International Day of the Book 2020
Since 1995, the World Book and Copyright Day is held every 23rd April when UNESCO declared it. That date is important for Universal Literature since it coincides with the deaths of the writers William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.
All the inveterate writers, like me, share a ritual. When we buy a book (paperback, of course) the first thing we do is to smell it. And we repeat that ritual as much as we can. There's nothing like the smell of a new book.
But where does it come from?
Basically, from three elements: the paper, the ink and the glue for the binding. From this, arise different chemical processes and a group of particles called Volatile Organic Compounds that contain carbon and easily become vapors or gases. From these, the origin of our ritual.
Happy International Day of the Book!
Image: Kari Shea for Unsplash
Albariño 1187, CABA.