Marifé Boix García, Frankfurt Book Fair

Marifé Boix García studied Romance, German and English language and literature in Frankfurt and Madrid. Since 1992 she is working for the Frankfurt Book Fair. As Vice President she is responsible for the department eServices and for the markets of the Regions Southern Europe and Latin America.

Two days after the start of the ‘Bienal do Livro de Rio de Janeiro’, the reputable Brazilian newspaper O GLOBO reports that 47 % of the Cariocas (Rio’s inhabitants) are not in the habit of reading books.

That was the outcome of a survey carried out by the ‘Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa Social’ taking in 600 people from all parts of the city. 55% of those interviewed gave ‘lack of time’ as their reason, with 28% quoting ‘lack of interest’. 12% have reading difficulties and a further 3% criticise high book prices.

Even if these figures are surely surprising for Rio, they are in line with the efforts being made by fair organisers SNEL (Sindicato Nacional dos Editores de Libros) and Fagga Eventos. They both take the view: education begins in childhood. Which is why 84 events alone are for the young. 200,000 school children are expected to be among the 600,000 visitors.

Sonia Machado Jardim, president of the SNEL, has announced a joint initiative being taken with the city authorities. Every public school is receiving 500 reais and every child another 5 reais to come to the fair. An admission ticket can then be exchanged for a book (worth that amount).

The organisers report that 950 exhibitors are showing around 100,000 titles (including 1,000 new publications) on an area of 55,000 sqm (gross).

Our view from the balcony at the Royalty Barra Hotel: Grey clouds cover the sky, the beach is empty… Two beautiful and green islands burst of rocks and palm trees.

Looking forward to the rich breakfast with Pao de Queijo and Mamao (Papaya), we meet downstairs at the restaurant. Mukund from India and Michael from Frankfurt have already arrived. All seem relieved to have safely landed. When Olga from Russia joins us, we are already having our second cup of coffee - Mukund is having tea.

Some of them will definitely use the cangas, the Brazilian beach towels looking like a Brazilian flag we gave to them this morning. Last night we bought them at the Copacabana beach. In order to get ten towels from the same type, five street sellers had to be organised and cited by cellphone to put their stocks together.

While sitting here in the lobby, Lynn from the US, Claude from France and Jiangzhe from China have shown up. Felicity from UK is having a rest, Ed from the US is about to arrive from the airport.

It’s clearing up outside and we have another hour till we meet at the reception to start out sightseeing tour through Rio de Janeiro.

Marife Boix Garcia & Martina Stemann