Minimal loves

Love in all its forms—between parents and children, siblings, lovers, and friends—is the theme of São Paulo-born João Carrascoza's new collection of short stories. The exercise of synthesis, which the writer masterfully wields over more than two decades of advertising, amplifies the whirlwind of sensations that camouflages the profound love between his characters. These are easily identifiable characters: men and women, children who roam metropolises or even small towns. In "Amores Minimos," Carrascoza brings his prose closer to poetry, dissecting the feelings that arise at any stage of life. Here, there is tenderness, compassion, and the certainty that the small, almost forgettable things of our daily lives are what make life great. "The least one can do in life is to give one's all in every moment, even if most of them are of little value," the writer explains emotionally. There is also a constant melancholy permeating the stories. Poetically constructed with the hopeful gaze of Carrascoza, an enthusiast of the full experience of "great passions and small loves." Everything is told with delicacy and elegance. A heart recovering its capacity to love. A meeting of two. A reflection on children's school transportation. The mind's speculations about someone else. The rancor of the relationship between an absent father and son. The fever of passion between two people. Winner of the Jabuti Prize in 2007 for the anthology "The Volume of Silence," since his literary debut, his careful use of language—always permeated by lyricism—has enchanted audiences and critics alike. With short, high-impact texts, "Minimal Loves" confirms his reputation as one of the highlights of the contemporary cultural scene.