His Own Man

I don’t often get the chance to read Brazilian authors, so it was interesting to read a work of fiction from Brazil. The story follows a young diplomat named Max, who joins the Foreign Ministry right out of college, and right before a military coup takes place. What follows is how Max navigates the currents and eddies of the changing times to come out on top as the country comes to grips with its military dictatorship. Even when democracy returns and many people are forced into retirement, Max still manages to come out ahead. What makes this story intriguing is the viewpoint, as it is told by one of Max’s old colleagues, who tries to get to the bottom of the story.

This book is a hit and a miss at the same time. It is an intriguing look into a world we rarely get to see: a country going through a modern-day military coup. But, because of the story’s perspective, Max is often not present in the story at all. It starts off and continues strong but ends on a weak note.