Nobody wanted to stay home. Everyone was eager to celebrate Sant Jordi again, strolling through Barcelona, full of books, roses, and people, an image that the pandemic had long forbidden. Even the good weather encouraged it. The city streets were also filled with queues to access the perimeter enclosures where the stalls were located. Most did so without complaining, like Bárbara and Teresa, who were even happy to do it, especially now that they are used to it.
Paseo de Gràcia has become the new epicenter of this April 23rd, taking the spotlight that in other years it shared with La Rambla and Rambla Catalunya. Between Ronda Sant Pere and Aragó, the book and rose stalls on this street have invaded the asphalt, as have the author signings, who have reconnected with their readers, although this time it was without selfies or hugs. Despite this, and perhaps in breach of some pandemic protocol, there were plenty of gifts, such as the bookmark given to James Rhodes by a reader, after not finding a mask with panots for him. The British-Spanish pianist assured that this has been, without a doubt, his favorite April 23rd.
For some writers, it was their first Sant Jordi, like for this year's diada town crier, Irene Vallejo, who had come as a reader, but had not yet been able to do so as a writer. Vallejo felt grateful to all the people who came to tell her how they had come across El infinito en un junco (Siruela), a story in which some have found a way to overcome pain and anguish after a year as complicated as the last. "I have always believed that words are healing," Vallejo defended. It was also the first for Manuel Jabois, who had not even come as a journalist. "I'm making my debut," confessed the Galician, who finds in this day a way to get closer to his readers "in a profession as solitary as writing."
Other more veteran authors like Jordi Amat, Najat el Hachmi, Maria Barbal, and Javier Cercas, more accustomed, have been able to appreciate the discipline of all readers who queued to access the delimited areas and did not hesitate to arm themselves with hydroalcoholic gel before entering. For Jordi Amat, who has been enjoying the "unexpected" success of Hijo del chófer (Tusquets Editores) for months, this diada "is not like the Love of Lesbian concert, but it's quite similar." Cercas has felt it "as always, even if it's not the same." "Sant Jordi is a miracle," he stated while many readers brought him Independencia (Tusquets Editores) for him to sign. Even one reader asked him to dedicate a piece of paper to her father, because he had already read the book and had not brought it.
Likewise, Barbal, in the midst of a "very intense" year after winning the Pla prize and the Premi d'Honor de les Lletres Catalanes, experiences this Sant Jordi "with great enthusiasm", after everything that has happened and where "reading has accompanied us more than we expected." Her companion on Three Kings' night, Najat el Hachmi, "happy and excited" to be able to sign books again, has breathed "joy" in the atmosphere, in addition to rediscovering how her readers connect with her stories.
Bookstores also making their debut
This day, which seemed as if everything was back to normal, despite not being so and with masks, has also been special for those bookstores that have opened their doors in the midst of the pandemic, defying fatalistic economic projections. The book has become the cultural sector least affected by the crisis, probably due to the unconditional companionship it provided when there was nothing else to do. Finestres, Ona Llibres, and Byron have been new protagonists of the diada, enjoying all the first times that the day has offered them.
It has also been a special day for those bookstores that have opened their doors in the midst of the pandemic, defying fatalistic economic projections"We are very happy," stressed Byron's partner, Víctor Sánchez, who saw how everyone stopped at his stand, located at the beginning of one of the spaces on Paseo de Gràcia, where they arrived after a long queue. This bookstore in Sant Antoni was going to open in April last year, but they couldn't do it, nor was Sant Jordi celebrated. They had to wait until November to open their doors and until this Friday to debut in the world of book stalls, even though they had already detected advance sales during this week.
More than a million books sold
The Chamber of Books of Catalonia expected that this Sant Jordi could reach 60% of book sales from 2019, when 1.5 million were sold. The desire for Sant Jordi and the good weather have allowed forecasts to be exceeded, reaching 75%. That is, more than a million books sold.
In Catalan, the best-selling fiction books have been: La dona de la seva vida (Columna Edicions) by Xavier Bosch, Consumits pel foc (Proa) by Jaume Cabré and Tàndem (Ediciones Destino) by Maria Barbal. In non-fiction: A cor obert (Columna Edicions) by Oriol Mitjà, Paraules d'Arcadi (Angle Editorial) by Arcadi Oliveres and El dia que vaig marxar (Univers Llibres) by Albert Om.
In Spanish, the best-selling fiction books have been: Sira (Editorial Planeta) by María Dueñas, Independencia (Tusquets Editores) by Javier Cercas and El juego del alma (Suma de Letras) by Javier Castillo. In non-fiction: El humor de mi vida (Harper Collins) by Paz Padilla, El infinito en un junco (Siruela) by Irene Vallejo and En tierra de Dioniso (Acantilado) by María Belmonte.
Roses sold out
Expectations have been met. A total of 4.2 million roses were sold this April 23rd, all that were available, considering the heavy rains in two of the main producers, Colombia and Ecuador, which have affected the supply. Some of the absent-minded who waited until dusk to find a rose were left without.
A total of 4.2 million roses have been sold, all that were availableFor the Guild of Florists of Catalonia, this Sant Jordihas allowed demonstrating the quality offered by professionals in the field in their creations, claiming the need to ensure that only they can sell, as has happened this year, for the coming years. It is true that such beautiful roses had never been given away before.