Carl Friedrich Martius landed in Brazil on a mission to “explore” the country. Upon their return to the old continent, the two brought with them objects, delicacies and, believe it or not, two indigenous children. The book tells the story of this kidnapping from the point of view of one of the children. The author also draws a parallel to the present by showing the journey of a young woman who gets in touch with her roots after learning about the story of the two children in an exhibition.
2. “Lonely”, by Eliana Alves Cruz
In “Lonely,” we are introduced to two black women: Eunice and Mabel, mother and daughter. Eunice is a maid and, together with her daughter, shares a room in the house of the white leaders in a luxury condominium. One day, the clerk becomes the key witness to a crime in the residence. In this novel, Eliana Alvez Cruz explores the structural legacies left by slavery in Brazil – which thus permeate boss-employee relationships in the domestic sphere. An agile, intense and candid narrative, which also addresses issues such as affirmative action and reproductive rights.
3. “The pediatrician”, by Andréa del Fuego
A pediatrician who hates children? This is the main idea of \u200b\u200bthe author’s third novel Andrew of Fire. Pediatrician Cecília is everything you wouldn’t expect from a doctor who takes care of children: she has no patience and shows zero affection for the little ones. However, the doctor has a successful practice filled with satisfied parents. Everything changes when she begins to become attached-in a disturbing way-to one of her little patients, and to the father of the child. It is a novel that questions the caring role of women in society, beyond motherhood itself and the myth of maternal love.
4. “The sun in the head: short stories”, by Gioveni Martins
Praised by Chico Buarque, Milton Hatoum and João Moreira Salles, the debut book by Jehovah Martins it is a point of reference for national contemporary literature. Through the thirteen stories of the work, the author tells, with the truthfulness of someone who has lived that reality, what it is like to grow up in the least favored part of Rio de Janeiro. In “Rolézim”, for example, a group of young people decide to go to the beach in the summer of 2015 and end up surrounded by the Rio de Janeiro police, who act in the name of containing the fishing boats that infest the city. Gioveni Martins transitions between spoken language and the standard norm of language with mastery and creates a collection of engaging and insightful short stories.
5. “The Inside Out”, by Jeferson Tenório
Another winner of the “Literary Novel” category of the Jabuti Prize in this list. “The reverse of the skin”, by Jefferson Tenorio, tells the story of Pedro, a man mourning his father who was murdered during a police approach. In a process of healing his pain—and also discovering himself—he sets out on a journey to retrace his father’s footsteps. In this work, the author explores a Brazil marked by racism, social inequality and a failing education system, but without neglecting the delicacies surrounding the relationship between parents and children. A brutal and sensitive book, to an extent.
6. “Save the Fire”, by Itamar Vieira Junior
If you have read, or at least heard of “Torto Arado”, you must understand the author’s success Itamar Vieira Jr. In his first book after the astronomical success of “Torto Arado”, Itamar returns to the same universe and delivers the second part of his rural trilogy. “Save the fire” tells the story of Moisés, an orphan boy who lives in a rural community of Afro-indigenous origin in the interior of Bahia, who lives under the strict rules of the Catholic Church. He is looked after by Luzia, her older sister who, despite being stigmatized by the community, works as a laundress at the local monastery. The book presents a mysterious, epic and lyrical narrative, which gradually reveals itself to the reader.
Have you read any? Have you added them all to your reading list? Tell us about it on the Student Guide social networks.
Source: Terra
