Best books about Brazil: top 3 books to read before traveling
Travel books about Brazil offer valuable insights, but diving into Brazilian literature reveals cultural nuances that can add color to your interactions with locals.
In this list of best books, we selected literary gems that will intimately introduce you to three distinct perspectives of Brazilian society:
1 . Poverty and challenged childhoods
2. Native Indigenous groups
3. Gen Z and the present time
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1. Meet poverty: My Sweet Orange Tree by José Mauro de Vasconcelos
In this classic Brazilian novel, José Mauro de Vasconcelos beautifully shares the story of Zezé, a boy from an impoverished background. The narrative sensitively explores the themes of resilience, kindness, domestic violence, grief, and poverty through the eyes of a young child.
This is a must-read book when traveling Brazil, as the story sheds light on a common perspective often overlooked: that of poor children who lack parental guidance or grow up in broken homes. Although many aspects of Zezé’s livelihood are unfortunate, to say the least, he is still a fun child who makes the reader laugh and remember what it is like to be 6 years old.
Reading this book allowed me to reflect on and process many of the challenges I’ve faced in my own life, leaving me in tears yet feeling a sense of healing by the end.
Though My Sweet Orange Tree is typically categorized as children’s literature, its profound themes resonate with a much wider audience. Personally, I think that this book is better suited for adults and teens, as I believe that young children may not be ready to engage with the complex emotions this book brings up.
My Sweet Orange Tree was adapted for cinema, and the movie is available on both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
2. Meet the natives: Tristes tropiques by Claude Lévi-Strauss
Although it may not fit the mold of traditional literature or be strictly Brazilian, Tristes Tropiques definitely deserves a spot on this list. In more than 300 pages, the acclaimed French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss shares his explorations into the heart of Brazil in a funny and engaging manner. During his travels, he meets and describes different societies in Brazil, ranging from those in big cities to largely untouched indigenous communities.
Through his interactions and vivid descriptions of various tribes, Lévi-Strauss sensibly makes us understand lifestyles that may initially seem unconventional to us, such as brothers sharing wives (because the tribe’s chief marries most of the women in the tribe), the execution of infants to manage population growth, and even practices of cannibalism.
This travelogue is essential for any traveler looking to delve into the inner regions of Brazil, as it beautifully highlights the humanity of indigenous communities. Many visitors come to Brazil hoping to encounter natives who are often idealized as inherently good because they lead a “simple life” away from the temptations of modernity. However, Lévi-Strauss’s funny and candid observations challenge this notion and bring the reader closer to some of the most remote societies on Earth.
By the end of this book, I found myself captivated and questioning my own place in humanity. We often discuss authenticity and personal sense of justice, but through Lévi-Strauss’s intimate travel narratives about native tribes, I came to realize that much of who I am is shaped by the society I was raised in. While this insight may seem simple and somewhat obvious, the way the book led me to this realization was truly eye-opening, enabling me to approach other cultures when traveling with greater patience and curiosity.
3. Meet the present: Shooting My Life’s script by Paula Pimenta
Hand down my favorite book as a Brazilian teen, the Shooting My Life’s Script book series was a fever all around Brazil and each of my girlfriends had a copy!
Fani’s journeys highlight the opportunities available to upper-middle-class teens in Brazil’s private schools, offering a striking contrast to those faced by Zezé in My Sweet Orange Tree and the indigenous and impoverished communities depicted in Tristes Tropiques.
Shooting My Life’s Script isn’t a book designed to make you cry or come to profound life realizations; rather, it’s an easy-to-read novel that provides insights into Brazilian culture while making you fall in love with Fani’s best friend. The society you’ll likely encounter most during your travels in Brazil is the one Fani lives in, making this teen novel a worthwhile read.
Also, if you’re taking young adults to Brazil, this book would make a fantastic gift for them!
Recently, Shooting My Life’s Script became a movie, and it is available on Amazon Prime. Although I highly recommend the book, the movie might just be the worst piece of cinema I’ve ever watched.
Genuinely experiencing Brazil
The list of incredible Brazilian literature is long, but I hope that this selection of books will give you enough insight to better understand and interact with these three pertinent communities during your travels to Brazil!
If you are planning a trip to Brazil, I recommend checking my free travel guides for tips on where and how to explore this beautiful country!
