I’d planned to choose Burundi for my first ‘B’ country, but after someone renewed their library loan of Small Country by Gael Faye, I became impatient and chose Brazil and The Invisible Life of Euridice Guzmao instead. I’ve worked with a couple of people from Brazil, and they were both lovely, so I was excited to see if a book set there could live up to the high standards they’ve set. 

I had quite a few interesting looking options for Brazil but this one hit the sweet spot of light, recent and in the library. As my Albanian read was quite bleak, I hoped that The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao by Martha Batalha (translated by Eric M. B. Becker) would provide a bit of light relief for me, and the cover blurb promised me something zesty, beguiling and wickedly funny. 

The Invisible Life of Euridice Guzmao by Martha Batalha

Had Antenor discontinued the habit of applying talcum powder to his private parts at the same time as other mortals had done so, the events that followed would never have taken place. 

Set in Rio from around 1940 to 1960, this book follows the lives of two sisters, Euridice and Guida, as they navigate the societal norms of the day. We watch as Euridice is cowed by her marriage and neighbours, and Guida discovers the consequences of eloping with an unsuitable man. Based on the letter to the reader at the start of the novel, it’s clear that this story is quite personal for the author and drawn in part from the real lives of the women of her family. 

Zélia was a woman with many frustrations, chief among them the fact that she wasn’t the Holy Spirit, able to see and know everything.

While A Girl in Exile was about a time rather than a place, this is about people, rather than places. As I’m reading this book from a wanderlust perspective, this was a little frustrating at times as the geographical scope of the book is relatively limited. However, during her short spell as a gourmet chef in her own kitchen, Euridice cooked up some very tasty sounding dishes, which I’d love to try if I ever make it to Brazil. 

What Euridice truly wanted was to travel the world playing her recorder. 

Yes, you read that right. Euridice is a top-notch recorder player, to the point where a famous composer wanted her to join his conservatoire! This section was probably my favourite part of the book because it was ridiculous. 

Other reviewers loved this book, but it didn’t leave a lasting mark on me. It was sweet and gently amusing, and I cried at the end, but it didn’t feel like it offered anything especially fresh. I get the impression that this might be an unusual story to be published in Brazil. However, with a few exceptions, it felt like something that I could have read about women in England in the same period. I would probably have been more positive about it if it wasn’t a part of my big exciting new project and instead was just something that took my fancy in the library. 

Brazilian Locations in The Invisible Life of Euridice Guzmao

I’ve put a map of the locations mentioned in the book together, but if you ever fancy visiting these places, use your common sense. Crime rates are quite high in Brazil, and I haven’t been to Rio so can’t advise on the safety of these areas. Additionally, this is a book about a housewife, so some of these are residential areas, and I have no idea how interesting they are to visit! 

Brazilian Food Featured in The Invisible Life of Euridice Guzmao

There are loads of recipes online for these dishes if you’re after a taste of Brazil in your own home

• Cod croquettes (bolinho de bacalhau)
• Beef stew (feijoada)
• Cornmeal cake (bolo de fubá)

Famous/Infamous Brazilians mentioned: 

• Pedro Álvarez Cabral – discoverer of Brazil
• Heitor Villa-Lobos – a Brazilian composer and conductor (and a fan of Euridice’s recorder playing)
• Graciliano Ramos – Brazilian author, famous worldwide for his novel Vidas Secas (Barren Lives)
• Ernesto Nazareth – Brazilian composer and pianist
• Tom Jobim – Brazilian composer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter and singer

Other Books Set In Brazil

You can find more Brazilian reading inspiration on my Reading Around The World page. 

Tip: to find the country you’re looking for, type Ctrl+F or Command+F when you’re on the page to open a search box.

Cover image credit: Photo by Thales Botelho de Sousa on Unsplash