It would be difficult for most of us to imagine how life would look if we’d lived nearly a century, but Brazilian writer Juliana Leite attempts just this in her debut English-language novel, Exemplary Humans. Natália reflects on her past from her Rio de Janeiro apartment, while waiting for a daily call from her daughter. The recollections are full of the exemplary humans that have graced her world including her husband Vicente, and best friend Sarah the cookie seller.
The narrator takes pleasure in reminiscing about her teaching career and shared experiences living in Brazil with her family. As external threats impact her day-to-day life, it sparks memories of resisting the dictatorship, highlighting the fragility of a democracy.
There’s a poignancy in the reflective nature of the prose, where memories, ageing, death and friendship are explored. Despite the melancholic nature and the questions around the reliability of these memories, there’s a hopeful aspect to the narrative, and with so many significant historical moments to look back on, it provides a rich and powerful backdrop to the storytelling.
Translated from the Portuguese by Zoë Perry, it’s clear to see why Exemplary Humans was such a success in its native country: a masterful, enthralling read.
