Readings That Move Us was a captivating event held at the Hélder Pita Auditorium on the Lumiar Academic Campus on February 29th. Part of the #isecaler Project, it brought together influential figures from the literary world.
Introduced by professor and writer Sara Leite, the event featured prominent guests including Helena Magalhães (writer and founder of “Book Gang”), Diana Garrido (writer and journalist), Mariana Alvim (radio host and writer), Susana Amaro Velho (writer), Maria Francisca Gama (writer), and Hugo Gonçalves (writer, journalist, and columnist). Moderating the discussion, Professor Sandrina Esteves, coordinator of the #isecaler project, initiated the conversation by asking guests about their initial passion for reading.
Maria Francisca Gama, author of O Profeta and A Cicatriz, spoke about literature’s role as an “escape” from reality and a means to experience different worlds. As a content creator, she also highlighted the importance of social media in fostering a love for reading, stating that “books are great company.”
Susana Amaro Velho shared that she didn’t grow up surrounded by books, and for her, books served as “a refuge to ward off loneliness.” She mentioned that the Harry Potter saga transformed her into an avid reader. Hugo Gonçalves cited his father’s “secret library” as a crucial factor in sparking his interest in reading. Like Maria Francisca Gama, Helena Magalhães noted that reading entered her life as an “escapism” from daily routine. Reading became a constant in her life, as she always accompanied her grandmother during household chores and spent hours in the library.
Mariana Alvim and Diana Garrido discussed the importance of recommendations in reading. Mariana Alvim, as a content creator, interviews authors and offers reading suggestions on her podcast “Vale a Pena.” Diana Garrido and Hugo Gonçalves identified compulsory works introduced in secondary education as a hindrance to reading, as these are often unappealing to young people.
In conclusion, the guests delved into the topic of reading among young people and the incentives that should exist to spark interest in literature. “There are books for everyone; the important thing is to find our genre,” affirmed Helena Magalhães. To counter the challenges, the writers highlighted several initiatives, such as creating book clubs, more current bookstore displays, adapting literary works in secondary education to meet student expectations, and the presence of reading sharing on digital platforms like BookTok and Bookstagram.
At the end of the session, there was a Q&A (Questions and Answers) segment where ISEC Lisboa students could clarify doubts or curiosities with the authors. This was followed by a networking and autograph session, which included the participation of Livrarias Almedina.
ISEC Lisboa extends its gratitude to all participants for their presence and the literary exchanges that took place throughout the session!
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