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Cleaning up my notebook after Paraty
We are now in Rio, in Santa Teresa in the Bianca guest house which overlooks Sugar Loaf mountain. From my window I can see the cable car going from one side of the mountain to another mountain. Having seen the plumbing and the electricity cables hanging precariously all over Brazil, I wonder how that cable line is maintained, never mind I want to go to the top. Brazil certainly has some problems, but its difficult to notice or even focus on them when you look at Brazil through books/ literature, the landscape and music. This post is a bit of a scrapbook of quotes and photos I did not…
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Paraty, Day 5 – final day
As I write this, it is raining in Paraty. It is still beautiful, but its cold. The weather also occupied the mind of one of the writers I saw on day 5. Hanif Kureishi, (English mother, Pakistani father), grew up in Britain in the 1970’s. He said he “started writing to stop going mad.” He shared he was racially abused daily as a child with the neighbours asking him at times “is it warm enough for you” or “where are you from.” As he pointed to the house in the street the neighbour would say “no, where are you really really from,” as though the double use of “really” would…
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Paraty, Day 4
The day started with a press conference with Ian McEwan. He was his gentle mediative self and shared his love of Brazil. He first came to Brazil with his son in 2004 and his son said at the time Paraty had been the best 15 hours in Ian`s diary. His son, Gregory met a girl and hás since learned Portuguêse. Father and son both love the sound of the Portuguese language, calling it “a rich wine sound. Paraty has a charm that the festival enhances its not like Hay. There are more people but the place is not overtaken and changed”. When asked what he would want from a Paraty…
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Day 3 Paraty
On Day 3, I attended a mix bag of sessions. The first session celebrated the poems of Drummond. In the next session Stephen Greenblatt and James Shapiro, shared their love of Shakespeare. Later in the day, Granta provided the space for two British writers to reflect on what being British means. Two Middle Eastern writers and poets talked a little about the issues for writers in Syria and Lebanon and finally Jonathan Frazen in his slow but thoughtful presentation reflected on what he makes of American culture and why he thinks we should all become bird watchers. Drummond the modern poet was explored by Alcides Viillaca and Antonio Carlos Seechin. Alcides Viillaca began…
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Paraty – Day One
Trying to work in Paraty has so far been a frustrating experience. The main event last night, which was sold out many weeks ago, was not the most compelling experience I had hoped it would be, having read such good things about the Paraty book festival (FLIP). I am hoping today will be better. The organisational issues for Paraty seem to frustrate many of the attendees and participants, which is more than a shame as its obvious a lot of effort has been put into the festival. Last night was pretty chaotic, but I guess, it’s allowed in a Latin culture. Even though it was sold out, there were plenty…
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Paraty starts today
The population of Paraty swells from 35,000 to 100,00 today, as book enthusiasts overwhelm the town. The opening ceremony starts at 7pm Brazil time, which is 4 hours behind the UK and Portugal. The programme went on the Flip website a few days ago and paper copies were available yesterday. The Portuguese are notorious for not providing information and Brazil seems no better. It feels like being present but also being in twilight. There is anticipation in the humid air. Buildings are still being painted, exhibitions erected. There is very little panic given the state of some places although over the constant sound of music there can be heard…
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On the way to Paraty
Sitting under a willow tree, near the cobbled streets of Paraty, I am wondering why book lovers would make the long journey to this International Literature Festival. Our journey has taken a month, as we decided that if we wanted to go to the Festival we should also have a good look around Brazil. We have probably done some of the things we were told tourists should never do, but we have also experienced comfort and life in the raw. We house swapped in Salvador, a lovely beach house, overlooking the Ocean. We spent our days reading and gently swinging in hammocks. I read a couple of books that have…
