Crooked Plow
by Itamar Vieira Junior
Why read it
This is a magnificent, internationally acclaimed masterpiece that centers on two Afro-Brazilian sisters in the Bahia hinterland who are bound together by a tragic childhood accident. It is an incredibly moving family saga that delves into the aftermath of slavery, land ownership struggles, and ancestral heritage. Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, it offers an unforgettable, deeply human look at marginalized communities fighting for dignity and survival.
Where to get it
In the Netherlands, the English edition (published by Verso Books) is readily available to order online via Bol.com or Amazon.nl, and can be ordered through local independent bookstores like Athenaeum Boekhandel, Donner, or Scheltema. The ebook and digital audiobook versions are accessible on platforms such as Kobo, Kindle, Google Play Books, and Storytel. For library cardholders, check the OBA (Amsterdam Public Library) or your local provincial library catalog to request an English import copy.
What to expect
A lyrical, slow-burning, and deeply atmospheric story. While it starts with an intense and shocking physical trauma, the narrative quickly settles into a rich, sensory exploration of daily rural life, family dynamics, and Afro-Brazilian spirituality (specifically the Jarê rituals). The prose is highly accessible and elegant, wearing its magical realist influences lightly. It deals with heavy themes of labor exploitation, systemic racism, and domestic abuse, but remains grounded in a profound sense of hope and resistance.
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