I've been feasting on South American fiction: Crooked Plow, Of Cattle and Men, Not a River & more

Readers in English are being treated at the moment to a wealth of fiction in translation from South American authors. Here are five I read in the past few weeks. What about you? Any hot tips?
Books mentioned:
Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior translated by Johnny Lorenz
Not a River by Selva Almada translated by Annie McDermott
Of Cattle and Men by Ana Paula Maia translated by Zoe Perry
Simpatia by Rodrigo Blanco Calderón translated by Noel Hernandez Gonzalez and Daniel Hahn
Undiscovered by Gabriela Wiener translated by Julia Sanches
Also mentioned in passing Jorge Amado and Clarice Lispector.

[@Eldertalk]

I love that you've told us about some South American books and will look for each book in Goodreads to learn more about it. I have a long term goal of reading a book from every nation; maybe this will help me fill in some gaps.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

I hope so. Venezuela is a harder place to find much in English translation so Simpatía might be useful, whereas for Brazil and Argentina you’ll be spoilt for choice.

[@ianp9086]

Hi Ros and nice to see you again! Many of my favourite novels are from South American authors so this video was certainly a feast. I agree with you that Not a River is the highlight of the trilogy - I loved it for its intensity. Also the gradual realization that two of the characters are ghosts! I have Cattle and men, Crooked Plow and Undiscovered on the shelf for summer, if I can wait that long!

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

I'm so glad you say that about Not a River. I was surprised by some reactions to it. I didn't mention the ghosts for fear of it being a spoiler but yes I loved that. I am confident you will be intrigued by the three waiting on your shelf. Undiscovered is uneven but has stuck in my mind nonetheless. The other two are tremendous in different ways.

[@jorgem71962]

I am glad you liked Crooked Plow. That book has stayed with me since I read it. I love Brazilian literature that takes place in the Bahia.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

It was an unusual book I thought and I think it will stay with me too.

[@RaynorReadsStuff]

This was fascinating Ros. You’ve expanded my knowledge of South American authors tenfold. Great video 😊

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

There's a lot of good stuff coming out Debs.

[@readandre-read]

These books sound challenging and interesting! Not a River is standing out to me, adding to my TBR. Sending good vibes for continued healing!

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

I hope you do get to read Not a River. It packs a lot into a short book.

[@BookishAdventuresInWellbeing]

Super collection. I recently read Simpatia too and also struggled to capture all that it was about!

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

You spotted that I was struggling a bit 😂 But I was glad to be able to read it.

[@josmith5992]

That’s great to know that so many of these prize listed books deserve to be on those lists. I loved Brickmakers so am hoping my library gets Not a River and I think you might have persuaded me to read Of Cattle and Men Roz, despite the vegetarianism- I can always put it down after all 🤷‍♀️. I just read an interesting Brazilian book with Britta called The Simple Art of Killing a Woman by Patricia Melo about femicide in Brazil. Didn’t really succeed as a novel but an important read. The only other South American book I’ve read this year was the wonderful Two Sherpas by Sebastián Martínez Daniell which was shortlisted for the American/Canadian Roc prize. I think you’d enjoy that one.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

Two Sherpas does sound like my sort of book. I think you would find Of Cattle and Men interesting. The main character is something of an enigma.

[@audreyh7892]

You might like “It would be night in Caracas” by Karina Sainz Borgo if you haven’t already read it.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

I haven't and Karina Sainz Borgo sounds like an author I should read. Thanks.

[@audreyh7892]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711 It is very memorable.

[@ariannefowler455]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711 Another vote for It Would Be Night in Caracas. It is fantastic.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

@@ariannefowler455 thanks! Both of you recommending it is a strong steer to read it.

[@erinh7450]

All of these have been on my radar, but the only one I've read thus far is Crooked Plow. I want to get to all the others except Not a River and Undiscovered, which for whatever reason aren't calling to me. I may also skip Simpatía, because of quite mixed reviews, but I bought myself a copy before I heard them, so I'll likely get to it eventually! I also have Out of Earth from Brazil here to get to...

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

I'd say approach Simpatía with an open mind as it has a lot to offer, but I think was not the bookb some readers were expecting.

[@hesterdunlop3982]

Of Cattle and Men sounds interesting ...it explores some of the same themes as On the Line : Notes from a Fish Factory by Joseph Ponthus which was a good read and necessarily brutal . Crooked Plough sounds excellent . Nothing from Paraguay ( I'm still recovering from I , The Supreme )....? I plan to read Chronicle of the Murdered House / Lúcio Cardosa tr.Margaret Jill Costa and Robin Patterson this summer as a buddy read . Have you read it ?

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

@@hesterdunlop3982 gosh two books I should read in one comment.