Alp-born author Regina Rodríguez Sirvent and professor Joan Peitx were among the top-selling authors in Puigcerdà, Cerdanya, during the Sant Jordi festival on 23 April. Their new novels led local book sales, according to Regió 7.
Rodríguez Sirvent's latest novel, Crispetes de matinada (Popcorn at Dawn), was highly sought after in Cerdanya's bookshops and stalls. It shared the top spot for sales in Puigcerdà and the wider region with Peitx's La vall furiosa (The Furious Valley), a narrative set during the Spanish Civil War.
This marks Rodríguez Sirvent's second success, following her previous popular work, Les calces al sol (Underpants in the Sun). The Sant Jordi celebration maintained its usual dynamic of book and rose purchases, attracting both local residents and visitors. Crispetes de matinada was one of the most popular titles in Cerdanya, solidifying the author's recent trajectory in the publishing market, Regió 7 reported.
Lourdes Viladesau, a bookseller in Puigcerdà, reflected on the Sant Jordi day, noting the lively street atmosphere despite afternoon rain. "There was atmosphere, but the rain affected the afternoon," Viladesau explained. She also highlighted that the weekday timing of the festival influenced buyer mobility. "When Sant Jordi falls on a weekday, it happens here. If it falls on a weekend, many people go down to Barcelona," she stated, suggesting this reinforced the local character of the event.
Local Authors Dominate Sales
Viladesau emphasised the prominence of local authors in sales. "Many local things were sold," she affirmed. Among the most requested titles were Peitx's La vall furiosa and Rodríguez Sirvent's Crispetes de matinada, although many readers already owned the latter. "Many people already had Regina's book because the presentation was a few weeks ago," Viladesau pointed out. Other popular local works included Presoners a la Cerdanya el 1939 (Prisoners in Cerdanya in 1939) by Marc Pont, and El calendari de la Cerdanya i el Baridà (The Calendar of Cerdanya and Baridà) by Joan Pous and Salvador Vigo.
Regarding national titles, Viladesau mentioned Eduardo Mendoza's Tres enigmes per a l’Organització (Three Enigmas for the Organisation), Carles Porta's book on Crims, and Pratsobreroca's El joc del silenci (The Game of Silence). However, she noted, "They sold, but in smaller quantities than the local ones."
Despite the weather's impact, Viladesau's overall assessment of the day was positive. "I am happy," she concluded, with her shop full of customers. The strong performance of local authors like Rodríguez Sirvent and Peitx underscores the enduring appeal of regional stories and talent during Catalonia's beloved book and rose festival.
