Despite the former site of the 2016 Summer Olympic games in Rio being so far from my residence here in Copacabana, this bookworm decided to return to the Rio Biennale on what I imagined would be a quiet Tuesday.
At the suggestion of another literature lover, I avoided a taxi and took the Metro from Copacabana to the last Metro stop (constructed for the Olympics),Jardim Oceanico.
Its overland continuation from Rio´s south zone(Leblon,Ipanema,Copacabana) resembles similar connections in New York City and London. The continuation of the Metro is called the BRT,(also built for the Olympics) and translated as the “Rapid Transit Line.”
It indeed is rapid and got me to the Book Biennale in about 40 minutes,but an inexperienced passenger should ask when to get off and where to transfer to get to Riocentro.
To my surprise– again in this culture of Football and Carnaval– Riocentro and the Book Biennale were jam packed with schoolchildren visiting the various pavilions.
After glancing at innumerous books on display and for safe and seeking a rest for these aging feet, I sought out the Café Literaio Polen, which is celebrating its 25 years of existence. And my instincts were right.
Tips to the newcomer: refer to the site of the Biennale and see who is speaking for the who’s who of Brazil´s literary world are featured until this Sunday at Riocentro.
Café Literario Polen (Pavillion 2) is earmarked for “dialogue, the exchange of ideas and reflections on important issues and society´s rumors great names of rumors philosophy and opinion makers have met and talked about behavior, politics, human relations, culture, the arts and environment.”
And indeed, a heated discussion by femininist-minded authors including Italy´s Antonella Lattanzi ,46, Giovanna Madalosso ,50, of Curitiba and Paulista Andrea del Fuego,50, resulted over the theme “Unspoken Topics.”
These “unspoken” topics included: whether or not to have children, loss, blame and silence.
Their feminist views were followed by what turned out to be the highlight of the day, Carioca journalist, biographer (Garrincha, Carmen Miranda, Nelson Rodrigues) and member of the Brazilian Literary Academy Ruy Castro discussing his new book on WWII IN Rio de Janeiro: Tropical Trench (Trincheira tropical).
Ruy´s illuminating discussion in a Portuguese (which is always clear, simple and as succinct as his columns in the Folha of Sao Paulo) included the many notable immigrants (Hereyea Mr. Trump) from Hitler who fled to Brazil and enriched Brazil´s cultural life including the leading author of the time Stefan Zweig, Hungarian Maestro Eugen Szenkar, the Brazil Symphony Orchestra´s first artistic director and conductor, among other notables.
Castro´s book also follows the Brazilian troops to Italy during WWII, the distinguished war correspondents including Ruben Braga who followed and reported on them, the complete censorship of WWII and their activities, Brazil and dictator Getulio Vargas and other important subjects of an epoch which should never be forgotten.
I asked Castro if the current Trump epoch resembles the 1940s and his answer that the closing of universities (Trump has threatened them) and creation of a mortal enemy (in the 1940 the Communists, today illegal immigrants) is indeed similar.
Can’t wait to read the Tropical Trench.
Attention book lovers: The Biennale ENDS on Sunday, 22 June.
