Wine & Books Club

Our books selection

In this online book and wine club, our proposal invites you to discover Lusophone literature every month while savoring, alone or with company, the words of our authors and the best Portuguese wines. Here, you will have the opportunity to delve into various literary genres, explore captivating stories, discuss themes, and share your insights.

Wine & Books Club Curator

KOKOSCHKA’S Doll

Afonso Cruz

A poetic prose that uses the experience of war as a thread connecting some very peculiar characters who initially seem to have nothing in common, but whose stories end up intertwining in a web of relationships that deepens with each chapter.

The book opens with a somewhat disjointed pace, featuring many time jumps, which is common in the author’s narratives. However, it is a wonderful journey, with writing that cradles us in its descriptions and reflections and then suddenly makes us question our entire lives.

It speaks to us about loss, love, freedom, the search for meaning, and how we can sometimes impact someone’s life without realizing it. It is one of those books that stays with you after the first page.

“There is no place in the world built with as many restrictions as a bird shop. There are cages everywhere. And some are inside the birds and not outside, as people imagine.”

Wine & Books Club Curator

The Dark Side of Skin

Jeferson Tenório

This one is special. Jeferson Tenório is a Brazilian author, and this book has been subject to censorship in at least three Brazilian states.

The Reverse of the Skin introduces us to Pedro, a young black man trying to understand his father’s life and death. His story confronts us with Brazil’s ethnic-racial issues and the complexity of the relationships we form throughout our lives. The second-person narrative makes us feel part of the story, and the personal and intimate writing, much like oral discourse, challenges us to a broader understanding of the world around us.

Beyond the issue of freedom of expression, it is important to reflect on why a book addressing such divisive societal issues triggers so much discomfort. Perhaps it is because The Reverse of the Skin forces us to confront the injustices and inequalities that still persist in our social structures, which can be frightening for some. However, facing this discomfort is the only way to build a more just and inclusive world, and reading and discussing books like this is an essential first step.

“It is necessary to preserve the reverse, you told me. To preserve what no one sees. Because it doesn’t take long before the color of the skin penetrates our body and determines our way of being in the world. And no matter how much your life is measured by color or how much your actions and ways of living are under this domain, you somehow have to preserve something that doesn’t fit into this, you understand?”

Wine & Books Club Curator

Eliete

Dulce Maria Cardoso

This month’s recommendation is a work that delves into the daily life and emotional complexities of a 40-year-old Portuguese woman.

The narrative follows Eliete, an authentic and multifaceted protagonist, as she navigates her memories, relationships (some tumultuous), and societal expectations.

The author, cherished in Portugal, employs lyrical and meticulous prose to weave a story that is both personal and universal, revealing the subtleties of identity and loneliness. It’s a sensitive reflection on the relentless pursuit of depth and connection in an increasingly frivolous modernity, penned by an author who has the gift of turning the mundane into the beautiful.

“As Grandma’s mind and body were dying, anyone could see it; only her mind was dying faster than her body, and if that didn’t hurt Grandma’s body, it hurt mine.“

Wine & Books Club Curator

The Joyful Cry of the Partridge

Paulina Chiziane

The Joyful Cry of the Partridge is one of the most significant works by the author Paulina Chiziane, exploring the complexity of human and cultural relationships in Mozambique. The novel focuses on multiple generations of women from the same family, highlighting their struggles against a patriarchal and colonialist system. The writing is rich and poetic, with a non-linear narrative that intertwines past and present, revealing how personal and collective stories influence each other. More than just a story, the book is a multifaceted portrayal of a society in transformation and a testimony of female resilience.

The author invites us to reflect on issues of identity, power, and freedom while celebrating the resilience of Mozambican women. It is an essential read for diving into contemporary African literature and the sociocultural dynamics of Mozambique.

“In human cities, freedom is forbidden. Human beings must always be clothed, documented, and shod. For wandering without direction, the police arrest for vagrancy, as if someone truly knows the course of every step. Why must one walk in an exact direction if all places are places to walk?”

Wine & Books Club Curator

Blindness

José Saramago

This book is a powerful allegory about the fragility of society and the essence of humanity. The story unfolds in an unnamed city, where a strange epidemic of white blindness begins to spread, plunging the inhabitants into deep chaos. The authorities, powerless, decide to isolate the infected in an old asylum, but the situation quickly worsens, revealing the darkest aspects of human nature: selfishness, violence, and despair.

It is a scathing critique of the human condition and the fragility of the social structures that support civilization. The narrative, with its distinctive prose, immerses us in a distressing and claustrophobic environment, prompting the reader to reflect on the importance of vision—both physical and moral.

Phrase: «If we cannot live entirely like human beings, at least let us do everything in our power not to live entirely like animals.»

Wine & Books Club Curator

Whites Can Dance Too

Kalaf Epalanga

Whites Can Dance Too, by Angolan author Kalaf Epalanga, is a narrative that crosses cultural and musical boundaries, exploring identity, migration, and belonging. The story follows the journey of an Angolan musician in Europe as he reflects on kuduro, a musical style from his homeland, and how it has become a vehicle of expression and resistance for young Africans.

The novel blends fiction with autobiographical elements and is deeply influenced by Epalanga’s personal experience as a member of the band Buraka Som Sistema. The author reflects on the complexities of being Angolan in a European continent, questioning stereotypes through fluid and poetic writing. It is both a subtle critique of prejudice and a celebration of the transformative power of music and art.

Phrase: «Listen to the music inside you. Kizomba isn’t just the steps, it’s the joy that fills you when you dance it.»

Wine & Books Club

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All our guests, friends, avid readers, and wine lovers are invited to become members of the Wine & Books Club.

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. Have access to the monthly suggestions of our curators via newsletter.  (Books by Lusophone authors + selection of premium wines)
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More than a club, a cause. 

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