Glad to See Mario Vargas Llosa Acting Like Himself Again

I really enjoyed reading Sebastian Rotella’s interview of Mario Vargas Llosa, one of Peru’s and Latin America’s finest writers (“A Man of the World,” June 23).

Although most Peruvians respect him as the brilliant writer he is, the reason most of us stopped liking him is no mystery. As one who idolized him and voted for him twice, I lost all respect for him because he was such a sour loser in the 1990 elections. His reaction, unexpected for someone of his stature and caliber (tantamount to a toddler throwing a tantrum), and his subsequent malicious smear campaign against Peru was so harmful to the country’s image that it was hard to believe this man’s first breath was of Peruvian air.

I am glad to see he’s returned to Peru and will admit (in a very runaround way) it is a much better country than what he left seven years ago. He’s seen the light. He’s not so bad after all.

OLGA GUILLEN

Los Angeles