Courtney Henning Novak, escritora e podcaster americana de 45 anos, ganhou destaque no Brasil ao compartilhar seu encantamento por Machado de Assis e sua obra-prima "Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas". Em um projeto pessoal ambicioso, Courtney propôs-se a ler um livro de cada país do mundo, e compartilhar suas impressões no TikTok.
O vídeo sobre "Memórias" já ultrapassou 967 mil visualizações nesta sexta-feira (24), e repercutiu não apenas na mídia nacional, mas levou a obra machadiana ao topo da lista dos livros mais vendidos nos Estados Unidos pela Amazon, na categoria “Literatura Latino-Americana e Caribenha”.
Não foi difícil encontrar Courtney Novak no TikTok e no Instagram. Iniciei o primeiro contato na plataforma da Meta, enviando um “direct” à escritora, e comentando na sua publicação sobre o mesmo vídeo viralizado. Ato contínuo, enviei uma solicitação pelo chat da rede chinesa, onde fui respondido algumas horas depois. O TikTok limita as interações entre pessoas que não se seguem mutuamente, e foi preciso a aceitação da escritora.
Depois das apresentações iniciais, demos início a uma entrevista sobre as suas impressões sobre o momento atual da literatura brasileira e mundial, da sobrevivência do livro e claro, sobre o encantamento da escritora e influenciadora por nosso Machado de Assis.
(A entrevista foi feita em língua inglesa, e a tradução através de tradutores digitais, ao final da matéria segue versão em inglês - At the end of the article follows the english version).
A Descoberta de Brás Cubas
Courtney encontrou “Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas” durante sua busca de leitura global. “Para minha busca de leitura ao redor do mundo, encontrei minhas escolhas para os brasileiros através do Google e Goodreads. Havia muitas recomendações para o Brasil, mas senti uma atração por 'Memórias'. No final, minha intuição escolheu esse livro”, disse Courtney.
A Descoberta de Brás Cubas
Courtney encontrou “Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas” durante sua busca de leitura global. “Para minha busca de leitura ao redor do mundo, encontrei minhas escolhas para os brasileiros através do Google e Goodreads. Havia muitas recomendações para o Brasil, mas senti uma atração por 'Memórias'. No final, minha intuição escolheu esse livro”, disse Courtney.
“Preciso ter uma conversa com o pessoal do Brasil. Por que não me avisaram antes que este é o melhor livro já escrito? O que vou fazer do resto da minha vida depois que terminá-lo?”, dizia Courtney no vídeo.
A Surpresa com Machado de Assis
"Machado não é bem conhecido no Brasil?! Isso é uma loucura! Presumi que ele fosse tão conhecido no Brasil quanto Shakespeare. Tive que ler uma tradução em inglês, mas achei Machado tão lírico quanto qualquer um dos grandes autores que já li," comenta Courtney, expressando surpresa ao saber que Machado de Assis não é amplamente celebrado em seu próprio país.
Embora Machado seja um escritor clássico, com obras utilizadas nas escolas brasileiras, em um país com um público leitor ainda proporcionalmente pequeno, o gênio literário de um de seus maiores escritores não é aclamado como deveria pelo grande público. Segundo a última pesquisa do “Panorama do Consumo de Livros”, realizada a pedido da Câmara Brasileira do Livro (CBL), apenas 16% dos brasileiros foram consumidores de ao menos um livro em 2023.
Courtney reflete sobre como a leitura escolar pode, às vezes, tirar a diversão dos livros: “Às vezes, a escola tira a diversão da leitura. Eu mesma odiava 'Annie John', de Jamaica Kincaid, mas quando reli [dentro de sua proposta de leitura internacional] para Antígua e Barbuda, adorei.”
Machado de Assis: Um Gênio Brasileiro
O escritor teve que conviver com dificuldades financeiras e com o racismo, ao ponto de ser retratado, ainda hoje, como branco em livros e representações digitais. Machado publicou seu primeiro poema aos 15 anos e continuou a escrever incessantemente durante toda sua vida, produzindo romances, contos, crônicas e poesias que hoje são considerados clássicos da literatura. Seus romances mais famosos, como "Dom Casmurro" e "Quincas Borba", além das "Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas", são conhecidos por sua ironia sutil, narrativa inovadora e análise psicológica profunda.
Reconhecimento Internacional
O talento de Machado de Assis não passou despercebido no cenário literário internacional. Mesmo após sua morte em 1908, seu trabalho continuou a ser descoberto e admirado por escritores e críticos ao redor do mundo. Em 2008, o renomado escritor americano Philip Roth declarou sua admiração por Machado, comparando-o ao dramaturgo irlandês Samuel Beckett. Roth destacou a capacidade de Machado de explorar a condição humana com uma sensibilidade única, elevando-o ao patamar dos grandes mestres literários.
Outros escritores internacionais, como Susan Sontag e Harold Bloom, também reconheceram a importância de Machado de Assis. Sontag descreveu sua obra como "uma das maiores conquistas literárias de qualquer época", enquanto Bloom o incluiu no cânone ocidental, elogiando sua maestria técnica e profundidade moral.
Ler é ler!
Além de seu amor por livros físicos, Courtney reconhece a importância dos e-books na democratização da leitura. “Eu mesma prefiro segurar um livro físico nas mãos, mas os livros digitais são convenientes e mais baratos. Ler é ler! O meio não importa. Eu escuto muitos audiolivros e acho que alguns livros são ainda melhores dessa forma” afirma. Ela ressalta o papel dos e-readers em levar milhões de livros a vilarejos remotos, ampliando o acesso à literatura.
A jornada literária de Courtney Henning Novak e sua descoberta de Machado de Assis ilustram a universalidade e a atemporalidade da obra do genial escritor brasileiro. Sua fascinação pelo autor, combinada com seu projeto global, inspira leitores de todas as idades a explorar a riqueza literária mundial e a redescobrir os clássicos, sejam eles físicos ou digitais.
O reconhecimento internacional de Machado de Assis, de Philip Roth a novos leitores no TikTok, reafirma seu lugar no panteão dos grandes escritores da literatura mundial. A história de Machado de Assis continua a ressoar, não apenas no Brasil, mas em todo o mundo, comprovando que a verdadeira genialidade literária transcende barreiras culturais e temporais.
English version
Courtney Henning Novak, a 45-year-old American writer and podcaster, gained prominence in Brazil by sharing her admiration for Machado de Assis and his masterpiece "The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas." In an ambitious personal project, Courtney set out to read a book from every country in the world and share her impressions on TikTok.
The video about "Memórias" (The Posthumous Memoirs) has already surpassed 967,000 views this Friday (24th) and has resonated not only in national media but also catapulted Machado’s work to the top of the list of best-selling books on Amazon in the United States, in the "Latin American and Caribbean Literature" category.
It was not difficult to find Courtney Novak on TikTok and Instagram. I initiated the first contact on Meta’s platform by sending a direct message to the writer and commenting on her post about the same viral video. Subsequently, I sent a request through the chat on the Chinese network, where I received a response a few hours later. TikTok limits interactions between people who do not mutually follow each other, requiring the writer's acceptance.
After the initial introductions, we began an interview about her impressions of the current state of Brazilian and world literature, the survival of books, and, of course, the writer and influencer’s enchantment with our Machado de Assis.
(The interview was conducted in English, and the translation was done through digital translators).
The Discovery of Brás Cubas
Courtney found "The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas" during her global reading quest. “For my world reading quest, I found my choices for Brazil through Google and Goodreads. There were many recommendations for Brazil, but I felt drawn to 'Memórias.' In the end, my intuition chose this book,” Courtney said.
The video about "Memórias" (The Posthumous Memoirs) has already surpassed 967,000 views this Friday (24th) and has resonated not only in national media but also catapulted Machado’s work to the top of the list of best-selling books on Amazon in the United States, in the "Latin American and Caribbean Literature" category.
It was not difficult to find Courtney Novak on TikTok and Instagram. I initiated the first contact on Meta’s platform by sending a direct message to the writer and commenting on her post about the same viral video. Subsequently, I sent a request through the chat on the Chinese network, where I received a response a few hours later. TikTok limits interactions between people who do not mutually follow each other, requiring the writer's acceptance.
After the initial introductions, we began an interview about her impressions of the current state of Brazilian and world literature, the survival of books, and, of course, the writer and influencer’s enchantment with our Machado de Assis.
(The interview was conducted in English, and the translation was done through digital translators).
The Discovery of Brás Cubas
Courtney found "The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas" during her global reading quest. “For my world reading quest, I found my choices for Brazil through Google and Goodreads. There were many recommendations for Brazil, but I felt drawn to 'Memórias.' In the end, my intuition chose this book,” Courtney said.
The choice proved to be a good one, and her appreciation for the book resonated with her followers. The curiosity among Americans was so great that it not only led "Memórias" to become the best-seller in its category on Amazon there but also reverberated in the Brazilian media. A flurry of national press articles highlighted Courtney’s viral fascination.
“I need to have a conversation with the people of Brazil. Why didn’t you tell me sooner that this is the best book ever written? What am I going to do with the rest of my life after finishing it?” Courtney said in the video.
The Surprise with Machado de Assis
"Machado is not well known in Brazil?! That’s crazy! I assumed he was as well-known in Brazil as Shakespeare. I had to read an English translation, but I found Machado as lyrical as any of the great authors I’ve read," commented Courtney, expressing surprise upon learning that Machado de Assis is not widely celebrated in his own country.
Although Machado is a classic writer, with works used in Brazilian schools, in a country with a still proportionally small reading public, the literary genius of one of its greatest writers is not acclaimed by the general public as it should be. According to the latest "Panorama of Book Consumption" survey, conducted at the request of the Brazilian Book Chamber (CBL), only 16% of Brazilians were consumers of at least one book in 2023.
Courtney reflects on how school reading can sometimes take the fun out of books: “Sometimes, school takes the fun out of reading. I myself hated 'Annie John' by Jamaica Kincaid, but when I reread it [within her international reading proposal] for Antigua and Barbuda, I loved it.”
Machado de Assis: A Brazilian Genius
Machado de Assis, born in 1839 in Morro do Livramento, Rio de Janeiro, is considered by many — despite the general public's lack of recognition — as Brazil’s greatest writer of all time. His father was Francisco José de Assis, a “mulatto who painted walls,” and the Portuguese Maria Leopoldina Machado da Câmara.
The writer had to contend with financial difficulties and racism, to the point of still being depicted as white in books and digital representations. Machado published his first poem at the age of 15 and continued to write incessantly throughout his life, producing novels, short stories, chronicles, and poetry that are now considered literary classics. His most famous novels, such as "Dom Casmurro" and "Quincas Borba," in addition to "The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas," are known for their subtle irony, innovative narrative, and deep psychological analysis.
International Recognition
Machado de Assis's talent did not go unnoticed in the international literary scene. Even after his death in 1908, his work continued to be discovered and admired by writers and critics worldwide. In 2008, the renowned American writer Philip Roth declared his admiration for Machado, comparing him to the Irish playwright Samuel Beckett. Roth highlighted Machado’s ability to explore the human condition with unique sensitivity, elevating him to the level of the great literary masters.
Other international writers, such as Susan Sontag and Harold Bloom, also recognized Machado de Assis's importance. Sontag described his work as "one of the greatest literary achievements of any epoch," while Bloom included him in the Western canon, praising his technical mastery and moral depth.
Reading is Reading!
Besides her love for physical books, Courtney acknowledges the importance of e-books in democratizing reading. “I myself prefer holding a physical book in my hands, but digital books are convenient and cheaper. Reading is reading! The medium doesn’t matter. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and find some books are even better that way,” she affirms. She highlights the role of e-readers in bringing millions of books to remote villages, expanding access to literature.
Courtney Henning Novak’s literary journey and her discovery of Machado de Assis illustrate the universality and timelessness of the Brazilian writer's work. Her fascination with the author, combined with her global project, inspires readers of all ages to explore the world's literary richness and rediscover the classics, whether physical or digital.
The international recognition of Machado de Assis, from Philip Roth to new readers on TikTok, reaffirms his place in the pantheon of the great writers of world literature. Machado de Assis's story continues to resonate, not only in Brazil but worldwide, proving that true literary genius transcends cultural and temporal barriers.
“I need to have a conversation with the people of Brazil. Why didn’t you tell me sooner that this is the best book ever written? What am I going to do with the rest of my life after finishing it?” Courtney said in the video.
The Surprise with Machado de Assis
"Machado is not well known in Brazil?! That’s crazy! I assumed he was as well-known in Brazil as Shakespeare. I had to read an English translation, but I found Machado as lyrical as any of the great authors I’ve read," commented Courtney, expressing surprise upon learning that Machado de Assis is not widely celebrated in his own country.
Although Machado is a classic writer, with works used in Brazilian schools, in a country with a still proportionally small reading public, the literary genius of one of its greatest writers is not acclaimed by the general public as it should be. According to the latest "Panorama of Book Consumption" survey, conducted at the request of the Brazilian Book Chamber (CBL), only 16% of Brazilians were consumers of at least one book in 2023.
Courtney reflects on how school reading can sometimes take the fun out of books: “Sometimes, school takes the fun out of reading. I myself hated 'Annie John' by Jamaica Kincaid, but when I reread it [within her international reading proposal] for Antigua and Barbuda, I loved it.”
Machado de Assis: A Brazilian Genius
Machado de Assis, born in 1839 in Morro do Livramento, Rio de Janeiro, is considered by many — despite the general public's lack of recognition — as Brazil’s greatest writer of all time. His father was Francisco José de Assis, a “mulatto who painted walls,” and the Portuguese Maria Leopoldina Machado da Câmara.
The writer had to contend with financial difficulties and racism, to the point of still being depicted as white in books and digital representations. Machado published his first poem at the age of 15 and continued to write incessantly throughout his life, producing novels, short stories, chronicles, and poetry that are now considered literary classics. His most famous novels, such as "Dom Casmurro" and "Quincas Borba," in addition to "The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas," are known for their subtle irony, innovative narrative, and deep psychological analysis.
International Recognition
Machado de Assis's talent did not go unnoticed in the international literary scene. Even after his death in 1908, his work continued to be discovered and admired by writers and critics worldwide. In 2008, the renowned American writer Philip Roth declared his admiration for Machado, comparing him to the Irish playwright Samuel Beckett. Roth highlighted Machado’s ability to explore the human condition with unique sensitivity, elevating him to the level of the great literary masters.
Other international writers, such as Susan Sontag and Harold Bloom, also recognized Machado de Assis's importance. Sontag described his work as "one of the greatest literary achievements of any epoch," while Bloom included him in the Western canon, praising his technical mastery and moral depth.
Reading is Reading!
Besides her love for physical books, Courtney acknowledges the importance of e-books in democratizing reading. “I myself prefer holding a physical book in my hands, but digital books are convenient and cheaper. Reading is reading! The medium doesn’t matter. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and find some books are even better that way,” she affirms. She highlights the role of e-readers in bringing millions of books to remote villages, expanding access to literature.
Courtney Henning Novak’s literary journey and her discovery of Machado de Assis illustrate the universality and timelessness of the Brazilian writer's work. Her fascination with the author, combined with her global project, inspires readers of all ages to explore the world's literary richness and rediscover the classics, whether physical or digital.
The international recognition of Machado de Assis, from Philip Roth to new readers on TikTok, reaffirms his place in the pantheon of the great writers of world literature. Machado de Assis's story continues to resonate, not only in Brazil but worldwide, proving that true literary genius transcends cultural and temporal barriers.
