I fired February attending two presentations of very different books and authors. On the 27th it was What the dead are silent, from my fellow writer and fellow writer on this blog, Ana Lena Rivera. And on the 28th I was in the Cuenta atrás, from the Cordovan poet David Lopez Sandoval, who had not read and who really liked. These were my impressions in terms of its environments and tones.
Détente
What the dead are silent - Ana Lena Rivera
February 27. Francisco Umbral Library, Majadahonda.
I wanted to meet Ana personally. To wish him the best on his great literary debut with this Torrente Ballester 2017 winning novel and because he regularly offers us his talent on this blog. And also to tell him and encourage her to enjoy the events, signatures and contact with readers, those who know you and those who don't.
I share your experience, although not on your scale. But, if only for once, all of us who write should be in that place, in front of friends or strangers who read or discover you and signing a story that has come out of your imagination. In Ana's case there are already a few moments and signatures, and those that remain. And may they all be like the one from last 27th in that library of his town, which was overflowing with friends, acquaintances and anonymous readers, many of whom had already read his novel.
The act (the term "event" usually gives me hives), which was carried out by the people in charge of the bookstore Blondes also read of Majadahonda, took place in a very relaxed and entertaining tone. A chat between two friends rather than between a writer, bookseller or beta reader, as happened with Ana's presenter.
Thus, the well-known review of the book, its plot, characters and environments was alternated with the answers to the questions that came up. Ana talked about everything from her early childhood desires to write, to her successful professional career as an adult as a directive out of the world of computing, until her training as a writer It has ended so brilliantly. Here he granted me this interview Recently.
He also talked about the creative process of this novel and at all times he interacted with the presentation attendees. He invited us to ask questions or talk about the novel by those who had already read it, obviously avoiding the spoils. In short, it was a close, open and participatory act, which ended with the usual signature. I couldn't stay until the end, but I took that signature and my pose with the author, naturally. And I have already started reading that What the dead are silent with good impressions.
1. Dedication of Ana Lena Rivera. Thank you… 2. David López Sandoval and Luis Alberto de Cuenca.
Intimacy
Cuenta atrás - David López Sandoval
February 28th. Nakama bookstore, Pelayo street, Madrid.
The next day was the presentation of this short poems of a poet that I did not know but that I liked a lot. Y how different the moment, the atmosphere, the characters and the tone were.
López Sandoval is a doctor in Hispanic Philology and a professor of Language and has already published a novel, Trip to Parnassus, and the books of poems shipwrecked o The heroic journey. With this Cuenta atrás has won the XXXIV Jaén Poetry Prize and he presented it in this secluded bookstore in the Chueca neighborhood of Madrid by the hand of the also philologist, poet, columnist and editor Luis Alberto of Cuenca.
And as in any evening of poetry worth its salt the atmosphere could not be more collected with no more than 2nd assistants, if they arrived, of varying fur between professors of philosophy, language, literature, musicians and from other disciplines. And some other infiltrated prose writer like me.
De Cuenca was restrained, singing praises to the bard and references to classics and contemporaries of the national poetry, as well as connecting with music and philosophy. He reviewed a poem and gave some touches of humor or irony and then introduced the poet.
Sandoval's collection of poems addresses various topics where that of the death In all its meanings or realities, but precisely the fear and concern before it also means that we are alive and we also want to live as it is. That is, tIt is also a plea for life to which the poet gives many forms as in haikus and sonnets. And you can see echoes of Cernuda but also Gil de Biedma and even Greek classics like Heraclitus.
This is one of the poems:
The heart of a man
Although tonight the sparks escape from the bonfire
and the wind shakes the branches of the trees,
although tonight the stone rolls downhill
like every night of your life so far,
although there are too many wishes pending
to continue believing that there is an infinite plan,
without rules or hope, without fear of what happens,
Above all, try to be happy.
Happy because the fight to reach the top
enough to fill a man's heart.
Also, of course, the author recited some and answered the (few, yes) questions from the attendees. It almost turned out to be more colloquium which included from references to those classics like Heraclitus (It is what you have if there are philosophers friends who spur you on or get you in the loop) even why was he awarded the Nobel from Literature to Bob Dylan when is much better Leonard Cohen. And there we think that Bruce Springsteen eats Dylan and Cohen with potatoes and ketchup we had to bite our fist to avoid jumping with it Glorydays.
The act ended the signature of copies y going for a drink everyone, including the author, to the joint in front of the bookstore.
Botton line
The fact that you have to try to go to all possible literary saraos and with minds (not heads) wide open. Because they are all interesting. For the theme, the author, the environments and the tones. Does not matter. One can find many surprises and meet people of all kinds and conditions, but with the passion for literature in his veins and in all its forms.