Expanding Perspectives Through Literature: Mario Mendoza's Journey to Success

📚 Mario Mendoza is a renowned Colombian writer known for his distinctive storytelling style.

💡 He emphasizes the importance of rhythm and dialogue in writing, with Gabriel Garcia Marquez's perspective on captivating readers through the first page.

📖 Mendoza discusses the low reading rates in Colombia and the significance of reading for personal growth and a nation's cultural wealth.

🏙️ The speaker faced challenges in selling an apartment and ended up in a difficult financial situation.

📚 The speaker studied literature and pursued a career as a writer after facing personal and professional crises.

💼 The speaker went through difficult circumstances, including living in poverty and experiencing imprisonment, but also had opportunities and privileges.

📖 The speaker reflects on the impact of books in their life and the importance of creating a love for reading in children.

📚 The importance of books and literature in shaping the speaker's career as a writer.

💀 The concept of 'dying' multiple times in one's life to reinvent oneself and break free from repetitive patterns.

✨ Personal experiences of facing death, finding inspiration, and embracing vulnerability.

📚 The speaker reflects on their regrets and wishes to have been more loving and humble towards their father during his illness.

✨ Being an artist requires the ability to transform oneself and embody different characters, but it is not necessary to commit real-life acts in order to write convincingly.

💀 The act of killing in literature can be cathartic for the author, providing a sense of purification and release from guilt.

💙 The speaker finds solace and inspiration in reading works by authors such as Leo Apotheker, Álvaro Mutis, and Lawrence Durrell.

🔀 The speaker discusses personal growth and changes in their approach to relationships and writing over the past 10 years.

🌟 Being sensitive to the pain of others is important in a relationship.

📚 Writing children's books has allowed the author to explore a different style and theme.

🐶 The desire for a loyal and ethical friendship with an animal is emphasized.

🌍 The current generation is misled about the ideals promised by technology and communication.

👥 The importance of human connection and camaraderie is highlighted.

💡 Living a life of lucidity and awareness is seen as a form of artistry.

🌹 Beauty is not solely determined by form, but also by strength and energy.

The speaker values the sincerity and directness in writing rather than elaborate language and metaphor.

The speaker is more interested in the strength and impact of a person or piece of art than conforming to societal norms or stereotypes.

The speaker believes that the internal violence within society, such as classism, racism, and gender violence, is more destructive than external violence from political conflicts.

❤️ The power of affection transcends social barriers and teaches us to go beyond limits and established norms.

🌎 The unconscious tendency to associate mainly with people from the same social class or higher contributes to the violence in Colombia.

📚 The interviewer expresses their admiration for artists like Fernando Botero and Paul Auster, highlighting the impact of their works on their own writing.

⏰ The writer recounts a personal struggle with grief and its effect on their writing process, emphasizing the importance of addressing end-of-life issues with compassion and dignity.

💔 The discussion touches on the need for a more compassionate approach to handling terminal illnesses and the possibility of assisted euthanasia.