"Of Cattle and Men" by Ana Paula Maia
Review by Lucy Santos, Senior Library Assistant at Central Library
“Of Cattle and Men” is a novel by Brazilian author, Ana Paula Maia. The story focuses on the lives of people working in cattle ranching, set in a tough and often unforgiving rural landscape. Maia describes the daily struggles these characters face, from long hours of hard work to the deep loneliness that comes with their isolated lives. 
The book dives into the relationship between humans and cattle in a slaughterhouse, a place that represents the brutality of death. Here, cattle serve as a symbol of the human condition and vice versa. The protagonist, Edgar Wilson, is the stunner, and his job reveals a disturbing reality: death is central to his life. By stunning the animals before sacrificing them, Edgar puts himself in an ambiguous position, recognizing that while the animals’ lives end there, their souls go beyond that final moment.
Maia makes us think about what really happens in slaughterhouses. When people see meat on their plates, they often forget about the suffering of the animals, and those who care about that don’t always remember the hard reality of the workers in this system. The author highlights a society that, trapped in an economic and social system, lives without a clear purpose. The question that arises is: why do they kill? And this leads us to reflect: why do they live?
An important aspect of the novel is that Ana Paula Maia is a Brazilian woman, and her unique perspective brings depth to the story. In a world often dominated by men, her viewpoint also makes us think about the experiences of women in rural life, providing insights into both Brazilian culture and human experiences in general. Her voice enriches the novel, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives in storytelling.
Overall, “Of Cattle and Men” is more than just a story about cattle ranching. It is a reflection on the human condition, especially in relation to nature and survival. Maia’s work invites readers to think about their own connections with the environment and the people around them, making the characters’ journeys more relatable and meaningful.