Brazil’s Ten Most Talked About Titles of 2009

By Ricardo Costa

Last year was a great year in Brazilian publishing, which made it all the more difficult to identify the best books of 2009. I’m sure there will be a great deal of disagreement with my choices, but these are the ones I think you should read.

I would have loved to include more than ten titles in this article, but since that is not possible, I chose the books that caused the most frisson in the market. Here is the list (in no particular order):

Leite derramado by Chico Buarque (Companhia Das Letras)

A cidade ilhada by Milton Hatoum (Companhia Das Letras)

Se eu fechar os olhos agora by Edney Silvestre (Record) — first novel from the well-known reporter

Entre rinhas de cachorros e porcos abatidos by Ana Paula Maia (Record)

O filho da mãe by Bernardo Carvalho (Companhia Das Letras)

Immaculada by Ivone Castilho Benedetti (WMF Martins Fontes);

Os espiões by Luis Fernando Verissimo (Alfaguara) – for me, one of the best of the decade!

Fala sério, pai! by Thalita Rebouças (Rocco) — part of the hugely successful series for teens.

O seminarista by Rubem Fonseca (Agir) — the first book in Brazil to be released at the same time in printed version and e-book.

Ricardo Costa is the editor of PublishNews.com.br, Brazil’s online publishing trade magazine.