User:Wellsl4/O avesso da pele

O avesso da pele (The Flipside of Skin)

Overview

“O avesso da pele”, or “The Flipside of Skin”, is a romance written by Jeferson Tenório. This book confronts many social issues such as the effects of slavery in Brazil, systemic racism, racial discrimination, and police brutality. These themes are explored in how they can affect generations of a family emotionally, socially, and financially.

Common Themes

“The Flipside of Skin” is narrated by Pedro, a young man who is still reeling from the aftershock of his father’s death as a result of police brutality. Throughout the book he begins to confront his own blackness and place in society, and how those things were also prevalent in his father's life. The book explores the complexity of interracial relationships, beginning with Pedro’s father’s relationships with women. Another prevalent theme throughout the book is generational choices, or rather, how the choices of one generation will affect the generations that come after it; this was explored primarily through the relationship between Pedro and his father, but there is some exploration of his grandparents as well.

Another common theme found in "The Flipside of Skin" was that of literature and education in Brazil. Throughout the story, it follows the narrative of what it means to teach and be a teacher in Brazil. Not only is there a common prejudice against black teachers in the book, but it is also painfully illustrated how little resources there are in education in Brazil. At times in the book, the situation almost seems hopeless.

The tone of "The Flipside of Skin" is one of a deep melancholy and genuineness. Throughout reading the book, it begins with an almost plaintive recounting of events and facts. As the story continues and Pedro finds out more and more about his father and family, the characters gain a deep richness that had been lacking in them before. As Tenório dives deeper and deeper into family relations, he paints a picture of the kind of everyday tragedies that shake a family, but causes a nearly imperceptible shift in the world.

Inspiration

One of Tenório's inspirations for the book was Hamlet. "I always wanted to tell the story of a ghost father, of the absent father...here, unlike th shakespearean texts, there's no revenge, but, in order to retrace his father's steps, Pedro discoveries the contradiction, the sorrow." Some of this inspiration is reflected in the lines used throughout the book, such as "Who's there?" This was represented by Pedro's incessant search to find out more about his father.

Awards

"O avessa da pele" or "The Flipside of Skin" won the Prêmio Jabuti, 63rd (2021). This is the oldest and most traditional literary award in Brazil. It ha also been recorded into an audio book.

Reviews

"It's not for nothing that Tenório, as well as being an award-winning author, is so well-received by critics and the audience. He’s not a tourist guide, doing social safari in the country's general ruin, he doesn’t use critiquing inequality as a trick, a controversial, cheap inciting shortcut to acceptance and recognition. Here we have a writer who, facing all risk, can engineer a good plot and charm readers. Often, while reading, I asked myself: how can he create characters that are so real and easy to love? I'm grateful, and Brazilian literature is grateful as well.” — Paulo Scott

“Through a deep dive in its characters, O avesso da pele manages to engage with the central issues of Brazilian society. And the most powerful thing is that, here, reality and reflection always come from within.” — Geovani Martins

References

https://www.beaconschool.com.br/book-review-o-avesso-da-pele/?lang=en

https://www.rcwlitagency.com/books/the-flipside-of-skin/

https://www.taglivros.com/blog/o-avesso-da-pele-romance-vencedor-do-premio-jabuti-2021/

Jeferson Tenório

https://exame.com/casual/o-avesso-da-pele-trata-de-racismo-e-da-busca-pelo-pai/

https://brazillab.princeton.edu/news/jeferson-tenorio-o-avesso-da-pele

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54278521-o-avesso-da-pele