"Tereza Batista: Home from the Wars" by Jorge Amado (1975) was thought enought. Readed like 20 years ago, but still recalling it harsh (not as boring, not not-well written: strain).
Ps: a book that countered it a bit: Tortilla Flat, by John Steinbeck (1935).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tereza..._from_the_Wars
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortilla_Flat