Read, bought, and greeted

On January 4, my novel El somriure dels dofins (Columna Edicions) went on sale. I announced it with great fanfare through my social media to contribute to its promotion. One of my followers wrote to me two days later to tell me that he had gone "expressly" to a bookstore in Sant Cugat with the intention of buying it for Three Kings' Day, but that it had not yet arrived. I told him I was sorry and encouraged him to try again in a few days, but he replied with a laconic "now, not until Sant Jordi." Is it possible that this kind follower ---a young man with a university education and a more than healthy economy, according to his Instagram--- only bought books twice a year? Perfectly.

It reminded me of that aunt who only tries cava on New Year's Eve and her birthday. In fact, there is a not insignificant part of the population for whom reading is as unusual as consuming sparkling wine. It is true that there are more and more citizens with a cava culture. People who drink it regularly, appreciate it, and are willing to dig into their pockets to buy a good Recaredo, Gramona, Agustí Torelló, Alta Alella, or Juvé & Camps, but the majority are still those who only uncork a bottle of this very Catalan product on special dates and more out of tradition, because it's expected, than out of desire. They are the prototypical consumers of Freixenet Carta Nevada Semiseco, we understand each other, right? Those who say "just a tiny bit for a toast, because cava gives me a headache." Those who say "just to wet my lips, it gives me terrible heartburn." Those who have the cava bottles from successive Christmas hampers of the last twenty years gathering dust in the garage or dead with laughter in the pantry.

Many bottles of cava are bought and given as gifts out of obligation, especially at Christmas. These cavas, often of low quality, are uncorked because it's a holiday, but are abandoned in the fridge half-full until they end up emptied down the sink. In the same way, for Sant Jordi, many books are also bought and given as gifts because it's expected. Because it looks nice, out of tradition or obligation. Sometimes, these books also cause heartburn and headaches, because despite being among the best-sellers in the supermarket, no one can stomach them, although the truth is that most of them won't even be started.

For some years now, there's been a type of "reader" or "book lover" who doesn't just not read regularly; they don't even buy books. They simply dedicate themselves to giving them LIKE when they appear advertised on social media. For this reason, in the manner of Josep Pla, I speak of books merely greeted.

Watch out! And don't come to me with the same old song and dance every year about books being expensive. For the price of a more than decent cava, you can get a hardcover, and for the price of a beer, a pocket edition. Whether you read, buy, or just greet books, Happy Sant Jordi to all!