They Both Die at the End vs. Torto Arado (Prémio LeYa 2018)

A Bridge of Ideas

You've awarded 'They Both Die at the End' a perfect 5 stars, resonating with its profound exploration of seizing the present, a sentiment that subtly echoes through your 3-star rating of 'Torto Arado'. While seemingly disparate, both novels, through their distinct narrative approaches – one a stark YA melodrama and the other a Brazilian pastoral – share a deep, almost philosophical alignment on the fragility of existence and the urgent, often unacknowledged, need to *live* precisely because of it. The surprise lies in how the poignant finality of Adam Silvera's narrative illuminates the quiet, everyday battles against erasure and the profound value of connection depicted in Itamar Vieira Junior's work, revealing your appreciation for stories that grapple with mortality and the preciousness of lived moments.