On the afternoon of January 23, Duke Kunshan University (DKU) Library successfully launched the first session of its 2026 “Reading the World” series with a lively and immersive exploration of Brazil. Held at LIB 1003 beside the Magazine & New Book Reading Area, the event attracted more than thirty students and faculty members, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with curiosity, laughter, and cultural exchange.
The featured speaker was Daniel Monteiro, Class of 2028, who invited the audience to experience Brazil beyond samba, football, and the Amazon rainforest. He began his presentation by showing both the Brazilian national flag and the regional flag of Minas Gerais, his home state. Through this localized lens, Daniel offered the audience a more nuanced perspective on Brazil as a culturally diverse nation.
Literature was the central part of the session. Daniel introduced Sagarana, a book he previously donated to DKU Library through the “Books From Home” project. He explained that Sagarana, a term created by the author João Guimarães Rosa, literally refers to “epic-like tales”. As the title suggests, this book is a collection of nine stories depicting the lives of people in Minas Gerais, written in highly regionalized form of Portuguese.
Focusing on one of Sagarana’s most popular stories, “The Hour and Turn of Augusto Matraga,” Daniel traced the dramatic journey of its protagonist through film adaptations. The story centers on a once-wealthy and violent landowner whose life unfolds through downfall, redemption, and moral transformation. Daniel highlighted the “universalist regionalism” behind the work, a concept describing regional narratives that convey themes and values with universal relevance.
Call no.: PQ9697.R76 S3 2019
Author: João Guimarães Rosa
Language: Portuguese
A highlight of the session was Daniel’s introduction to pão de queijo, a traditional Brazilian cheese bread dating back to the 1700s. Daniel brought homemade pão de queijo for participants to enjoy, which quickly became a crowd favorite and added a tangible, sensory layer to the cultural experience.
To conclude, Daniel introduced representative fruits and animals from his home region, such as goiaba (guava), armadillos, and capybaras, further enriching the audience’s understanding of Brazil’s natural and cultural diversity. The session ended with warm applause, group photos, and cheerful conversations, marking a successful and memorable start to the 2026 “Reading the World” series.
As a meaningful platform for cross-cultural dialogue, “Reading the World” welcomes more DKU community members to share their stories and expand global perspectives – one book, one place, and one voice at a time.
