Mexican writer Jorge F. Hernández starred in entertaining moments at the Guadalajara International Book Fair while presenting his new novel 'Alicia nunca miente'. With his characteristic style, he shared anecdotes and reflections on fiction and truth during the event.
Jorge F. Hernández, born in Mexico in 1962, returned to the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), a place he has known since its beginnings and feels like home. During the event, the author walked through crowded hallways shouting “Buy my book, it's the new one by Juan Villoro!”, while carrying a giant copy of his novel 'Alicia nunca miente', published by Alfaguara.
The writer visited a school to motivate youth and presented his book to an audience that applauded and thanked him for the fun provided. He also participated in the panel “The great football chroniclers” with cartoonist Trino. With his long white beard and curly hair, Hernández handed out hugs to waiters, valet parking, colleagues, and other attendees, establishing himself as the king of the party.
In the presentation, Hernández stated: “I have always dedicated myself to lying, because what I write are lies. The most outlandish things I have told are real, but everyone believes they are lies, like the fact that the first FIL Guadalajara was held on dirt floor. It's true, but I know there are writers who say: damn Jorge, he's making it up. It's the truth, there are things I can't invent”. He added: “the other thing is that literature, thanks to my uncles, has shown me that, far from making lies, we make fiction and fiction gets very close to the truth”.
'Alicia nunca miente' tells the crazy love story of journalist Adalberto Pérez, who travels to uncover lies around him while fighting for the love of Alicia Covarrubias, a Spanish woman who teaches him that it's not convenient to know all truths. Inspired by 'Don Quixote', complex couple relationships, and uncles like Carlos and Pepe, professionals of the lie, as well as his father, the author described Alicia as “the architecture of the lie in service of a literary truth”.
Hernández also commented on Andrés Manuel López Obrador's latest book, criticizing its return to the historical past from La Chingada and partial plagiarism of the title from Bernardo de Balbuena's 'Grandeza mexicana'. He predicted it would be forgotten due to general apathy, though he regretted that his comments might be used to denounce adversaries. In the end, he posed for photos with humor, stuck out his tongue, greeted mariachis, and had fun among the people.