Marcelo Maluf, an Arab-descendant writer recognized as one of the emerging voices in Brazilian literature, released his first poetry collection, *O livro místico das coisas ordinárias* [The Mystical Book of Ordinary Things], last month through the Curitiba-based publisher Arte & Letra. Maluf, who has previously won the São Paulo Literature Prize and was a finalist for the Jabuti Prize with novels inspired by his Lebanese family history, now ventures into poetry, exploring themes linked to his spiritual journey.
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The collection comprises poems written over many years but remained unpublished until Maluf discovered a recurring theme: his own spiritual quest influenced by various religious traditions. Raised in a Catholic family, he has also engaged with Zen and Tibetan Buddhism and Sufism, through which he found inspiration in the poetry of Rumi.
“These poems stem from this experience, which was more intellectual than practical,” Maluf stated, adding that he drew from a broad range of sources.
Maluf's poetry encourages readers to recognize the sacred in everyday life, reflecting his belief that divinity can be found in simple, mundane moments. “Ordinary means common, everyday. The entire book deals with things that most of us do not consider sacred,” he explained. He emphasizes that the sacred is evident in daily activities such as washing the dishes.
Some of the themes and imagery in his poems include a transformation of the divine into a moth consuming the Book of Job, and a reverence for a simple glass of water. In a unique reflection, he wrote, “I am a mystical onion and make men with knives in their hands cry.”
In the book's afterword, Brazilian writer and literary critic Mariana Ianelli contrasts Maluf's work with literature centered on the self, highlighting its focus on the communal and the overlooked. She describes the nuanced layers of life that Maluf captures in his pages, acknowledging the silence that speaks volumes in his writing.
Marcelo Maluf, who considers himself an occasional poet, has written poetry throughout his career, though he has primarily focused on novels and children's literature. The poetry pieces had remained in a drawer, with the last one written about ten years ago. Four years ago, he revisited his collection and decided to publish it after reworking and arranging the poems. He approached Arte & Letra in 2024 to share his work.
The collection, which is his only poetry work among five other books of adult fiction and 18 children’s books, stands out due to its unique publication process. Arte & Letra creates the books by hand using traditional printing, offering hardcover and numbered editions. Maluf holds the first three copies personally.
“I wanted a beautiful edition. I wanted something special,” he noted. The book is available for purchase both online and in physical bookstores.
Maluf, who began his publishing career in 2008 with children's literature, gained recognition in 2015 with his novel *A imensidão íntima dos carneiros*, which won the São Paulo Literature Prize. This novel drew inspiration from stories of his Lebanese grandfather's migration to Brazil after familial tragedies during the Ottoman Empire.
In 2023, Maluf published another novel, *Os últimos dias de Elias Ghandour*, inspired by his Arab ancestry, focused on a Syrian-descendant merchant reflecting on unfulfilled dreams. Maluf holds a degree in Art Education and a master’s in arts from São Paulo State University (Unesp), and he actively teaches creative writing and leads various writing workshops and lectures. Currently residing in São Paulo, he is married to Daniela Pinotti, with whom he has co-authored children's books.
**Book Details**
Title: *O livro místico das coisas ordinárias*
Author: Marcelo Maluf
Publisher: Arte & Letra
Pages: 76
ISBN: 9788571620391
Price: BRL 62 (available on Arte & Letra website)