Orthez: Book Days are back for a 28th edition

The program in detail

It is first at the Francis Planté theater that the opening of the Seasons and Book Days will take place, on Friday October 11 at 8:30 p.m. Magyd Cherfi, singer, writer and lyricist, notably at the origin of the group Zebda, comes to present his show which takes the form of a reading-concert. Entitled “Longue hale”, it brings together extracts from several novels he wrote, such as “Libret de famille”, “La temper”, or even “Ma part de Gaulois”. Everything is accompanied by songs. Magyd Cherfi’s writing, lively, poetic and its often ironic tone, is at the service of powerful and tender stories. The show is free, by reservation with the cultural service (05 59 69 76 83).

The heart of the Book Days for the general public will then take place at La Moutète on Saturday and Sunday. Every hour, workshops, readings, or activities will be offered. Thus, for the day of Saturday October 12 we find: at 10 a.m. a workshop with Malika Doray (from 5 years old); at 11 a.m. a workshop with Laëtitia Devernay (from 7 years old); at 1 p.m. a literary and musical (and offbeat) nap with the Eclat de Lyre company; at 2 p.m. a focus on Éditions Passiflore; at 3 p.m. a workshop with Ancestral Z (from 10 years old); at 4 p.m. a reading meeting with Magyd Cherfi and at 5 p.m. a drawing battle with the company Il was once. It will also be possible to meet the author Gérard Mordillat for a meeting at the Jeanne d’Albret museum at 6 p.m.

On Sunday, October 13, we’re off again with: at 10 a.m. the presentation of works by local authors in 365 seconds; at 11 a.m. a meeting with Gérard Mordillat, followed at 12 p.m. by readings by the same author with the Préau company; at 1 p.m. the return of the musical and literary siesta; at 2 p.m. a reading meeting with Magyd Cherfi; at 3 p.m. a meeting with Bernadette Pécassou; at 4 p.m. a meeting with Marc Large and Gilles Kerloc’h; and finally at 5 p.m. musical readings with Éditions Per Noste.

Librarians will also offer impromptu readings of extracts from exhibitors’ books throughout the day. The public will have to find them in the alleys of La Moutète! They will also host “chat moments” with the authors directly on their stands. The Lud’Orthez association will also offer the chance to discover the literary game “New Countries”, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Finally, many exhibitors will offer exhibitions of their illustrations and “listen to” exhibitions will also be offered.

Outside the walls

Also note the partnership with the reading center of the community of communes of Lacq-Orthez, which will make it possible to offer meetings outside the walls and in particular at the Mi [X] in Mourenx. So Laëtitia Devernay will come on Wednesday October 9 to create a collective fresco around the theme “the forest of birds”. Participants will come together to create this large-format fresco on which birds will appear. Then, it is Magyd Cherfi who will be present for a screening-meeting around “Ma part de Gaulois”, at the M cinema on Thursday October 10 at 8:30 p.m. Finally, Eric Sanvoisin and Gilles Francescano will be present at the Mi media library [X] for a comic reading based on the “Magician of Bones”, Saturday October 12 at 10 a.m.

And for next year, the City plans to involve the public: it is meeting on Thursday, November 14 at 6 p.m. at the media library, to exchange ideas on the construction of the 2025 edition of Book Days.

Guest authors

The City invited a diversity of authors: Magyd Chérif (stories and novels); Bernadette Pécassou (local novels, historical novels); Marc Large (illustration, documentaries, novels); Gilles Kerloc’h (illustration, documentaries, stories); Gilles Francescano (illustrator); Gérard Mordillat (novels, poetry). On the youth side, we find: Malika Doray (youth albums); Laëtitia Devernay (youth albums); Eric Sanvoisin (children’s novels); Jo Witek (children’s albums and novels); Ancestral Z (manga). Around thirty exhibitors (publishing houses, associations or authors) are also expected.