1.Mario Vargas Llosa – After he decided to support Keiko Fujimori in the 2021 presidential elections, and following his forays into politics, where he abused his authority as a writer, I decided that I would "never again" read his books.

Fortunately, by that time, I had already read all of them except the last one. Without a doubt, he is the best Peruvian writer, and one of the best worldwide. His mastery of language is unmatched, and the precision of his words, which seems like child’s play, is inimitable. 

Conversation in the Cathedral feels heavy to me, Pantaleón and the Visitors can be barely salvaged, and the second part of The Dream of the Celt feels somewhat forced. I haven’t read his latest novel. All of the others are exquisite desserts. The day artificial intelligence can imitate his style, it will be a celebration for literature lovers.

2.Jaime Bayly – The best modern Peruvian writer. Although he mocks everything and everyone, even Vargas Llosa himself, he remains true to his dream and ambition of being a master of words. With a mix of elegance and sarcasm, occasionally throwing in a wink, he tells us everything we are drawn to, without judgment. Like MVL, his ability to tackle diverse topics without arrogance or naivety is impressive. From his tropical house in Florida, he remains the most prolific commentator from his country. I forgive his tendency to write about vulgar sex, murders, absentee fathers, spoiled children, emotional blackmail, and all sorts of human baseness. I love him.

3.José María Arguedas – I know several fragments of Deep Rivers by heart. It is a masterful book where, with each step, your heart races as you discover places you know well, where you could go at any time, but that are, at the same time, unreachable, trapped in the time of 80 years ago. It is the most complete testimony of what the Peruvian highlands were, how they evolved, and why they are as they are today.

The Fox from Above and the Fox from Below is exactly that: sometimes immersed in graves you don’t even want to understand, only to suddenly soar to the highest peaks of written art, where the author confidently paints portraits of the worst scoundrels who seem like jovial uncles.

We thank JMA for the translation of The Gods and Men of Huarochirí and some Quechua poems, rescuing piece by piece that world apart. Apparently, it was a task that cost him a lot of health because he often judged it senseless.

4.Karina Pacheco – Excellent, and not just because she is from Cusco. Her themes are well studied, with difficult and detailed testimonies about years of poverty, terror, and the chasms between social classes that we, the Europeans (for now) egalitarian, can’t even imagine. Past topics that explain the present and a level of detail that is missing in Peruvian literature. It is with Karina that you truly start figuring out the soul of the country, without drama, nostalgia, or exaltation, but methodically.

5.Santiago Roncagliolo – In a different category than the first two heavy weights. More relaxed, so he sometimes rushes through topics making them superficial. With original and contemporary plots, his prose is fluid, although at times his narrative becomes so obvious that it’s hard to stay captivated. The Fourth Sword, The Prince of the Caimans, and The Accident are his best books. His work continues to progress. We want to read more from him.

6.Rafael Dumett – Sometimes, a single book is the work of your life... At first, I was disappointed that many of the facts, traditions, and practices were pure imagination. But the deeper you immerse yourself in the world of The Inca Spy, the less you want to leave it. Luckily, it’s a thick book, with plot after plot unfolding like the best action movie. An exquisite book, a testament to great imagination, love for the civilization that originated in those mountainous lands, and mastery in the use of language. When you enjoy what you’re doing and do it with a high level of professionalism, it shows.

7.Guillermo Thorndike, The Banchero Case – For the scent of the sea, the portraits of Chimbote, the ambitions of a man, and the great Peruvian fishing industry. It’s one of the few books that doesn’t travel, so it won’t get lost.

8.Porfirio Meneses Lazo, Short Stories – For those who want to step into the shoes of Quechua speakers. Stories about love that requires self-sacrifice, half-corrupt but vulnerable police officers, the distances and voids of the endless mountains, quiet physical attraction, motivation, and the ability of humans to change their lives. The French translation by César Itier, whom I would like to meet someday, is a chef-d'œuvre, surpassing Meneses’ original text. However, this is another witness of the Quechua world. After reducing it to everyday dialogues, we move to the other extreme, trying to give it a baroque air.

9.Julio Ramón Ribeyro – Yes, I tried to read him, just like Palma and some other classics. The world, Peru, and the flexibility of the language have evolved so much that, despite some spikes, his work seems insipid to me.