David's Reviews > Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter

Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa
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it was amazing
bookshelves: latin-american-lit, peru

My first novel read by Vargas Llosa and loved it. He recently won the Nobel Prize in Literature and whom I heard interviewed by Elenor Wachtel (CBC Podcast) and just by this book alone I can see why he won.

This is one of his earlier works and his writing style is lucid, visual and an ease to read (in translation). The story follows an 18-year old writer named Varaguitas working for a Peruvian radio programme editing the news in the late 1950s. Whike studying law and to make some extra cash, the hero and a colleague spend their shifts cutting out newspaper articles to be read on the hourly newscasts. The story unfolds when they hire a well-known Bolivian screen-writer who creates a popular radio series. This is the era before television when radio programs, even in Peru ruled the masses. The quirky man is such a hit that fans throng to the radio building to see him day and night. They become friends in the oddest sense and their friendship is challenged when people notice the writer begins interchaging names of characters.

Enter Aunt Julia who becomes his love interest. Despite the fact she is divorced and 15 years his senior, the bond is believable since movies, the radio show and her interest in staying young tie the couple in love. I won't spoil their outcome but when Varaguitas' parents return from the U.S.A. when they hear they want to get married. Apparently, this part of the story is autobiographical as Vargas Llosa did briefly marry his aunt.

What keeps the book moving is the chapters alternate between the story of the aunt and the radio stories. Each develops in such a fascinating way that I admit I wish he had written a few more stories as they were so entertaining..

An excellent intro to a maestro of literature.
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Quotes David Liked

Mario Vargas Llosa
“One can't fight with oneself, for this battle has only one loser.”
Mario Vargas Llosa, Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter


Reading Progress

Started Reading
February 23, 2011 – Finished Reading
March 7, 2011 – Shelved
December 23, 2015 – Shelved as: latin-american-lit
July 30, 2018 – Shelved as: peru

Comments Showing 1-4 of 4 (4 new)

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Maricarmen Estrada M Fabulous review, David! I agree, he is a maestro of literature!


David Thanks Maricarmen. That he is and to think this was my first of his (and it’s a long list)!


Fátima Linhares I read it, David, and were those chapters between the love story that I didn't enjoy. I skiped those, but I'm glad you liked it so much.


David Thanks Fátima for commenting. I did like the alternating chapters. They kept things going.


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