READERS BITE BACK

Letters

Picture of Lily

I want you to know how much response I have received from the shot of me by Annie Leibovitz used in the Christmas issue. I have received dozens of copies in the mail to autograph for fans. Everyone seems intrigued and amused by me and my dog, Tess. Especially Tess.

P.S. Annie is absolutely the best!

LILY TOMLIN Los Angeles, California

Hairy Madonna?

I know 1 have to allow for the fact that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, but I really think you'd have to go a long, long way to call Madonna beautiful. I thought you were being absurdly hyperbolic [V.F., December] in calling Madonna "a startling beauty of almost eighteenth-century purity." She's got a moon face, flat, hairy eyes, and spaced teeth, and she can't hold a candle to Grace Kelly or Marilyn Monroe. Give her credit for being a master of publicity, but "beautiful"? Take a good look, huh?

C. M. KUNCAS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your article and photo spread of our nation's premiere chanteuse, Madonna. The endless glamour, sophistication, beauty, and mystique of our most beloved camp siren have never before been captured so subtly or so successfully.

ALBERT E. GIOBBIE Staten Island, New York

Beating Around Bush

Gail Sheehy missed the mark on George Bush by a country mile [V./7., February], What I read was a rehash of the same old tired theme the media seems to thrive on regarding Bush—i.e., "wimp," "lapdog," "preppy," and on and on. It simply is not so. This country is fortunate that such a man as George Bush would sacrifice the joys and privilege of private life to serve his country.

R. C. NOVETZKE Cedar Rapids,.Iowa

I found the article by Gail Sheehy on Saint George Bush terribly amusing in a horrible sort of way. Why didn't the author interview Geraldine Ferraro? I seem to recall that Saint George talked of "kicking ass" in that campaign. I further recall that dear Barbara Bush had some very unkind things to say about G.F.

The author looked for what she wanted to substantiate her thesis that Saint George is a hell of a nice (original meaning of word: stupid) guy. Whooey on that crap. Nice guy—ha!

CONSTANCE FOLEY TWINING Baltimore, Maryland

Gail Sheehy's article on George Bush is beautifully written and most enlightening. I feel I understand Bush better and like him more than 1 did—but I also feel that he would be utterly unsuitable for the presidency in times like these.

CONSTANCE PHARR BRERETON West Redding, Connecticut

Gail Sheehy quotes me in her article on George Bush: "His problem is he lacks steel." For the record, I was quoting a Texas politico. That insight remains his, not mine.

CHRISTOPHER BUCKLEY Washington, D.C.

No Speako Placido

What I want to know is, who is Leon Wiesel-whatever and why is he writing this garbage about Placido Domingo [V.F., January]? What kind of cheap shot was that about Placido's accent? Obviously Wiesel-whoosis has tunnel hearing. Boy, do I hate snobs. They always try to ruin things for the rest of us normal people. Please, please, Placido, don't listen to these jerks; we love it all.

LISA RUSSELL San Antonio, Texas

CORRECTION: The photograph identified as that of Stephen Pender in Michael Shnayerson's article "One by One" [V.F., March] is in fact of someone else. We apologize for the error.

Letters to the editor should be sent with the writer's name, address, and phone number to: The Editor, Vanity Fair,330 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017. The letters chosen for publication may be edited for length and clarity.