"Learning to read at five was the most significant event of my life," was a notable quote displayed beside the image of Mario Vargas Llosa. It set the tone for the tribute at the Madrid Book Fair this past Saturday, commemorating the Nobel laureate from Peru who passed away on April 13 at the age of 89. Outside the Ibero-American Pavilion, book enthusiasts navigated the stalls under the relentless sun, lining up for bottles of water.

Pilar Reyes, editorial director at Penguin Random House's Literary Division, emphasized Vargas Llosa's connection to Madrid. "His first European experience was in this city, where he eventually settled. Madrid played a pivotal role in his writing journey, which we celebrate today," she remarked.

Various authors then shared excerpts from his works. Eva Orúe, director of the Fair, started with a non-literary note: "I apologize for yesterday's closure due to weather conditions. A Fair that begins by shutting its doors is indeed unusual. However, I hope everything goes as planned from now on." Later, it was announced that the Fair would open with a one-hour delay at 6 PM due to the extreme heat. Weather, whether it's scorching heat, strong winds, or rain, often dominates discussions at this annual book event, sparking debates and conflicts over closures.

Returning to Vargas Llosa, journalist Juan Cruz, who had edited and interviewed him numerous times, reflected, "Years ago, I accompanied Vargas Llosa on his first visit to the Fair after much hesitation." He humorously added, "A friend asked me to read one thing, another friend another, so I'll read something else," before sharing a piece from his memoir, The Fish in the Water.

RAE academic Javier Cercas recalled the "shock" he felt at 17 upon reading The Time of the Hero. "I've read everything Vargas Llosa wrote. This novel, dated 1979, remains a masterpiece, one of the finest in our language. It portrays teenagers in a military school, similar to the one Vargas Llosa's father sent him to 'make a man of him.' This book was a revelation for me, and I believe it will be for anyone who reads it," he stated.

Critic Jordi Gracia, from EL PAÍS, highlighted Vargas Llosa's essays, particularly The Perpetual Orgy: "A passionate exploration of Madame Bovary and Gustave Flaubert, which captivated Vargas, immersing him in both Flaubert's and Bovary's private lives, as well as his own." Writer Manuel Rivas likened Vargas Llosa's insightful and sincere approach to that of Flemish school painters. He cited Curzio Malaparte: "Contemporary authors don't read each other; they watch each other." According to Rivas, Vargas Llosa read differently.

Authors like Rosa Montero, Santiago Roncagliolo, and Carlos Granés (who amused the audience with a passage about Vargas Llosa discussing a Rastafarian's relationship with marijuana) also read, alongside some public members. Actor Pedro Casablanc participated, having been in Los cuentos de la peste, a theatrical piece where Vargas Llosa himself performed, inspired by Bocaccio's Decameron. As Pilar Reyes described it, this was a "corsair incursion" into the world of acting.

Claudia Piñeiro recounted an anecdote from when she served on the Alfaguara Prize jury, led by Vargas Llosa, and brought him a pocket edition of Pantaleón y las visitadoras. The Nobel laureate was surprised as it was a rare edition withdrawn from bookstores due to unauthorized use of a photo on its cover. "I cherish the copy: first, for its forbidden cover; second, for being signed by Mario Vargas Llosa."

"Mario Vargas Llosa's novels are monuments of the genre, and his thoughts remain vibrant," concluded Pilar Reyes. "He is a classic, one we can continue to revisit, and he will keep enlightening the world."