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Title details for The Words That Remain by Stênio Gardel - Available

The Words That Remain

by Stênio Gardel
Bruna Dantas Lobato
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
A letter has beckoned to Raimundo since he received it over fifty years ago from his youthful passion, handsome Cícero. But having grown up in an impoverished area of Brazil where the demands of manual labor thwarted his becoming literate, Raimundo has long been unable to read. As young men, he and Cícero fell in love, only to have Raimundo's father brutally beat his son when he discovered their affair. Even after Raimundo succeeds in making a life for himself in the big city, he continues to be haunted by this secret missive full of longing from the distant past. Now at age seventy-one, he at last acquires a true education and the ability to access the letter. Exploring Brazil's little-known hinterland as well its urban haunts, this is a sweeping novel of repression, violence, and shame, along with their flip side: survival, endurance, and the ultimate triumph of an unforgettable figure on society's margins. The Words That Remain explores the universal power of the written word and language and how they affect all our relationships.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    January 30, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781666654257
      • File size: 112542 KB
      • Duration: 03:54:27

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      October 24, 2022
      Brazilian writer Gardel’s auspicious debut finds a 71-year-old illiterate man holding onto an old, unread letter from his childhood friend and first love. Raimundo won’t let anyone else see the letter, which was sent to him by his lover, Cicero, after Cicero’s father discovered them having sex at 17. Raimundo wanted to live with Cicero, but never had the chance. In flashbacks, Gardel delves into Raimundo’s early shame over his sexuality and illiteracy, and chronicles how Raimundo was beaten by his father and kicked out of the house after he and Cicero were caught. He finds work with truckers, including Alex, whom he dances with and who takes him to a porn theater. Raimundo’s story is contrasted with that of his courageous uncle Dalberto, who was killed by Raimundo’s grandfather after Dalberto told him he was gay. When Raimundo attacks his trans friend Suzzanný, he knows that his actions stem from fear: “Fear is in my spine, it is what holds me up, and I am using it to hurt others,” he narrates. Raimundo’s feelings of shame, anger, and self-loathing are palpable as he examines his troubled past. This wistful novel introduces a worthy new voice.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Andr Santana narrates this Brazilian import translated from Portuguese. The narrative switches from the present day, when elderly Raimundo is learning to read, to his past, when as a young, gay man he experienced homophobic violence from his father. As the story unfolds, the cycle of queer trauma in Raimundo's family is made clear. Unfortunately, Raimundo's trauma and internalized homophobia lead him to behave violently towards the queer people he encounters. Raimundo's shame is ably portrayed by Santana, whose deep, emotional voice breaks in particularly difficult scenes--of which there are many. Though this is not a novel-in-verse, Santana performs with a poetic cadence. A heavy audiobook, not for the faint of heart. S.P. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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