Diversity of Titles and Prices Energizes the 28th Pan-Amazonian Book and Multivoices Fair

Dedicated to the Cabanas Voices, this Thursday morning (21) was quite busy at the 28th Pan-Amazonian Book and Multivoices Fair, at the Hangar Convention and Exhibition Center. Visitors and exhibitors are pleased with the diverse range of titles and successful sales.

Exhibitor Júnior Souza came from São Paulo to participate in the event and reports that literary events like this help stimulate the public to consume more physical books. “This is really cool, we are happy with the demand for physical books, we are very grateful because lately many bookstores are dwindling, they are going bankrupt due to PDFs [digital book format] and it is quite interesting the demand for books that are trending on TikTok. People are looking a lot for authors like Ali Hazelwood, who is very successful on social media, everything that comes out on social media. And our surprise is the young audience's interest in Clarice Lispector,” narrates Júnior.

“There is a budget provided for public school teachers and I believe they will all come now, in these last two days. Sales are within expectations, but they should heat up quite a bit from now until tomorrow,” concludes the exhibitor from Círculo Livraria.

Physical Education teacher Moisés Santa Rosa took some time this morning to visit the fair with his wife. “I bought some books in my field and for my grandchildren, children's literature to encourage them and also for my wife. The fair is quite lively, there are books of all genres, for all ages, and there are leisure spaces that children enjoy, the cultural programming, all of this makes it more attractive,” says Moisés, who is a regular attendee of the book fair and comes every year.

Editor and bookseller Bernardo Gurbanov, from Livraria Letraviva, has been exhibiting at the Pan-Amazonian Book and Multivoices Fair for 25 consecutive years. “My bookstore specializes in books in Spanish, so we bring different things related to language teaching and with literature, history, culture, and Hispanic-American countries. The credit granted to teachers has helped a lot in sales; just yesterday a Spanish teacher took about 15 books, plus some magazines to use in the classroom,” says the exhibitor.

University student Elisa Coimbra rekindled her memories of the fair after a few years living abroad. “I left here from Belém when I was 15, only returned at 21, and since I was younger, I came with my uncles. But now, as an adult, I am coming for the first time without them, accompanied by my friend, and many memories are coming back to my mind,” she reports.

The student was looking for classic authors and was surprised by the diversity. “I am looking for several titles, more about black consciousness, 'Quarto de Despejo', by Carolina Maria de Jesus. I also found other books I was interested in, which are 'Hamlet' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', by Shakespeare. Even Fernando Pessoa, I am finding several books and here was the most affordable price I found,” she reports.

Multivoices Arena – In addition to the booths, the children's programming continued in full swing with school presentations, starting with students from Ilha do Combu, from Emec Milton Monte, the Folkloric Group Pirão de Açaí, followed by students from EM Cordolina Fontelles, with the exhibition of the Sustainable Robot.

Then, two groups from the Sports and Leisure Center, first with the dance presentations Chuva de Cores and Vila dos Encantados. Soon after, the theater show A Feiticeira, based on the tale by Inglês de Sousa, from EEEFM Severiano Benedito de Souza. Finally, the musical O Reconto Curupira Pai D’égua, from EEEF XV de Novembro.

Promoted by the Government of Pará, through the State Secretariat of Culture (Secult), the 28th Pan-Amazonian Book and Multivoices Fair runs until Friday (22), with free entry from 9 am to 10 pm, with access until 9 pm.

Text: Juliana Amaral, Ascom Secult