Short Choreography of Farewell

With a talent capable of bringing together opposites in a single sentence, such as beauty and ugliness, suffering and affection, lightness and violence, Aline Bei won over a legion of fans with The Weight of the Dead Bird, emerging as one of the major revelations of contemporary Brazilian literature. In this new novel, the author consolidates her unique style—which skillfully explores rhythm, imagery, and narrative form—and builds an unforgettable plot about self-discovery, love, and trauma.

The protagonist is Julia, a young woman who entered adulthood trying to pick up the pieces of a shattered relationship: her mother cannot bear the idea of having been abandoned by her husband, while her father cannot bear the idea of having been married. She grew up suffocated by an atmosphere of constant fighting and a lack of affection and, little by little, tries to free herself from her family's emotional baggage.

Between memories of childhood and adolescence—which shaped who she is—and dreams for the future—which may help her become who she wants to be—Julia rehearses her own choreography, in a sequence of movements of approaching and distancing herself from her parents that leaves indelible marks on her. Throughout this process, at times comforting and at others distressing, she encounters a series of characters who help her face loneliness and make sense of her story: a boarding house owner, a retired boxer, a café owner, and a mysterious writer.

With a poetic sensitivity that captures the beauty even of the most painful feelings, A Little Choreography of Farewell is a moving novel that examines the devastating power of human relationships—and the possibilities of finding tenderness where it is least expected.