The life of a book

The life of a book is strange. First it’s just an idea in the author’s mind, and then it slowly takes shape until it becomes real and enters the world. After months (sometimes years) spent writing, re-writing, correcting, and re-correcting, authors deliver their manuscript to their publisher, and here the book goes through several stages (editing to analyze and check form and content, proofreading, selection of the cover, etc.) before reaching its final version and being released in bookstores and on the web, distributed in various formats (hardcover, digital, audiobook). More than six months after its release, “Guardami. La bellezza dal mio punto di vista” (“Look at me. Beauty from my viewpoint”), written by eight young people at the Cavazza Institute and published by Edizioni Pendragon, is still being read and talked about. One of many such occasions was in December on Rai 3’s program “Buongiorno Regione Emilia-Romagna.” And in March, it was praised by writer, journalist, and TV host Massimo Gramellini, who gave it a positive review on his social profile. Others quoted and mentioned it on various social networks, and some schools asked to present it to their students. In addition, “Guardami” is a docufilm (directed by Martina De Polo) that continues to be part of important film festivals throughout Italy (in a version with audio description). A rewarding experience for these eight young people - both authors and actors in the docufilm – as well as for the Cavazza Institute, which supported the project from its very beginning.

Writing is a demanding job with an unknown result, and in the case of “Guardami,” the young authors, all blind or sight-impaired, were able to present their viewpoint on the subject of beauty in just a short time, with passion, sincerity, and skill. Receiving the first important acknowledgements from the book’s many readers was, and continues to be, an enormous satisfaction for all of them. Moreover, aware that the book market, just like every other, needs to promote and present its products, the authors have agreed, where possible, to organize events (each in their local area) to make their book better known. This promotional work has continued in order to give “Guardami” opportunities to be known by the widest possible audience. To achieve this, an audiobook version has been produced by the professionals of “Il libro parlato,” the catalog that the Unione Italiana dei Ciechi e degli Ipovedenti (UICI) (Italian Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted) makes available to its members. Enriched by an introduction by Frida Bollani Magoni and by an afterword by Annalisa Minetti, “Guardami” proves that good teamwork – in writing as in sports – always achieves good results. We eagerly await future comments and reviews!

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