Villamalur to Reflect on Pandemic Experiences with Novel ‘The Postponed Hugs’
Villamalur, Castellón – Local author Gerard S. Ferrando will present his new novel, “Hugs Postponed,” this Sunday, December 7th, at 12 noon in Villamalur. The event will offer attendees the chance to hear Ferrando discuss the work and its central themes.
“Hugs Postponed” explores the experiences of three protagonists navigating life during Spain’s 2020 Covid-19 confinement. The narrative alternates between the perspectives of Mercedes, an 85-year-old woman awakening from a months-long coma in a Madrid hospital; Dorothy, a doctor at Valencia’s La Fe hospital who finds solace in a mysterious diary; and Julián, a television cameraman documenting the pandemic while grappling with family illness.
while described by Ferrando as a “spin-off” of his previous novel, “Honey, I’m an iai@flute,” “Hugs Postponed” can be read independently. The new work expands on the stories of Mercedes and Julián, 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 as “a memory and reflection on the learnings and experiences” of that period.
The author characterizes “Hugs Postponed” as an agile and dynamic 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 nature and focus on the resilience and solidarity displayed during a difficult time.
The novel delves into themes of loneliness,the challenges faced by nursing homes during the pandemic,maintaining social connections despite distance,and the impact of confinement on both the young and the elderly. Ferrando believes the book offers a valuable outlook, describing it as “a fragment of our history told from the creative freedom that prose and the novel provide,” and suggests its potential use in educational settings like high schools and universities.
Source: Gerard S. Ferrando.
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