This is the Modern World

Worth reading is this article by A. Stevens on the Guardian Book Blog about the lack of new Brazilian fiction in translation. He argues that most of the Brazilian writers known outside Brazil are dead.

For the record, here is my personal list of my top 5 favourite living Brazilian fiction writers:

1. Marçal Aquino

2. Patricia Melo

3. João Ubaldo Ribeiro

4. Luís Fernando Veríssimo

5. Rubem Fonseca

I am possibly Marçal Aquino’s biggest British fan, and I am waiting eagerly for his new novel to be published later this year.

Some of the people on the list above have been translated into English, some haven’t. I would love to know who you think are the best living Brazilian fiction writers, and particularly if you can recommend anything I haven’t heard of before. Let me know!

Excellent resource faces extinction

The Brazilian Ministry of Education maintains a fascinating site where you can download classic works of literature in Portuguese, totally free.

Clarice Lispector exhibition opens

For those busy big city souls currently in São Paulo: Make sure you set some time aside to visit the fascinating exhibition about Clarice Lispector at the Museu da Lingua Portuguesa.

A Hora da Estrela, open until the 2nd of September, is a homage to one of the best writers ever. The exhibition marks the 30th anniversary of Lispector’s death and also 30 years since the publication of one of her best known novels, The Hour of the Star, which gives the show its name.

Foreign writers Flip the charts

Fresh from their appearance at the Flip festival in Parati, this week two international writers swaggered onto Brazil’s bestseller lists .

A double dose of Manuel Bandeira

Two new editions of Poetry by Manuel Bandeira have been published this year in Brazil.
Manuel Bandeira (1886-1968) is one of the biggest names in 20th century Brazilian poetry. He is regarded by many as the poet who wrote what he saw before him, who managed to capture the stark reality of the world. Bandeira was also a translator and he brought the words of many of his own influences to the Brazilian reader.

Life, as it is.

 

This year’s FLIP in Parati paid tribute to the playwright and chronicler Nelson Rodrigues. As well as changing the way theatre is perceived in Brazil, the man was a genius social critic and a chuckle inducing teller of urban tales.

The Spectacled Bear

Finding news in English about Brazilian literature sometimes feels as difficult as finding a spectacled bear.

Not anymore.

The Spectacled Bear aims to be a place to find news, opinions, translations, and resources about Brazilian fiction, poetry, literary events and other stuff for English speaking book-lovers in Brazil.

This blog is written by Sarah Kersley. I don’t wear glasses and I am not a bear, but I am a big fan of Paddington Bear, Stephen Fry and bears in general. I would also love to see a real spectacled bear one day, hopefully from a safe distance.

I was born in the UK and currently live in an internationally famous small town in Bahia, Northeast Brazil, from where I write this blog as I wait for all the paperwork I need to open a business here.

In the four years since I arrived in Brazil, I have met countless people who don’t speak Portuguese but want to know more about Brazilian fiction. People ask me to recommend books, places, events, stuff generally. Well this blog is for all those Brazil fiction lovers who don’t have the time or inclination to learn Portuguese, or who just prefer to read in English.

If you know about any literature related events taking place anywhere in Brazil, please let me know!.