The participative action Books That Matter is a sort of literary Secret Santa. A massive exchange of books that takes place in a public space. This activity has been carried out with great success in different cities of Spain. Four editions have taken place in Zaragoza, in which more than 16,000 people have brought close to 8,000 books.

How does it work? I give someone a book that’s wrapped in paper, and I receive another one in return. The exchange is done anonymously and one of its most important characteristics is that each book must have a dedication written by the person who is giving it away. In that dedication, this person says why that book is important to them, and in this way the recipient takes home more than just a book: they take with them a story that wants to be revived.

At midday on Saturday the 16th we will kick off the event with an initial contribution of 100 books given by 100 people who are very special to us, people who are very close to the world of culture, people who can inspire us; 100 well-known faces who want to tell us how important literature is to them: writers, athletes, artists, journalists, booksellers, librarians.

Come to Matadero with a book that matters to you.