Villamalur toโ Reflect on Pandemic Experiences withโค Novel ‘The Postponed โคHugs’
Villamalur, Castellรณn – Local author Gerard S. Ferrando will present his newโ novel, “Hugs Postponed,” thisโข Sunday, December 7th, at 12 noon in Villamalur. The event will offer attendees the chance toโ hear Ferrando discuss the work and its central themes.
“Hugs Postponed” explores the experiences of three protagonists navigating life during Spain’s 2020 โCovid-19 confinement. The narrative alternates between the perspectives โขof Mercedes,โ an 85-year-old woman awakening from a months-long coma in a Madrid hospital; Dorothy, a doctor at Valencia’s โLa Fe hospital who findsโ solace inโข a mysterious diary; and Juliรกn, a television cameraman documenting the pandemic while grappling with family illness.
while described by Ferrando asโค a “spin-off” of his previous novel, “Honey, I’m an iai@flute,” “Hugs โPostponed” can be read independently. The new work expands on the stories of Mercedes and Juliรกn, who appeared in secondary roles in the first novel, and features Dorothy reading excerpts from the diary of Paco, the protagonist of “Honey, I’m an iai@flute.”
Ferrando emphasizes the lasting impact of the pandemic, stating the novel serves asโค “a memory and reflection on the learnings and experiences” of thatโ period.
The author characterizes “Hugs Postponed” as an agile and dynamicโ novel aimed at an adult audience interested in contemporary and journalistic literature. He highlights its short chapters and fast-paced narrative, while also noting its reflective โฃnature and focus on the โresilience and solidarity displayed โduring a difficult time.
The novel delves into themes of loneliness,the challenges faced by nursing homes during the pandemic,maintaining social connections despite โdistance,and the impact of confinement on both the young andโ the elderly. โFerrando believes the book offers a valuable outlook, describing it as “a โfragment of our history told from the creative freedom that prose and the novel provide,” and suggests its potential use โin educationalโฃ settings like high schools and universities.
Source: Gerard S. Ferrando.
(vivecastellon.com notes that observations or objections regarding this article โcan be sent to info@vivecastellon.com)