Lima, Nov 21 (EFE).- In a time of polarization, rampant technology and decline of the humanities, the writer Irene Vallejo defends the power of the word as an antidote to heal societies. Her work ‘The Infinity in a Reed’ brings together lovers of books in Peru and around the world, or as the author says, of “lost causes.”
Vallejo (Spain, 1979) traveled to the Andean country to participate in Hay Festival Arequipa, but also visited Lima to teach literary creation workshops and hold meetings with schoolchildren, to whom he transmitted his reading passion by appealing to innate human curiosity.
“There is still a front of resistance and also, an attempt to heal societies through words,” he tells EFE.
Since he published ‘The Infinite in a Junco’, five years ago, one of the last great phenomena of Spanish literature that has sold more than a million copies, he has met countless reading lovers who advocate taking books to all corners to heal societies.
“I have been able to meet many reading promoters who do extraordinary work bringing books to neighborhoods and areas of their countries that seemed socially excluded from that experience, and who are even trying to heal social and personal scars from violence and conflicts. through reading and writing workshops,” he says.
The Zaragoza native believes that books and culture are always threatened, but it has been “deeply hopeful” to find that there are so many people involved, especially in Latin America.
“It seems very remarkable to me because I think we are living in a very confusing and conflictive time where sides, permanent oppositions and misunderstandings are being created,” he adds.
And yet, democracies need healthy dialogue, they need the use of words to forge agreements,” he believes.
lost cause
Books have surrounded her since she was a child and it could even be said that they contributed to the writer’s birth. Vallejo lovingly shows a copy of ‘Trilce’, by the Peruvian poet who bears his same last name, and which his father gave to his mother when they were getting to know each other.
Thanks to the yellowish book, banned in Spain during the dictatorship, the love story between the two grew stronger, according to what he says.
His love of reading led him to write ‘Infinity in a Reed’, but, as he did so, he believed he was advocating for books and the humanities in a contemporary world in which they seemed to be on the brink of a precipice.
“I wrote this book from my reading passion but at a time when there was so much pessimism in the atmosphere and so much conviction that reading and books were ending, I myself came to believe it and think, ‘well, I really am an extravagant person. and I am part of a world that is about to end,'” he points out.
But, on the contrary, sales figures and her thousands of followers around the world prove the opposite, Vallejo is not alone in her love for books.
“I never thought I could appeal to many other people. In fact, I believed that more than a book, it is a collection of lost causes,” he says.
I sing to the imagination
His latest book, The Inventor of Travel, is an illustrated adaptation for children of the first science fiction story in history. It is based on ‘True Stories’, by Lucian of Samosata, written in the 2nd century, and is the first time that literature included space travel.
Its ancient pages are the background of Jules Verne or ‘Star Wars’.
“I like science fiction is that what seemed impossible, that seemed like a dream when it was first written, can then become reality. Human beings have reached the Moon, but things have to be dreamed of first so that they can be realized.” come true,” he says.
“This story is an ode to fantasy, a vindication of the ability to dream and I think that in this era it is important to remind children of this, who have very passive entertainment that simply with a screen they receive perfectly elaborate images,” he warns.
He says that human beings cannot lose “that liberating mechanism that is the imagination, which is also our main defense against routine, boredom and sadness.”
Likewise, he points out that another deeply human mechanism is the love of listening to a story, which paradoxically is a pact between the reader and writer about the lie that is going to be told.
“Fiction is a very special lie, it is not to deceive, it is a lie to play and have fun. Certain truths are reached only through fictions, there are certain things in our life, looks, hidden or silent emotions that are released thanks to that lie that fictions are,” he concludes.
Paula Bayarte
(c) EFE Agency
Irene Vallejo highlights the power of imagination, particularly in children’s literature. How can educators and parents utilize this concept to foster critical thinking and empathy in young learners while navigating a world saturated with digital distractions?
## Healing Societies Through Words: An Interview with Irene Vallejo
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News! Today, we have the privilege of sitting down with renowned author Irene Vallejo, whose work, *The Infinity in a Reed*, has sparked a global conversation about the power of literature. We’re also joined by [Name of Guest 2], a [Guest 2’s Expertise], who will offer their insights on this timely topic.
**Section 1: The Fragility and Resilience of the Written Word:**
* **Irene, your book *The Infinity in a Reed* explores how words can act as an antidote to the divisions and challenges of our times. Could you elaborate on this concept and how literature specifically contributes to societal healing?**
* **[Guest 2], what are your thoughts on the current state of literature in a world increasingly dominated by technology and instant gratification? Do you see Irene’s work as a beacon of hope in this context?**
**Section 2: “Lost Causes” and the Power of Community:**
* **Irene, you describe the book as a collection of “lost causes.” What do you mean by that, and why do you believe fostering a community around these “lost causes” is important?**
* **[Guest 2], how can individuals, communities, and institutions actively engage in promoting reading and literary exploration, especially in underrepresented areas?**
**Section 3: Imagination as a Tool for Progress:**
* **Irene, your latest book, *The Inventor of Travel*, is a children’s adaptation of one of the first science fiction stories. How do you view the role of imagination, particularly in young minds, in shaping a better future?**
* **[Guest 2], how can we encourage and nurture imagination in a world saturated with pre-fabricated entertainment and information? What are some of the tangible benefits of cultivating imaginative thinking?**
**Section 4: The Enduring Power of Storytelling:**
* **Irene, you talked about the “special lie” of fiction and its ability to unlock truths that might otherwise remain hidden. Could you expand on that idea?**
* **[Guest 2], how does the act of sharing stories – whether through written words, oral traditions, or other mediums – contribute to our understanding of ourselves and the world around us?**
**Closing:**
Irene Vallejo, thank you for sharing your insights and inspiring us with your passion for words. And to [Guest 2], we thank you for offering your valuable perspectives on this important conversation.
We hope this interview has shed light on the vital role literature plays in our lives and the power it holds to heal, unite, and inspire.
We encourage our viewers to explore Irene’s works and engage in discussions about the enduring importance of storytelling in our increasingly complex world.
