Last Sunday at dawn, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, affected the city of Toyota. There were no deaths, but there were 22 injured, mostly due to contusions. Among the main material consequences, broken glass, disruptions in rail transport, and fallen objects are reported, such as the books in this establishment in Aichi prefecture. It is one of the branches of the Seibunkan Shoten chain: two floors, one thousand eight hundred square meters of sales area, and several hundred meters of bookshelves. There is no data on the total stock available, but the website describes it as one of the largest bookstores in the Nishi-Mikawa area. It is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. From eleven at night, it operates with a self-service system.

This month of November is full of family plans and it is very difficult for us to choose. As always, we have prepared a selection of plans for you to do with your children on November 13th, 14th, and 15th, such as playing board games at Fabra i Coats with DAU Barcelona, enjoying chocolate and sweet arts at the Xoco Fusió in Camarles, and running together as a family at La Milla, the inclusive race open to all ages, genders, and conditions.

Trump's defeat in the legislative elections is not the only relevant thing that has happened this week. This Thursday is being or has been presented in Barcelona –depending on when you read this–, at the headquarters of the Filmoteca de Catalunya, the essential I will see you again (Notes on cinema 1910-1945), by Enric Sòria. Now that the year will soon end and lists of books and records and everything will start appearing everywhere, this is undoubtedly one of the important books that have been published in Catalan throughout this 2026. We already talked about it in this column at the beginning of last April, when it had been published shortly before. But since, for whatever reason, the kind readers never quite pay attention to book recommendations, we will allow ourselves to insist on this one.

The afternoons are getting shorter and it's cold, but the weekends are full of plans to do as a family. As always, we have prepared a selection of plans for you to do with your children on November 6th, 7th and 8th, such as enjoying the first screenings of My First Film Festival; being amazed by the light installations of Lluèrnia, the Fire and Light Festival of Olot, and tracking small mammals at the Ivars and Vila-sana pond, in Urgell.

One of the most awaited dates of the year is here: the Castanyada and now also Halloween. That is why the activities for these days revolve around the theme of chestnuts, scary stories, and pumpkins. As always, we have prepared a selection of plans for you to do with your children on October 30th, 31st, and November 1st, such as getting scared at the Espantanens parade in Puigcerdà, eating chestnuts and panellets at the Operació Castaween at Món Sant Benet, and seeing giant pumpkins at the Calaf Pumpkin Fair.

We have a new weekend ahead full of activities and all of them are already starting to take on the colors of autumn. As always, we have prepared a selection of plans for you to do with your children on October 23rd, 24th, and 25th, such as enjoying Canalla!, the new children's and youth book festival in Vic; participating in the Early Childhood Days in Cambrils, or taking an excursion to Montseny to visit the Autumn Fair and the Arbúcies Flabiol Festival.

This weekend it seems it might rain, yet there are plenty of proposals to enjoy with the family. As always, we have prepared a selection of activities for you to do with your children on October 16th, 17th, and 18th, such as going to the cinema to see a premiere, participating in some of the Barcelona Dibuixa activities, or enjoying a family poetry recital at Foix.

A long weekend is approaching, and with these storms it is very tempting to stay at home, but if the sun comes out, go back to enjoying the outdoors, which surely as a family you also need. As always, we have prepared a selection of activities for you to do with your children on October 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th, such as watching puppets at La Puntual, celebrating the Train Festival at the Railway Museum in Móra la Nova, or enjoying reading at the Girocòmic Fair in Girona.

First weekend of October in sight, and with a lot of proposals to enjoy as a family. As always, we have prepared a selection of activities for you to do with your children on October 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, such as eating cookies in Camprodon, drawing a more sustainable future at the Education for Sustainability Festival, or experiencing Toca Festa, the family day at L’Auditori that seeks to bring music closer to everyone through a participatory, playful, and open experience.

The international Spanish-language book business will look towards Barcelona once again for Liber 2026. The fair, which will be held from September 29th to October 1st at the Gran Via venue, will open new commercial opportunities in emerging markets and will focus on boosting the growth of publishing rights sales and sector debate.

This weekend is full of cultural and family leisure activities. As always, we have prepared a selection of activities for you to do with your children on September 25th, 26th, and 27th, such as continuing to attend the most family-friendly activities of La Mercè, enjoying the cultural proposals of the Rubió Performing Arts Festival, or exploring your most creative side at Art-Action!, the annual day of artistic experimentation at the Girona Museum.

I am watching a video by a professional organizer. With new technologies, helping to tidy and organize is a profession. And I have no doubt that it is necessary. Whoever does not have a tidy kitchen cannot cook well. The desk where you study is your brain (and no, saying “Then, if it were empty, would my brain be empty?” doesn't count). I know that having a place for everything is necessary for peace of mind.

In a few days we enter autumn, although climate change has been altering the seasons for some time now. Since it looks like it will be sunny this weekend, we have prepared a selection of activities for you to do with your sons and daughters on September 18th, 19th, and 20th, such as taking a stroll through the Week of the Book in Catalan, enjoying the return of the Festa al Cel in Salou, watching birds at the Delta Birding Festival at Món Natura Delta, or awakening artistic creation at the Pluja d'Art Fair in Sant Jordi Desvalls.

The week ahead, with Jordi Garrigós

Some of the things we hope not to miss in the next seven days

I will listen to Charli XCX's new album. Music, fashion, film is the eighth album by the British pop star and a new, more rock-oriented turn in her prolific career. After dominating with the Brat summer, Charli Aitchison abandons green and embraces black and white to remain almost the only singer of her generation who plays with the mainstream while navigating the margins and experimentation. A singer who is living her particular artistic zenith, having more fun than anyone.

First days of school and a long weekend in sight. That is why we have prepared a good collection of activities for the coming days, such as attending FiraTàrrega, where you will be able to see 57 shows by local and international companies; enjoying La Terrasseta in Tarragona, an independent festival with musical and contemporary circus proposals; listening to and reading stories at the 16th edition of the Medinyà Story Fair, and delving into Gaudí's imagination by visiting La Pedrera - Casa Milà, among others.

The week ahead, with Jordi Garrigós

Some of the things we hope not to miss in the next seven days

I will finish McCartney: the hunt for the lost bass, about the mysterious disappearance and recovery of Paul McCartney's first bass, a Höfner 500/1 bought in Hamburg in 1961 for only 30 pounds. This marvel sounded on the original recordings of Love me do, she loves you and the early Beatles classics. A road movie musical about the greatest pop group of all time.

The art of not complicating life. The title of the book by writer and essayist Alexis Racionero, although not what he initially intended, is a whole declaration of intent of what we find in this editorial proposal published by Arpa. An essay that deals with the importance of simplifying life and living with more authenticity and serenity. It delves into the main philosophical and cultural practices of the East and West in search of guidelines that allow fostering disaffection and betting on presence and austerity to achieve greater happiness and well-being.

The Tarragona-based journalist Enric Garcia Jardí (1992) wrote a report a couple of years ago in Ara Diumenge about the maquis fighter Joan Busquets Verges, born in Barcelona in 1928. Busquets was arrested by the Civil Guard and spent twenty years in prison after his death sentence was commuted. After weeks of living with the former guerrilla fighter in his Normandy home, the Tarragona-based journalist has published the book El maqui que encara lluita, in which he reviews the long life of this anarchist fighter who still visits Catalonia from time to time.

We live in an era marked by immediacy. We answer messages while walking, constantly check notifications, and often end the day feeling like we've been busy all the time without really connecting with ourselves. Speed, hyperproductivity, and the need to always respond immediately are part of a culture that leaves less and less room for emotional rest. Gaby Hostnik, a specialist and trainer in applied neuroscience and emotional intelligence, author of the book The future is what you do today (Bruguera, 2026), talks about this contemporary malaise.

Sant Jordi has once again overflowed Catalonia with the magic formula that never fails: books for all tastes —from the exquisite Nobel laureate Han Kang to young authors in love with success, such as Gil Pratsobrerroca, David Uclés and Inma Rubiales—, roses at prices ranging from 4 to 25 euros, and the contagious enthusiasm of millions of citizens who have taken to the streets ready to have a good time.