Are you attracted to beautiful, eye-catching, original book covers? I know I am.
Every year at the Guadalajara Book Fair I make a point of stopping by the Libros del Zorro Rojo (Red ZorroBooks) stand, a publishing house with offices in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City. I invariably spend much longer than I had planned to, lured by the brilliance before me.
Here below is some eye candy witnessed at their colorful location in December 2017…
2017-2018 unique book covers from Libros del Zorro RojoOn the right, an Italian title translated into Spanish – terrific colors, fonts, spacing, shading, visual effect“Dark” titles with compelling art work; on the left a Kafka novel translated from the GermanEmily Dickinson poetry in the middle; Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland on the right
The fine artwork for the Emily Dickinson book above is by international award-winning French-Canadian illustrator Isabelle Arsenault. See http://www.isabellearsenault.com
Simplicity of design with La Vaca Independiente’s Frida Kahlo art diary
La Vaca Independiente is an educational foundation in Mexico City which promotes art as education. See http://lavaca.edu.mx/Acerca.html
Book interior, reproduction of Frida Kahlo’s art diary
Grupo Planeta, with offices in Mexico City, Spain, and satellite Latin American nations, offers a list of Mexican historical titles and recent book covers at the link below…
If you are interested in Spanish language book covers (English books translated into Spanish) from the 1930’s, see http://spanishbookcovers.blogspot.com/
Over 700 authors participated in this year’s Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL-Feria Internacional del Libro), considered the second largest book fair in the world following the world’s oldest literary gathering, the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Honored authors were Paul Auster of the U.S. (nominated for this year’s Booker Prize), and French born social justice journalist and author Elena Poniatowska of Mexico, now 88 years old but looking 50-60 years young.
French author and filmmaker Emmanuel Carrere received this year’s Premio FIL de Literature en Lenguas Romances (Literary Prize for Romance Languages), Latin America’s most important literary prize worth $150,000 USD.
Chilean author and actress Nona Fernandez won the Premio de Literatura Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz for her novel set during the Pinochet dictatorship which, according to the jury, expressed “emotions of an entire nation with respect to a dark and shameful past.”
I attended the FIL to view non-fiction Body/Mind/Spirit and wellness books, the area I devote myself to as a book shepherd. Again this year I represented Spanish language book rights for authors and met with various publishing houses.
Here below is a quick view of some stands and titles I saw for my work…
Yoga books from Prana (Lectorum) Mexico CityNirvana Libros mindfulness titlesEdiciones Urano wellness titles
Dr. Paul Kalanthi’s poetic and memorable When Breath Becomes Air got a bashing when its Spanish title became The Good Doctor with a cover that doesn’t seem to match its sensitive and meaningful content. Both title and cover are examples of cultural differences showing how much I have yet to learn. ?#@!!! See the Spanish version below which was well featured during the FIL.
The Spanish-language version of the NY Times best seller When Breath Becomes Air
I was pleased to see Zen Hospice founder Frank Osteseski’s The Five Invitations, a healing Buddhist approach to death and dying published by Oceano.
Oceano featured Ostaseski’s The Five InvitationsWendy Jane Carrel at Oceano stand meeting with Editorial Coordinator Guadalupe Ordaz
The fair took place Saturday, November 25 thru December 3. The nine days will included more than 750,000 visitors (several days are open to the public at minimal cost), 1,900 publishing houses from 41 countries, and 700+ hours of cultural programming. This year’s honored guest was the City of Madrid with exhibits and activities sharing its art, cinema, literature, music.
The 30th Guadalajara International Book Fair, also known as FIL (Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara) took place November 26 to December 4, 2016 at the Guadalajara Convention Center in Mexico.
Approximately 650 writers from around the world registered to attend, sign books, or speak. Forty-four countries were represented.
The fair was dedicated to Latin America as opposed to one specific city or country. In 2017, FIL has announced that Madrid (as in Spain) will be the honored guest. No other details offered.
Bookstores and book publisher/distributors filled two huge pavillions, one domestic and one international at FIL, the largest Spanish language book fair in the world.
Norman Manea, born in 1936, won the $150,000 (USD) FIL Literary Award. Manea, who was born in Romania and is considered that country’s premiere writer, was a MacArthur Foundation Fellow. He has been nominated more than once for a Nobel prize. His themes are the Wandering Jew, identity, and isolation. He lives in New York City and you can read more about him at http://www.NormanManea.com.
I especially liked visiting Nirvana Books (Mexico City), which as you may guess from its name focuses on Body, Mind, Spirit books. The main publishers represented were Editorial Kairos, Ediciones Obelisco, and Editorial Sirio from Spain. A good number of the titles were Spanish translations of books by American authors.
Wendy Jane Carrel at Nirvana Libros booth Guadalajara Book Fair 2016
Other Body/Mind/Spirit books were found at Ediciones Urano, Grupo Planeta (Paidos), Lectorum (Prana), and Oceano.
American end-of-life author Elisabeth Kubler-Ross is still front and center, after many years, at the Grupo Planeta stand
I like the enticing slogan for Grupo Planeta , Creemos en Los Libros, We Believe in Books.
Arte de Mexico always displays fabulous folkloric works from around the country as well as gorgeous coffee table books.
Arte de Mexico stand at Guadalajara Book Fair 2016
Gandhi Books is a popular book chain in Mexico. They attend each year and have stores in Guadalajara.
Gandhi Bookstore booth at Guadalajara Book Fair 2016
In December 2016, the senate of Mexico approved the used of medical marijuana, a controversial subject in the nation for years. Legalization awaits other approvals.
One of several books at the fair on the possible use and outcomes of marijuana for pain management and improved healthAn “antiquarian” book stand at GDL Book Fair 2016Miniature book stand at GDL Book Fair 2016Daniel Stevens Leon, Head of Acquisitions and Editorial Innovation for Buena Prensa, a Catholic publisherDaily crowds at entrance to Guadalajara International Book Fair 2016
Book Ambassador 