The Scream of A Thousand Libraries Chapter 33: Chapter 33: News from the other side of the world...

Read chapter 33 of The Scream of A Thousand Libraries by Susangja on NovelPedia.

POV: HELENA IVYRA. The first classes have been repetitive and tiresome, honestly. I remembered the feeling well: always the same scripts, the same sequence of teachers explaining how the evaluations would work, describing the class dynamics, and reviewing those standard topics we were all tired of hearing. With each repetition, it felt like time was dragging on. But, finally, we had reached the end. The last first class of the year. Geography. It was Professor Andressa's class, the youngest among all the teachers at the school. It made me smile, because it was almost comical to think that, among so many older teachers with decades of career behind them, we had her, a woman who hadn't even turned thirty. Of course, she wasn't there by chance. Andressa had a reputation for being strict, sometimes even annoying, but no one could deny that she knew how to convey the material clearly and precisely. She was respected, and even instilled a certain fear in many of my classmates. I remembered her appearance: light-blonde hair, always tied back simply; medium height; and the most striking detail, that pair of square glasses that gave her a serious air. Her brown eyes reflected a firmness that sometimes made us uncomfortable, but they also held a certain hidden sweetness, typical of someone who had never forgotten her roots. Indeed, she carried that simplicity of the countryside, albeit disguised under a professional demeanor. Many were afraid of her, and with good reason. Her scoldings could be harsh, her tests were tough, and her demands, almost suffocating. But, at the same time, there was a protective aspect to her. I myself had witnessed moments when she didn't hesitate to confront even the principal to defend a wronged student. She was that kind of teacher: tough when necessary, but capable of acting as a shield. And so, the last class began. "Today, we're going to talk about something that, at first glance, doesn't seem very connected to geography, but if you look closely, you'll see the direct link" Andressa said, adjusting her glasses as she opened the presentation on the projector. She began to speak about the different styles of literature around the world. The way each genre, each format, and each literary tradition ended up taking root in a specific region, becoming almost a reflection of the local culture itself. "If you want high-quality poetry and sentimentalism, go to France or Spain," she explained, with the naturalness of someone who had repeated that lesson many times. "If you're looking for philosophy with depth and numerous teachings, the Alamans, or Germany, is your destination" I took mental notes, fascinated by the clarity with which she traced the cultural map. "Science fiction, comics, pop culture? We head to the land of the free, the USA" the teacher said, making air quotes with her hands. "Manga? We go to the land of the rising sun; Japan is the destination" She took strategic pauses, allowing us time to absorb and note each example. Gradually, her discourse expanded, connecting what seemed to be just literature to the broader aspect of the subject. "Each genre has its own marks. Culture modifies literature, but literature also shapes culture. The epic fantasies of England didn't arise from nowhere; they drew from medieval tradition. Meanwhile, the wars and political conflicts of France and Spain forged their melancholic poets from the foundation of their conflicts" I listened to her attentively, and it was as if each word opened a window beyond the classroom. It was like a simple journey to countries and their cultures, through their texts and stories. They say reading allows you to live a thousand lives in just one, but it wasn't just that…. ‘Reading allows you to experience a thousand cultures, just through the text!’ Quickly circling the countries she had already mentioned and their respective strengths, I returned my attention to her explanation. "Russia," she continued, in a firmer tone, "with its turbu