A lot of books are about to invade the rooms of Villa Elisa. On the weekend of 27 and 28 April Ponsacco will be the capital of independent literature with the first edition of “A lot of books”. Ten publishing houses will be able to present their latest releases while many names in local writing will be able to talk about their works.
An idea that was born from the desire to involve the many pens active in Ponsacco in a single large event, to present them to the public; get authors, readers and publishing houses to talk and dialogue with each other. A project carried out by the Ponsacco department of culture and education with the collaboration of the Pontedera Foundation for Culture. Two days full of events in which there will also be space for the “Books are magical because …” competition reserved for all the girls and boys of the schools of the Ponsacco comprehensive institute (nursery-primary-secondary). The competition is divided into two sections: Poetry and Illustration. The documents, accompanied by the participant’s name, surname and class, must be delivered during the “A lot of books” event to the Carmignani Editrice stand by 5pm on Saturday 27 April.
The award ceremony for the winning entries will take place at the Odeon Theater in Ponsacco at 3pm on Sunday 28 April.
This is the festival programme:
On Saturday 27 April at 11am there will be the inauguration in the presence of the municipal administration with the participation of the association Historical Reenactment of the Battle of Ponte di Sacco AD1497 and with the performance of the children’s choir “Nuvole di voci” of the Amici della Music by Ponsacco. At 3pm there will be a workshop for children organized by the Buon Pro association of Ponsacco. Presentations begin at 4pm with “it’s another one. The boy Rimbaud” by Mario Bernardi Guardi (Leonardo Libri). At 5pm “Readings for colorful stories” organized by the Olifante association. The first day ends at 5.30pm with the animated presentation of the children’s book “Abelard, Cowardly Dragon (Fantabooks).
The following day, Sunday 28 April, the festival begins at 10am with the presentation of the book “The pages of pure mental delirium” by Giacomo Spinelli (Campo Editoriale). At 11am, “Ponsacco writes a lot” is scheduled, a review of local authors. Speakers: Monica Delli Laconi, Paola Gori, Walter Mangini, Nicla Mati, Barbara Sarri. Michele Quirici hosts. At 3pm there will be the award ceremony for the “Books are magical because…” competition. While at 4.30pm there will be readings and a workshop on the book “Ghosts to the Rescue”, with Ettore De Benedictis, Italy’s youngest author (Carmignani Editrice). program continues at 5pm with Readings for colorful stories, curated by the Olifante Association, at 5.30pm with the presentation of the book “Aloha” by Luca Poli (Carmignani Editrice) and finally at 6.30pm with the presentation of the book “The best in the country” , by Saverio Bargagna (Astarte Edizioni). Ariela Rizzi, author of Hikikomori (Einaudi) awarded at the Bancarellino di Pontremoli prize, will be present.
During the event, a space dedicated to local associations will be set up and the Ponsacco docufilm L’ombelico della Valdera will be screened continuously. The history, the anecdotes, the excellences, the landscape, the culture, the art, the associations, the sport, the characters… and everything that makes the wood town the center of Valdera. (Created and produced by Rete Valdera from an idea and project by Fabrizia Falaschi and Maurizio Panicucci).
