The thermometer indicates that in the City of Buenos Aires it is 26 degrees, even though we are in May. It’s Sunday and it’s the last weekend of the 47th edition of the Buenos Aires International Book Fair. Outside, near the rurala sea of people Inside, the same. The thermometer of La Feria burns, explodes.
“Here where I am standing is Argentina,” says a boy with some bags in hand, as he poses for a photo near the entrance to Sarmiento. And behind him is also Argentina, the one that is condensed in books, in mates and panchos in the sunin laughter, in groups of friends taking off selfiesin political and soccer fanaticism —a little with shoving and a little with smiles— and lines, many lines, long lines, those in which Argentines are also world champions.
The thousands of people who pass through the pavilions of the fairgrounds today —and who all parking lots collapse— they want to belong, to be, to be part of the most important cultural event of all years. “Walking, there are many eyes/ Heat and understanding/ Sweetened, look, the restlessness/ Navigating the echo of the crowdthey would sing The jaivas. That is the Fair.
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The day offers the first postcard under the mythical white tunnel. In the photographic exhibition co-organized by Fundación El Libro and ARGRA (Association of Graphic Reporters of the Argentine Republic), which covers these four decades of democracy, there is a family detained in the 1982 photo. In it appears Bignonethe last de facto president, with a gesture of defeat, behind Alfonsinannouncing the transition to the democracy. Beneath that image, the father explains to his teenage daughters who the general was, what the photo implies, and talks about military dictatorship. They listen attentively.
Due to the entrance of Sarmiento, the wait in line to enter can last between one and a half hour, between yellow flags and a position to join the Libertarian Party. Soon he will present his new book. javier milei, whose followers have been lining up since eight in the morning to see him in the José Hernández room. Zigzags a row —one more of the many— that he thinks of Argentina in his terms and that he wants to see its leader. But before, the applause and shouts ring out.
victoria villarruel He goes to the living room but they don’t allow him to keep up. Everyone asks for photos. They give her babies to capture the moment in which the national representative holds her children. “Let the vice pass,” jokes another of the followers to make way for Villarruel in the difficult mission of reaching the José Hernández. A lady went with her granddaughters and says that she liked the position of the deputy in an interview on television where she spoke of the montoneros. While, Juan Carlos Blumberg arrives at the doors of the room to participate in the presentation. There is growing tension because many will not be able to enter. Then comes the signing of the book and the painting is replicated.
If there are protagonists of this day they are the boys. Which is it? Those who run dressed as soccer players with the jerseys of the “Draw” Martinez and of Messithose who take their picture with a plastic World Cup in a stand —the one that was all the rage last year and all the kids desperately wanted one—, those who read with their moms or dads sitting on the floor, those who cry because their brothers occupied the cart so as not to walk, those who pose next to the moving dinosaurs of the blue pavilion or with the devils in the Jujuy stand.
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A special mention for the girl who posed in the replica of the balcony of the Pink House who, happy, makes movements with his hands like politics. Another mention goes to Sofía, 9 years old, who waits to read in the “Lectódromo”. The objective? Practice reading aloud. It’s Sofia’s turn and she goes up with an overwhelming attitude, to shine and read. Others draw on the Ediciones de la Flor flipchart and others line up for Nik I drew a book for them (with light blue and white, since we are also world handle champions) and others listen to the winnie the witch tell one of their stories. What they have in common is that everyone’s face lights up when they see a book. Here, where we stand and see, is also Argentina.
“She’s like an angel,” says one of the women waiting in another of the lines at La Rural. This time, she turns around the booth and reaches the main hallway. Who is that angel? The influencer, also known as the “feminist poet” Nico Andréoli he dedicates his four books to his followers and embraces them. Thus, with each from 18.30. “Every word he says comes to you at the right time,” continues the woman, who suggests that I start reading it.
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Meanwhile, another postcard from today and from the more than 19 days that the Fair lasts: ezekiel martinez, the director, walks with a hurried step. At the stand of a large publishing group, an author asks for her book and the magic words arrive: “It’s out of stock.” She starts clapping, screaming and jumping. “Brother by the hand / A sea of people will teach me / How to make feelings speak / In a leap each one gives / All the strength of his heart”, The Jaivas would sing.
At the Riverside stand, ask for Fortune and, also, “it’s out of print” and they add: “it’s sure to come in June, it’s already in reprint.” loyaltiesof delphine de vigan and The things we lost in the fireof Mariana Enriquezthey run the same luck, as Essay on blindnessof Jose Saramago, but that happens in another stand. At Panini’s, Naruto It comes out like hot cakes, in the one from Planeta, appia of romethe new book of Viviana Rivero, and at Penguin Random House, in line to pay you see The exciting origin of wordsof Daniel Balmaceda, Three monthsof Joana Marcus and the worstof John Grabois.
In some stands there are last minute offers, “Hot sale”, 2 for 1 in selected titles and considerable discounts. Where the sea of people is most noticeable is in the clearance stores, which sell books for 1,000 pesos or three for 2,500 pesos. Kids and adults shuffling through books, choosing and buying. The sea of people continues its course towards the rooms where they perform Pepe Mujica —who was also attacked by libertarians—, nelson castro, Leandro Santoro and Jorge Macri, among others. Meanwhile, the celebrated writer Guillermo Martinez gives a luxurious closing at the Leamos-Bajalibros stand.
The sea of people leads to the track area. The stands are full, the mates are constantly being fed, while tuppers with puddings, biscuits and the occasional beer circulate.
“Here where we are standing is Argentina”, says the boy, that Argentina that goes “Walking, there are many eyes/ Heat and understanding/ Sweetened, look, the restlessness/ Navigating the echo of the crowd” free between books.
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