The world’s largest bookfair, Frankfurter Buchmesse, opened its doors last October 16-20, 2024, in Frankfurt, Germany. For worldwide business and trading, it is regarded as the most significant book fair on earth. More than 4,300 exhibitors and an expected 114,000 trade visitors from 131 countries, welcoming rights professionals from a total of 355 agencies and publishers make the Frankfurt Book Fair a place of endless discoveries. On the stages we experienced exciting international voices.
As the Frankfurter Buchmesse celebrates its anniversary for another year of serving the industry, Citi of Books did not miss the chance to join the 76th Frankfurt Book Fair (Frankfurt Buchmesse) in Frankfurt, Germany. This spectacular gathering honors fascinating works and their creators.
With a series of activities prepared, one of the most anticipated this year is the chosen country to be the guest of honor, which is Italy. The country will present not just its diverse, unique qualities as an attractive place to travel but also as a country with a rich literary tradition.
Citi of Books is excited to present books written by our distinguished authors. In our assigned booth, a range of books—from fiction to nonfiction—would be on exhibit. A book included in the gallery was “The Goldberg Variations: A Novel” by Andrew Grof.
Andrew Grof, the author, was born and raised in Hungary. After fleeing the communist regime with his family, he lived in Vienna for two years before emigrating to the United States. He is the author of four critically acclaimed novels, all published by Sunstone Press: The Goldberg Variations (also translated and published by Argumentum Press in Hungary, 2014), Everyone Loves Ronald McDonald, Artists and Lost Loves. He currently resides in Miami, Florida after having retired from Florida International University as a humanities librarian and adjunct professor of English and Honors Studies.
Everything begins and ends in the past. But where does the past begin, and how will the present end?
“The Goldberg Variations: A Novel” centers on the reunion of two friends, Schaeffer and James, whose accidental meeting in New York’s Greenwich Village rekindles a deep conversation about life and death. Their interaction unfolds as an intricate tapestry, weaving together past and present in a way that defies traditional beginnings and endings, leaving them adrift in a timeless expanse.
This journey of dialogue carries significant risks for both the storyteller and his listener, who is later joined by his girlfriend, Marie. The narrative grapples with the dangers of blurred identities and temporal confusion, as the present seems to intrude upon the past in unexpected ways.
The music of Glenn Gould’s “Goldberg Variations” serves as a recurring motif throughout the novel, symbolizing comfort and connection. It resonates deeply with Schaeffer, evoking memories of his mother, who cherished “First Piano Concerto” by Van Cliburn before her battle with cancer. Both artists experienced meteoric fame followed by sudden disappearances, mirroring the themes of loss and longing in the story.
Ultimately, music emerges as a universal language that transcends barriers, linking Schaeffer, his ailing mother, and friends across time and experience. Their shared love for music creates a pathway for authentic communication, highlighting its power to forge connections among people from all walks of life.