New Brazilian Books Explore Gestational Loss, Abortion and Aging from Female Perspectives

Three recent titles released in Brazil place women's experiences at the centre of their narratives.

"Olhe para Ele" by Russian author Anna Starobínets, published by Mundaréu, follows a protagonist who learns during pregnancy that her baby has a fatal malformation, confronting gestational loss before birth.

"Coração Iluminado" by Banu Mushtaq, issued by Instante, is a collection of twelve stories drawn from the author's years as a journalist and lawyer in Muslim communities of southern India, highlighting gender, religion and caste struggles faced by women and girls.

"Armários Vazios", a debut novel from Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux released by Fósforo, depicts a young woman whose social ascent is threatened by an unwanted pregnancy, leading her to consider abortion and examining themes of motherhood, class, shame and female emancipation.