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- 1 August 2022
- Reading suggestion
- gsclibrary
Book selected: ‘A Raridade das Coisas Banais’ by Pedro Chagas Freitas
The world is full of fragile beauty.
Perhaps it seems more apparent to the young, for whom everything illuminates with wonder.
As one gets older the scaffolding holding it all together seems to weaken, weighed down by responsibility.
But beauty never disappears entirely. Sometimes it just needs to be unlocked, as it is by Pedro Chagas Freitas’s dazzling new work ‘A Raridade das Coisas Banais’.
Unafraid to ask philosophical questions, he begins the book with a basic question and answer.
“- What do you want to be when you're big?
- Small again.”
Through Zambe, a philosopher's child, and Zé Pedro, Freitas invites the reader to reflect on the essence of human existence.
Much in the manner of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s ‘The Little Prince’, Freitas gently prods the reader to wade into deeper waters, and reflect on childhood and death, on what it means to be an adult and on love.
Profound and moving, this is a work that reminds us all of the greatness of children. It underlines the unique window they have on the world, and in turn how adults should take the time to enjoy life and appreciate everything around them.
An extraordinary lesson about what should always be at the core of what it means to be human.
If you’re looking to unearth other Portuguese literary gems, discover more via Eureka, the online catalogue of the Council libraries.
About the Readers of Europe campaign
2022 has been designated the European Year of Youth. The Council Library has therefore chosen to devote the third edition of its annual Readers of Europe initiative to youth, putting the focus squarely on new and emerging European literary talent.
The permanent representations to the EU have once again been invited to recommend books from their countries to read over the summer. The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Discover something new’, the idea being that every permanent representation selects a book by an author who has published their first work within the last five years. We will promote these selections over the summer on the Council Library blog.
Europe is awash with exciting young authors. Dive into this selection and discover stories that hum with fresh ideas and luminous prose. Novels that ask piercing questions about humanity. Stories that are edgy and beautiful, gripping and unsettling. Stories worthy of a place in any library.
So find a comfy place to sit back and relax as we showcase some of Europe’s promising literary talent.
This post does not necessarily represent the positions, policies, or opinions of the Council of the European Union or the European Council.
The Council Library reading room is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12.00 to 15.00. The Info Desk remains open online from Monday to Friday.
