João Paulo Cuenca

Who is João Paulo Cuenca?

João Paulo Cuenca is a Brazilian writer.

João Paulo Cuenca was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1978 and is considered to be among the new generation of promising Brazilian authors. In 2012, the English literary magazine »Granta« named him as one of the 20 best Brazilian writers under 40. In 2007, he was selected by the Hay Festival as one of the most talented 39 Latin American writers under 39. His striking eloquence creates scenarios which change effortlessly between common surroundings and surreal incidents.

In 2003, Cuenca published his first novel »Corpo Presente«, which depicts a man’s radical descent into his own obsessions. In seductive Copacabana, the narrator goes through days, streets and women on a search for a lost or impossible love affair, looking for feelings that have been lost forever in a world that has become too cynical, too violent, too sexualised. An idealist in his own way, he searches for purity by dirtying himself in the precarious moments that life presents him with. In 2007, his second, very successful novel »O Dia Mastroianni« was published in Brazil and subsequently released in Italy in 2008 and in Portugal in 2009. This generational novel is based on the idea of two friends who take the legendary Italian actor as their role model, enjoying the moment, the pleasures of women, and life itself as modern dandies in a 24 hours spiral. Cuenca’s most recent novel, »O único final feliz para uma história de amor é um acidente« is set in present-day Tokyo and tells the story of Shunsuke and his complicated relationship with his father, Mr Okuda, whose hobby is spying on his son. When Sunshuke falls in love with Iulana, a maelstrom of jealousy is set in motion that culminates in abduction and death. In poetic and imaginative language, Cuenca subtly interweaves reality and fiction, creating a world whose palpable characters leave a lasting impression. Written rather like a crime novel, full of odd events and reminiscent of Haruki Murakami, this story draws the reader in from the very first page. »O único final feliz para uma história de amor é um acidente« has been published in Portugal, Spain, German and will be released in the United States and France in 2013.