Reading requires three goods that are (or were they?) Scarce: time, silence and space. These three seem to have returned from where they were and the haste has taken a pause. For this reason and to celebrate Book Day from home, we have made this guide with hundreds and hundreds of books available online so that you can calmly select the one you want to read the most. There is something for all tastes and ages.
Since we know that the world of knowledge and the depth of the internet can be very vast, we have selected some titles and topics that will leave you wanting to read more and more.
The Virtual Library of Mexico: it has a digital collection of more than 13,000 resources including books, brochures and other documents of historical and literary interest. Here you can find titles such as Los empeños de una casa , by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz; Clemencia , by Ignacio Manuel Altamirano or Castillos en el Aire and other scathing texts , by Francisco Zarco.
We recommend: The archives of Leonora Carrington or Carlos Monsiváis and we invite you to dive into the books to download and read for free (there are books from the Conquest to contemporary literature).
Linguistic Landscape of Mexico: In the indigenous language pavilion you can discover the richness of the linguistic diversity of Mexico. You will find a sample of expressions of indigenous peoples and you will be able to read the literary creations of poets and narrators, as well as music and short films from indigenous languages.
We recommend: Do not miss the interactive map of indigenous languages with photos, audios and even textiles from the different regions of the country; listen to traditional genres of music at risk and Mexican concert music. Find them here.
El Colegio de México books: Do you like history, sociology, gender, demographic, urban studies or literature? Then this is for you. The Colegio de México has made the selection of its digital material freely available to the public.
We recommend: Download the book New Minimum History of Mexico, a classic of the Colmex, with videos, audios, photographs, maps and graphs. In fact, all his minimal stories on topics as diverse as soccer, yoga, human rights or neoliberalism. Find them here.
The National College: The public institution dedicated to scientific, artistic and humanistic dissemination, offers a book from its library for free every day. In addition, you can see the complete conferences on archeology, literature, scientific dissemination and a long etcetera.
We recommend: Stay tuned for the book of the day, just follow the download guide and enjoy a good read. Enjoy lectures led by archaeologist Leonardo López Luján, director of the Templo Mayor project, and literary analyzes by Mexican writers José Emilio Pacheco and Juan Villoro about Juan Rulfo, Ramón López Velarde or Jorge Ibargüengoitia.
For children
The Children's Library Collection: Many bookstores are closed, but that is not a problem. This virtual library offers a playful and attractive way to the life and work of essential authors in the world literature scene.
We recommend: Download the ones you like the most! For example: Dream Stories , Leonora Carrington for Children (2017) or Rondas, songs and games, by Gabriela Mistral.
Recreo , a project of Radio Educación: It is a platform designed for children of different ages with series that have made history in Mexican broadcasting, as they have been recognized by UNESCO as Memory of the World. There are stories, a little science and the environment, teaching and games such as word puzzles, mazes or coloring templates.
We recommend: Do you know Cri-Cri? Here their characters will come to life: the Blas rabbit, the Chocolate King, the Pot and the Comal, the Ropavejero or the bold Cucurumbé, we also invite you to listen to the storytellers.
# Cuéntanosunuenta This is an authentic virtual children's literature festival in Mexico, where personalities such as writers, journalists or actresses read stories to children. You can also participate in the festival in three simple steps: select a short story, record it on video and share it with the hashtag # cuéntanosuncount, you can also send it to cuentanosuncuentomx@gmail.com to share it on your networks.
We recommend: Wedding in Chimalistac , by Elena Poniatowska; in the voice of Regina Reyes Heroles or Poemas ilustrados , by Gabriela Mistral, in the voice of Annia Ezquerro.
Cinema in the armchair
If you don't feel like a book, dive into the archive of the Cineteca Nacional, where the largest film archive in Mexico is located, one of the most outstanding in the world.
We recommend: Discover the elaboration of free textbooks from the SEP in 1943, the transfer of the equestrian statue, better known as “El Caballito” dedicated to Carlos IV to Plaza Manuel Tolsá, a group of children playing marbles in 1934 or a traditional rowing competition from 1936 in Xochimilco.
The UNAM Film Archive offers an alternative to watch movies from home so that the richness of national cinema is known through different genres and periods, from historical documentary archives, looks at Mexican cinema, bullfighting, Mexican painting, to silent cinema.
We recommend: The historical images of the Mexican Revolution, the oil expropriation; the interview with María Félix and El tren fantasma, El puño de hierro and Tepeyac , the only three surviving silent Mexican feature films.
Music, teacher!
UNAM Music: The UNAM Symphony Orchestra, the oldest musical ensemble in the cultural scene of Mexico City, has prepared some notes to give away during this quarantine: a playlist for the running of the bulls, tutorials on orchestral passages, sound laboratories, a little of old music and its symphonic cycles.
We recommend: The videos of the musicians from the UNAM Academy of Ancient Music, which open the door of your house for you to enter this fascinating world and its Spotify playlist to enjoy new music.
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