More than 33,000 people gathered across Mexico to celebrate World Book Day by reading Jane Austin’s classic tale “Pride and Prejudice” on Tuesday. Reading marathons were held in 150 locations across Jalisco, including Guadalajara’s Rambla Cataluña, where over 450 readers took part, including 25 who were dressed in costumes from the 19th century, when the book was set.
Participants at the reading held at Chapala’s waterfront Malecon included Mayor Joaquin Huerta, Press Office Chief Roberto Arroyo, Prepa Chapala Director Candido Cardenas and Municipal Archives Director Zaida Cristina Reynoso.
Meanwhile, employees of the Jalisco Culture Secretariat (SC) gave away 200 books in the Parque Revolucion, Ex Convento del Carmen and Plaza Universidad. The books included many children’s classics, such as Neil Gaiman’s “Coraline” and “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The SC’s literature co-ordinator, Martha Ibarra, called the donations a “symbolic act” in accordance with World Book Day principles.