Translated from Portuguese to English by Johnny Lorenz
Crooked Plow put my thoughts in a world I don’t really know much about and has definitely made me want to learn more- not only about it’s historical aspect but also from social and spiritual perspective. It’s one of my favourite reads over the past six months or so
Two young sisters in Bahia (Brazil) find a much guarded knife beneath their grandmother’s bed and being fatefully curious, decide to taste it’s metal. In a moment, Belonísia loses her tongue and their bond evolves as Bibiana becomes her voice. They are daughters of indentured farmworkers and the story journeys through their decisions, loves, coming of age and social realities. We learn about the lives of subsistence farmers in Brazil’s poorest region- three generations after the abolition of slavery
It’s a powerful, intimate story and I love that its told through such real women. The community’s path is told through women- in their determination, in their flaws, in their relationships and vision. There’s family and community lore in the exploration of the generation that came before them. Tradition, poverty and exploitation force a hand on definitions of both femininity and masculinity but there’s so much love in this story
There is very realistic focus on the need to emigrate, the need for revolution and education. The resistance to change- not only from oppressors but from the very people who need to escape. All of this it feels, without judgement in the narrative. I appreciated the magical and social realism woven in
The third perspective in the story is supernatural and seemed so all encompassing. I am really interested in different forms of spirituality across the diaspora. It’s at the core of our identities and Vieira Junior writes the theme in with care and rightful place. It clearly belongs and is one of the many elements that drives the Black community in Bahia
The storytelling in this novel seems so natural- I’m betting Johnny Lorenz excelled in translating here but I don’t speak Portuguese so someone would have to confirm! This is the only 2024 International Booker Prize long lister I’ve read but I’m already biased. I’m an Itamar Vieira Junior fan now so I’m looking for his bibliography
I would definitely recommend if you want something that will keep you fascinated over the next few days, it’s a short one too
Paperback Social 