Missive Book Club: "Moldy Strawberries"
🇧🇷 18 Stories by Caio Fernando Abreu to celebrate Pride 🏳️🌈
Today marks the start of Pride Month. And given the rise in hate crimes and a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills this year alone from Florida to Uganda and beyond, it’s as important as ever to stand in solidarity with the LGTBQ+ community this month — and always.
To that end, I’m thrilled to announce our June book club pick, "Moldy Strawberries" by Caio Fernando Abreu. This poignant collection of 18 short stories by the acclaimed Brazilian author explores themes of love, desire, and identity, offering a captivating glimpse into LGBTQ+ experiences against the background of 1980s Brazil, “a world shaped by military dictatorship, AIDS, and economic crisis.”
Caio Fernando Abreu was a pioneering figure in Brazilian literature, known for his raw and introspective writing style. Through his works, he fearlessly tackled taboo subjects and examined the complexities of human emotions. Abreu's unique voice resonates deeply, inviting readers to reflect on their own journeys and embrace the power of self-discovery - the perfect global read for Pride Month.
Abreu wrote 20 books during Brazil’s military dictatorship, giving voice to queer erotic life while enduring constant censorship. In 1986 his writing earned him a place the government’s wanted list by the repressive Departamento de Ordem Política e Social, forcing him into hiding in Brazil and exile in Europe. While living in France in 1994, he tested HIV positive and died two years later at the age of 47.
"Moldy Strawberries" contains 18 short stories that delve into the LGBTQ+ experience with empathy, honesty, and courage, challenging societal norms and fostering understanding. Abreu's evocative storytelling will leave you deeply moved and inspired to explore the intricacies of human connection:
Suspended between fear and longing, Abreu’s characters grasp for connection, exchange dreams. A man in Carnival glitter crosses a crowded dance floor to seek the warmth and beauty of another body. A budding office friendship between two young men turns into a surprising love, “a strange and secret harmony.” A man desires another but fears a clumsy word or gesture might ruin everything.
After so many precarious offerings - a salvaged cigarette, a knock on the door from within the downpour of a dream, or a tight-lipped smile - Abreu’s schemes explode and implode. Junkies, failed revolutionaries, poets, and conflicted artists face threats and every turn. But, secretly resilient and ferocious, they heal.
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Grab your copy of "Moldy Strawberries" now. I look forward to embarking on this literary journey with you, embracing diverse voices, and fostering meaningful conversations about vast depth of the human experience.
Happy reading!
Marko