What are Catalan politicians, journalists, writers, and musicians reading for Sant Jordi?

Sant Jordi is unquestionably one of the most - if not the most - important days of the year in Catalonia. 

Every year on April 23, as tradition has it, friends and loved ones exchange gifts of roses and, of course, books - Sant Jordi does fall on World Book Day after all. 

Because of this, the streets of Barcelona and other cities and towns across Catalonia will soon be packed with people and lined with rose and book stalls to mark the Catalan day of romance. 

As Catalonia gears up to celebrate this major holiday, we've asked dozens of personalities, from president Pere Aragonès to celebrity chef Ferran Adrià and more, for their favorite literary works:

Catalan politicians

Pere Aragonès, Catalan president: 'El país de l'altra riba' by Maite Salord 

Oriol Junqueras, Esquerra Republicana: 'Solitud' by Caterina Albert-Víctor Català

Salvador Illa, Catalan Socialists: 'Testimonio: Viviendo historia' by Manuel Castells

Laura Borràs, Junts per Catalunya: 'El plaer d'odiar' by William Hazlitt, 'Torturades' by Gemma Pasqual, and 'Sobre la llibertat' by Maggie Nelson

Ignacio Garriga, Vox: 'Patria' by Fernando Aramburu

Dolors Sabater, CUP: 'Les nostres mares' by Gemma Ruiz

Jéssica Albiach, En Comú Podem: 'L'estiu que la mare va tenir els ulls verds' by Tatiana Tîbuleac

Carlos Carrizosa, Ciudadanos: 'Carta a mi padre independentista' by Anna Grau

Alejandro Fernández, People's Party: '¡Liberaos!' by Juan Milián

Mayors

Ada Colau, Barcelona mayor: 'Les nostres mares' by Gemma Ruiz and 'Marrón' by Rocío Quillahuaman 

Miquel Pueyo, Lleida mayor: 'A la recerca de l'obra perduda. Històries sobre el patrimoni artístic' by Albert Velasco 

Marta Madrenas, Girona mayor: 'La plaça del diamant' by Mercè Rodoreda

Pau Ricomà, Tarragona mayor: 'La bèstia i el caçador' by Lurdes Malgrat

Culture journalists

Anna Abella, El Periódico: 'Per culpa d'una flor' by María Medem

Irene Dalmases, EFE: 'La meva lluita' by Karl Ove Knausgård

Lluís Llort, El Punt Avui: 'Lady Puffin' by Gemma Sardà

Benito Anglade, Europa Press: 'Materials de construcció' by Eider Rodríguez

Ignasi Gaya, TV3: 'Els detalls' by Ia Genberg

Maria Cusó, RAC1: 'Aterratge' by Eva Piquer

Montse Camps, Catalunya Ràdio: 'Miràbilis' by Eva Espinosa

Montserrat Serra, Vilaweb: 'Profecia' by Raül Garrigasait

Writers and translators

Andreu Claret, writer: 'La vida secreta de la Sylvia Nolan' by Núria Pradas

Albert Sánchez Piñol, writer: 'Annals' by Corneli Tàcit

Valèria Gallart, translator: 'Una llebre amb ulls d’ambre' by Edmund de Waal

Josefina Caball, translator: 'La mesura dels nostres dies' by Charlotte Delbo

Musicians

Dani Alegret, Amics de les Arts band member: 'Mamut' by Eva Baltasar

Guillem Solé, Buhos band member: 'Els pecats de la xona: i tot allò que la Moreneta ens perdona' by Laura Fa i Marta Pontnou

Judit Neddermann, singer: 'Pensamiento monógamo, terror poliamoroso' by Brigitte Vasallo

Valèria N. Saurí, Ven'nus singer: 'La nostra atenció ha estat raptada. Autodefensa i supervivència a l'era de la distracció' by Na Pai

Culture world

Joan Oller, Palau de la Música director general: 'War and Peace' by Lev Tolstoi

Judith Colell, Catalan Cinema Academy president: 'L'esdeveniment' by Annie Ernaux

Elvira Dyangani Osé, MACBA director: 'Art emergent. La collita i el viatge' by David Armengol

Montse Aguer, Dalí Museum director. 'París érem nosaltres' by Àngel Quintana

Chefs

Raül Balam, chef: 'Cos a terra' by Toni Aira  

Lluc Crusellas, best chocolatier in the world: 'El mètode Espaisucre' by Jordi Butrón

Ferran Adrià, chef: 'El perfum' by Patrick Süskind

Joan Roca, Celler de Can Roca chef: 'El fabricant de records' by Martí Gironell

Business world

Mike Blackman, ISE managing director: 'Origins' by Dan Brown

Antoni Cañete, PIMEC president: 'Management humanista' by Xavier Marcet 

Mònica Roca, Barcelona Chamber of Commerce president. 'Roses de foc de Barcelona' by Andreu Farràs

José Ignacio Goirigolzarri, CaixaBank president: 'La Historia de Rusia' by Orlando Figes 

Josep Oliu, Banc Sabadell president: 'Cambó, el último retrato' by Borja de Riquer