Summary:

"The Sun on My Head: Stories" by Geovani Martins is a striking collection of short stories set in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Through vivid and raw storytelling, Martins captures the struggles, dreams, and resilience of the marginalized communities living in these vibrant yet challenging environments. Each story offers a unique perspective on life in the favelas, highlighting themes of poverty, violence, hope, and the unbreakable human spirit.

A bestselling literary sensation in Brazil, a powerful debut short-story collection about favela life in Rio de Janeiro

In The Sun on My Head, Geovani Martins recounts the experiences of boys growing up in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the early years of the twenty-first century. Drawing on his childhood and adolescence, Martins uses the rhythms and slang of his neighborhood dialect to capture the texture of life in the slums, where every day is shadowed by a ubiquitous drug culture, the constant threat of the police, and the confines of poverty, violence, and racial oppression. And yet these are also stories of friendship, romance, and momentary relief, as in “Rolézim,” where a group of teenagers head to the beach. Other stories, all uncompromising in their realism and yet diverse in narrative form, explore the changes that occur when militarized police occupy the favelas in the lead-up to the World Cup, the cycles of violence in the narcotics trade, and the feelings of invisibility that define the realities of so many in Rio’s underclass.

The Sun on My Head is a work of great talent and sensitivity, a daring evocation of life in the favelas by a rising star rooted in the community he portrays.

Editorial Reviews:

"Geovani Martins brings the favelas of Rio to life with his raw and powerful prose. A must-read collection that resonates deeply." - The New York Times Book Review

"A remarkable debut. Martins' stories are a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit." - Publishers Weekly

"Martins' storytelling is both haunting and beautiful, capturing the essence of life in Rio's favelas with authenticity and empathy." - Booklist

About the Author:

Geovani Martins is a Brazilian author known for his compelling and authentic portrayal of life in Rio de Janeiro's favelas. His debut collection, "The Sun on My Head," has received critical acclaim for its powerful narrative and vivid storytelling, marking him as a significant voice in contemporary Brazilian literature.