The Bad Girl
Book Review
«The Bad Girl» by Mario Vargas Llosa is a novel in which passion and obsession become inseparable companions in the life of the main character, Ricardo. Critics note the author’s exquisite handling of character psychology: Llosa masterfully reveals the inner world of the protagonist, whose love for the mysterious and elusive «bad girl» turns into an endless pilgrimage through cities and eras. The language of the novel is elegant and precise, filled with subtle irony and gentle melancholy, and the narrative, like a musical score, sometimes accelerates, sometimes slows down, following the rhythm of passion and disappointment. Literary scholars emphasize that Llosa creates not just a love story, but a profound meditation on the nature of desire, illusion, and human freedom. The novel is imbued with the atmosphere of Paris, London, and Tokyo, where each city becomes a reflection of the characters’ inner states. «The Bad Girl» is both an ode to eternal infatuation and a bitter parable about the impossibility of complete union between two destinies. The book has received high praise for its psychological authenticity, subtle style, and its ability to evoke a whole range of emotions in the reader—from delight to quiet sadness.
