Mexico’s potential future leaders, U.S. novelists and a veteran archaeologist – the 25th International Book Fair (FIL) has a diverse roster of guests.
Two of the leading candidates in next year’s presidential election will be talking at the FIL. Josefina Vazquez Mota, the favorite to win the nomination of the National Action Party (PAN),will present her book “Nuestra oportunidad: Un Mexico para todos,” on Tuesday, November 29, 5 p.m. Presidential frontrunner Enrique Peña Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) will then give the keynote address at the International Meeting on Democratic Culture on Saturday, December 3 at noon.
U.S. crime fiction writer James Ellroy will be present again this year. The author of “L.A. Confidential” first came to Guadalajara in 2004 and is now back to promote his latest book, “The Hilliker Curse: My Pursuit of Women.” This autobiographical work lays bare Ellroy’s tumultuous love life and troubled childhood, which stemmed from the murder of his mother when he was just ten years old. Ellroy will be presenting the book and signing autographs on Saturday, November 26 from 6 p.m.
Finally, Mexican archaeologist Otto Schondube will be recognized at the FIL for his sterling work in uncovering his country’s past. The Jalisco-born grandson of German immigrants, Schondube helped shape Mexico City’s National Anthropology Museum and went on to supervise the famous excavations of the sacred cenotes at Chichen Itza. The chief researcher in the Jalisco center of the National Institute of Anthropology and History, Schondube also currently works as the archaeology curator of Guadalajara’s Regional Museum. The tribute to Schondube is on Friday, December 2, 6 p.m.
English titles galore at FIL
Don’t underestimate the Feria Internacional del Libro. The event, which opens to visitors this Saturday, is the second largest of its kind on earth, dwarfed only by the Frankfurt Book Fair. But neither should you let the FIL’s fearsome size intimidate you away from one of the richest cultural and literary debates and exchanges in the world. And if even that sounds a bit overwhelming, remember that the FIL can be a great deal of fun for visitors of all ages.
First and foremost, accept that you will never be able to sample more than a miniscule portion of what the FIL has to offer. More than half a million visitors, 1,900 publishing houses from 43 countries and 600 hours of programming over nine days are enough to drive an unprepared visitor to the verge of a nervous breakdown. Hence the importance of preparation. Spend as long as possible browsing the FIL’s program at www.fil.com.mx (start with the English-language version; for more detail, refer back to the Spanish language site). And count yourself lucky if all you’d really like to do is happily wallow among hundreds of thousands of volumes both new and classic (in English and Spanish), browsing and shopping to your heart’s content.
The FIL will take place from Saturday, November 26 through Sunday, December 4. Open November 28 to 30 from 5 to 9 p.m. (remaining hours for professionals only) and all other days from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Expo Guadalajara, corner of Av. Mariano Otero and Av. de las Rosas. General admission is 20 pesos. For more information visit www.fil.com.mx.