Bruno Blog

It’s not the first time that I recommend this book, and it won’t be the last, neither. AMOR EN MINÚSCULA is, for me, a very special book, a novel full of inspirational sentences that leave in me an indelible mark. It happens to be, also, a book translated into 23 languages, and Penguin Random House has just relaunched.

The first person that actually betted on this book was a great editor, Marisa Tonezzer, who saw the magic of this novel and brought it to light. She is one of the great persons and professionals in this little publishing world and I admire her since I met her, working in Atlántida. She also is, as well as a great worker and professional, a good friend. It is true that, in Spain, this book has not be very successful, unfortunately, but these things happen more than we, the professionals of this field, would like. However, AMOR EN MINÚSCULA, has been a bestseller in Germany and other countries that pushed for the novel.

During the past month of February, the book was launched in the United States of America and in June, with a very special editor for me too, Pablo Alvarez, who has always helped me and with whom I’ve always done great projects, we have also relaunched it in Spain. This relaunch, this second opportunity would deserve the best reward we can ask for concerning a good novel. And that would be that you, readers, would recommend this book yourselves, because those who have read it have also be captured by MISHIMA and SAMUEL, from which they have learned a lot, such as the pleasure of simple things give us is what really fills us. Of course that doesn’t mean, no matter what they can say, that life is easy or simple, but we have to live it. This is an urban novel appreciated by all its readers, so do not hesitate anymore: go and find that great hidden treasure.

Francesc Miralles, author of this novel, is recognized and admired by the professionals of this industry and also by his many followers and fans, but he is still the same person I met over 12 years ago. Behind his simplicity, he hides expertise, and very few persons can do that, when they have both.  You can now see that it is a story with history, inside the book and outside, so I invite you to help and make it bigger. Perfect novel for the summer and those who want to take advantage of the holidays break and make this reading help them grow.

Face to face communication among teenagers is very rare, today, though with WhatsApp, Instagram or using any other social network they can conversate for hours. I understand that times have changed and that it is much easier to discuss certain things through a screen than face to face, but this way they are missing very important values ​​such as eye contact, being brave to deal things directly with the person in front and put the strength in a dialogue. We cannot lose the personal relationship, which makes the essence of relationships, indeed, nor say some particular things through the network. A voice, a look, a smile cannot be replaced by an emoticon. It’s not the same. And this works with business relationships, as well, an e-mail solves uneasy or boring conversations that before were only possible face to face, but with personal relations you can achieve more goals than with a cold e-mail. Most people do not leave their comfort zone and follow the easiest way, when life is not always about easy things, and we are definitely educating generations that avoid difficulties, turn a deaf ear to advices and keep walking. We should find a balanced point because as in most things in life, this is something educational, so we need attitude. With adolescents I personally still feel that I can do something and that not everything is lost, but with adults who are already in the business system it’s almost impossible. A real shame they not know what is the value of true communications.

However, social networks have also many positive things: you can get back in touch with childhood friends, which made me very excited a few weeks ago, you can also keep contact with people who are far away and feel them closer, or you can even fall in love. Moreover, it’s a way to care for the written word, as letters did before. WhatsApps or Tweets are shorter, but many people post on Facebook and blogs, and give life to the written word, not a bad thing to recover. Everything has its pros and cons and finding the right measure is the most difficult thing. But we can, and under my point of view, we must find it.

Francesc Miralles and Javier Ruescas wrote PULSACIONES, published by SM (Spanish) / Cruïlla (Catalan), a YA book with eight editions in the market. The point here is that the whole book is built with WhatsApp messages sent through a program called Heartbits where you live the stories of the different characters. As in LATIDOS, the authors repeat the successful formula with the story of Carol and Remo, who meet at the airport and immediately feel the connection -but one is going to Japan while the other to Los Angeles. What happens between two strangers who click but have to be in different parts of world? Every time they receive a message in Heartbits, their hearts beat differently. Is it love? Can they get to know each other in the distance from what they upload in Heartbits or post in Blogbits? The teen-reader will feel more than identified with this experience that as a mother I have read in one sitting, taken by a story that basically tells of a way to communicate with words that if it’s not the only way we have, I find it wonderful, as well. Writing is a way to express emotions and with their master skills, Miralles and Ruescas make of this book something with a special meaning. The only negative point of the book is that it only takes you a few hours to finish as it is an addictive and fast read, therefore, perfect for teenagers in Summer. For those who have not yet read PULSACIONES go to the bookshop and buy them both since, with no doubt, you’ll be left wanting for more.

Did you know that the Japanese say that everyone has an IKIGAI, a reason to live? If I think of what my reason to live is, I can’t chose just one, so I think I haven’t found IKIGAI yet, but according to the people of Okinawa, THE ISLAND WITH THE MOST LONG-LIVED PEOPLE ON EARTH, the best kept secret is how they find IKIGAI, the joy of always being busy, and discovering what gives meaning to their existence and pushes them to live a hundred years in great shape; physically, mentally and what’s most important, emotionally.

Without a vibrant and optimistic experience, life may lose its meaning. Reading this great book that Francesc Miralles and Héctor García (Kirai) have just published, I’ve discovered many things I didn’t know, especially the meaning of IKIGAI, and that having a clear and defined Ikigai, a great passion, is something that gives satisfaction, happiness and meaning to life. You can find it with this book, as well as discovering many keys to Japanese philosophy for a long and healthy body, mind and soul. To me, this book is a delight; not just because my friend and wonderful author, Francesc Miralles, with whom I’ve already shared a great load of success, a lot of feelings and a long literary life together, told me that this project would be a success, which we still don’t know because it’s been in Bookstores for a week, but to me it already is. In less than a week I was able to sell it to 17 languages, a great bliss, so like many times before, Francesc nailed it, he’s a master of life, someone who’s ahead of the events and helps me find a meaning to my job.

The book gave me the chance to meet Héctor, who’s a special person without doubt, in the best of ways, and to get to know the laws of IKIGAI; “laws” that seem easy and that we should all understand very well, because they seem obvious, but most of us are incapable of following them all. It’s really giving value to the simple things that makes each person’s life be better: smiling, saying thank you, being surrounded by good friends, staying in shape, keeping active, and knowing how to prioritize. Following your IKIGAI, or maybe discovering it, because it’s still hidden, will give you that impulse you need to give it your best every day, and that meaning to life that we all need to keep going. We only have one life, one chance, and the best thing to do is to enjoy the trip. Will you join me?