Notes from Spain Podcast no. 39 - Feria del Libro

[Ben]

http://www.notesfromspain.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_1272.JPG

Marina and Ben visit the Feria del Libro (book fair) in the Retiro park and discuss the rise of the book in post-Franco Spain. The image above is of Mario Vargas LLosa, author of the extremely powerful ‘Feast of the Goat’. Other titles mentioned include ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ and ‘The New Spaniards (http://www.notesfromspain.com/414/)’ by John Hooper.

[Marbella]

This is how it works: my wife has just come back from Madrid and tells me among other things that the Feria del Libro is starting this weekend in the Retiro. I say sadly that I wish I could have been there for that. A few hours later I'm smiling because I'm listening to this podcast and I feel that in some small way I've been there.

In my Notes from Spain podcast rankings this has entered the chart straight in at number 2, right behind the Basque Gastronomic Society one.

I must just mention that Ian Gibson, the pre-eminent hispanista, is due at the feria this week.

[Marbella]

So many subjects raised in this podcast but here we go...

Franco

It is quite incredible that a country suffering the oppression of dictatorship for 40 years can emerge as a world force in the arts. Also, literacy levels have been low in Spain for years and only now are they reaching the levels of other modern European countries.

The George Orwell story is an interesting one. He was sent to Spain on a journalistic assignment and ended up fighting in the war against Franco, even getting shot in the process. He wrote a book about it called Homage to Catalonia which Franco did agree to release in the early seventies but not without editing it first. The word 'fascist' was changed to 'pro-Franco' or 'Nationalist' and anti-Franco passages were either removed completely or toned down somewhat. I read that "appalling lies" was softened to read "great exaggerations" but I guess it is still criticism which it must have been rare for Franco to sanction.

Spanish TV

The worst programmes are the appalling tertulias where an endless array of 'guests' feign excitement and anger about someone's new haircut or latest fling. Woe betide some poor celeb suffering a long term terminal illness because there will be no sensitivity shown to the victim or their family as they debate day after day how much longer the poor soul has to live.

There are some positives however.

The news programmes are very good and standard family viewing during lunch and dinner. This does require a strong stomach though because again there are no sensitivities when it comes to showing blood and gore.

Also programmes like Informe Semanal are really good at covering current affairs stories in more detail.

I do notice that all political and serious discussion, with the exception of the above, is kept to the daytime when people are at work. I like Montserrat Domínguez on Ruedo Ibérico (Antena 3 but used to be on Telecinco with similar show). It's quite serious but she's no Paxman (UK TV reference, sorry!) so don't expect big bust-ups with politicians.

Books

Books in Spain have been prohibitively expensive for a long time although this is improving. It used to be by law (and I'm only going back a few years) that book stores could only discount books by a fraction. Maybe that has changed now and hence increased readership. It is true that in Madrid and Barcelona you will see lots of people reading books on the metro or bus but is that the same in the provinces where the concept of 'commuting' is less evident?

Does Spain have any dedicated literature websites or magazines? I'm thinking along the lines of the TLS.

[ValenciaSon]

Another great podcast. I'm partial to the podcasts that capture the textures and the ambience of the surroundings. I think the book fair and the topics discussed made for quite the interesting podcast. Additionally I have to agree with what was said by someone else previously; you two, Ben and Marina have a chemistry that contributes to the podcasts.

I have to agree, the tv in Spain, is awful and I too have been curious over this dichotomy of a culturally rich society with its many splendid forms of expression and the lower than low brow TV. Maybe since Spain overall is such a well-read society, there is less demand for better tv.

[Ben]

This is how it works: my wife has just come back from Madrid and tells me among other things that the Feria del Libro is starting this weekend in the Retiro. I say sadly that I wish I could have been there for that. A few hours later I'm smiling because I'm listening to this podcast and I feel that in some small way I've been there.
We aim to please ;)

Being serious now, what a coincidence!!! Glad you enjoyed it and hope you can make it to the real thing next year.

I'm not sure if there is a magazine/website dedicated to literature in Spain, if I find out I'll post it here.

[Brian]

Really enjoyed the podcast, Ben and Marina. Great job!

Ben, are you just recording in mono now? I really enjoyed the binaural/stereo feeling of prior podcasts. They went a long way to capturing a full stereo environment.

[Ben]

Still stereo, but on this occasion the microphones were much closer together, perhaps that was it... I'll try and get the full stereo again next time!
Ben

[cubix]

Are there a lot of book festivals in Madrid, I really can't think of book festivals in the U.S. I am sure there are some. Many times some of the bigger bookstores will have signings and lectures.

[Brian]

Quite interestingly, I received an email from my mother-in-law this AM. She said that I should purchase books in Spanish from the websites for either "Casa del Libro" or FNAC. It was pretty funny, since you had just mentioned them both on this podcast.

[Ben]

Are there a lot of book festivals in Madrid, I really can't think of book festivals in the U.S. I am sure there are some. Many times some of the bigger bookstores will have signings and lectures.

There are a lot of book 'events', like prizes, readings, discussion groups etc, but this is the only big festival I know of.

[Marbella]

I'm not sure how representative this list is of Spanish reading tastes but here is a top 31 from 20minutos.

http://www.20minutos.es/galeria/1155/0/0/

Quite a serious set of choices although no surprise to see Harry Potter and The Da Vinci Code in there.

It did strike me how many are translations. I always feel in the English speaking world we've missed out by not often enough doing the same in reverse.

[Marbella]

I thought this was interesting from El Pais today.

Until recently (2000) reading was not part of the school day! Am I reading this correctly: they recently had to pass a law to make this happen in schools?

http://www.elpais.es/articulo/portada/JUEGO/LECTURA/elpbabpor/20060610elpbabese_1/Tes/

[Marbella]

Found 3 on sale in Madrid - all monthlies.

These two, a bit too heavy for me though:

1) Revista de Libros (3.5 euros)
2) Letras Libres (5 euros)

And my favourite:

3) Qué Leer (1.5 euros but I think you can only buy it with a DVD mag which is 1.8 euros)