The year 2021 marked Alessandro Marimpietri's debut in the literary universe. A psychologist focused on childhood, adolescence and family, the pandemic brought him (and everyone) a new rhythm of life, a more intense coexistence with his son Lucca.
In When we are one , released by Solisluna, Marimpietri addressed the strong relationship between father and son, how this relationship reflects on our behavior even as adults.
In his second book, What is Time? , to be released this October, the Bahian psychologist keeps his eye on Lucca, now 11 years old, who represents an entire generation of children raised in a digital, fast-paced world with an excess of information. This time, time is the king of the story.
In this interview, Marimpietri talks about his new work, and makes a point of highlighting that in it, he does not just deal with chronological time:
- Tell us a little about your career as a childhood psychologist and what led you to writing.
I am a clinical psychologist and, for over 20 years, I have dedicated myself to listening to the stories of children, adolescents and their families. So, the universe of childhood and adolescence, family relationships, the way they perceive reality, their dilemmas and, especially, the way they invent ways out of the obstacles of existence are a kind of raw material for my work, which, humbly, try to contribute to this process. This is all in me. During the pandemic, I decided to write things for my son and for all children, even those who live in adults.
- To what extent does your son, Lucca, influence your work?
All my writing on this project is due to him. When we are one was born from one of your words: “When I'm an adult and you're old, will you let me put you to sleep on top of me?” This is so powerful that there was no other way than to write for him, for all the children and, in a way, for everyone. Already in What is time? , it all starts with his question, as disconcerting as it is thought-provoking, about what the entity of time really is. In other words, he is the author of the seeds of both books. How lucky for me to be able to listen to your poetics and make it something broad and beyond us.
- Why did you decide to talk about the weather with children?
In fact, we don't just deal with chronological time. This book was also born out of a question my son asked me. I wrote the text in an attempt, flirting with the impossible answer, to construct a sensitive thought about this issue. We talk about the time of things, the time of experiences, our intimate perception of time and the way we deal with this dimension that pushes us forward, sometimes puts us on a roller coaster and, sometimes, leaves us stuck in the past. . In other words, the multiple dimensions of time. I think we can talk about any topic with children, the central question is how we do it. In this case, we choose beauty, care and joy.
- As in When we are one , Esteban Vivaldi (illustrator and author of Black Rome ) is responsible for the illustrations for What is time? . Tell us about this partnership.
This partnership is a source of pride for me. For a budding writer to begin their journey alongside this giant of the arts is an honor. I owe this to the attentive look of Solisluna , who saw something fruitful in this meeting and hit the target! Esteban is intelligent, creative, competent, sensitive and willing to dive into new challenges, as he was in When we are one . It was his idea for the family of seafaring penguins, and his credit for creating a visual narrative for a declaration of love. He invented a story within a story. Together, he, I and the publisher invented a way to make a book that is willing to occupy a space between parents and their children, which I find very interesting.
- Do you believe that the book is a kind of instrument that helps to pause the fast pace of time?
Undoubtedly. Especially illustrated books for children. They are a stimulus strong enough to engage the avidity of childhood, but they allow an open space for creativity, invention and the retelling of stories, escaping the electronic overload that undermines our voids, from where the reinvention of life is born.
- Has the maxim 'Time is money' become outdated?
To a certain extent, time has great value in contemporary society. We are increasingly running out of time. However, this maxim emerged as an emblem of a productivist logic that no longer applies today. In other words, the faster we do things, the better. What we see today in different fields, from the most subjective to the most pragmatic, is that it doesn't work that way. In the case of childhood, even less. The child needs time to not produce, to update a series of central psychic issues, for contemplation, to consolidate experiences, etc. Accelerating these processes, contrary to what it seems, does not produce stronger and more competent individuals, but rather leaves a sometimes indelible stain on experiences that are crucial for healthy development.
- Children and teenagers also live immersed in a sea of information. How to convince children and teenagers to read?
Reading is a kind of journey. We change what is inside us, and also our surroundings. Learning to appreciate this is amazing! I don't think it's about convincing: we have to offer children the best in text, images, layout; always leave good books within their reach; to be an example of reading and enchantment with the world; let us show our enthusiasm with the stories (ballast of our humanity) and spread it all over the world!
