Cuíer: Queer Brazil

This eclectic bilingual anthology from queer Brazilian writers, both living and dead, is as expansive and full of life as the country itself. Two of the strongest entries are the overtly gay ones. “Fat Tuesday” by Caio Fernando Abreu (trans. from the Portuguese by Bruna Dantas Lobato) depicts two men having a romantic night of dancing, only to be disrupted by homophobes. “Hugs and Cuddles” by João Gilberto Noll (trans. by Edgar Garbelotto) recalls with wistful lyricism an unforgettable “liaison in the chiaroscuro of a hallway years before.” The Brooklyn-set “Farrina” by Cidinha da Silva (trans. by JP Gritton) is another highlight, chronicling a Brazilian woman’s encounter with an older Trinidadian woman. The poetry selections are also vibrant. Tatiana Nascimento’s “Cuíer Paradiso” (trans. by Natalia Affonso) is a sexy ode to an imaginary idyll where there’s “no need for armor,” and Ricardo Domeneck’s three poems (trans. by Chris Daniels) are vivid, especially “Shyness in Linen,” about two lovers having an afternoon tryst. This dynamic volume also introduces such writers as the late Ana Cristina Cesar, and the up-and-coming Raimundo Neto, whose “The Harvest Bride” (trans. by Adrian Minckley) is a standout. This enticing and poignant volume achieves its power by elegantly capturing a range of LGBTQ voices. (Sept.)