ecl@mtgzz.UUCP (e.c.leeper) (02/09/86)
AUNT JULIA AND THE SCRIPTWRITER by Mario Vargas Llosa
Avon, 1985, $3.95.
A book review by Evelyn C. Leeper
Vargas Llosa is Peru's leading novelist. Since I just spent two weeks
in Peru, I though I would try the latest of his works to be translated into
English. The plot revolves around Mario's infatuation with his Aunt (by
marriage) Julia. The fact that she is much older than he, and divorced,
scandalizes the family. As a comic novel, it's fairly low-key (though one
can imagine a filmmaker having great fun with the part where Mario and Julia
try to convince a drunken mayor to marry them), but for me, at least, its
value was more in giving me a glimpse of Peru (albeit the Peru of the
1950's). People who like quiet humor may find it appealing.
Evelyn C. Leeper
...ihnp4!mtgzz!ecl
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******************************************************************************rew@cbosgd.UUCP (Bob Warren) (02/11/86)
In article <1649@mtgzz.UUCP>, ecl@mtgzz.UUCP (e.c.leeper) writes: > AUNT JULIA AND THE SCRIPTWRITER by Mario Vargas Llosa > ...The plot revolves around Mario's infatuation with his Aunt (by > marriage) Julia. The fact that she is much older than he, and divorced, > scandalizes the family. As a comic novel, it's fairly low-key... I read and enjoyed 'Aunt Julia...', and I must protest the characterization of this book as one revolving around a December/May romance. In fact, there is a much more interesting plot going on simultaneously--in which a soap opera scriptwriter gradually goes insane and in the process jumbles the plots of the half-dozen radio dramas he is attempting to write. I enjoyed the interplay between the 'real-life' drama of the romance with the soap opera 'realities' gradually disintegrating and re-forming into bizarre combinations. This book has some hilarious scenes, both within and outside of the soap operas. And if you're from Argentina, the whole book should be ROT-13. Bob Warren cbosgd!rew
citrin@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU (Wayne Citrin) (02/12/86)
In article <1649@mtgzz.UUCP> ecl@mtgzz.UUCP (e.c.leeper) writes: > > AUNT JULIA AND THE SCRIPTWRITER by Mario Vargas Llosa > Avon, 1985, $3.95. > A book review by Evelyn C. Leeper > > Vargas Llosa is Peru's leading novelist. Since I just spent two weeks >in Peru, I though I would try the latest of his works to be translated into >English. "Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter" is not the latest of his works to be translated into English. (Perhaps it is the latest in an English language paperback edition.) He has a brand new novel out whose name I forget (see the front page review in the NY Times Book Review of 2/2/86), and about a year ago he published an English language edition of his previous book, "The War at the End of the World." I read that and recommend it. Wayne Citrin (ucbvax!citrin)