Purple House

Re “Purple Passions Swirl About Texas Abode” (Aug. 11), on the historic house of one of my favorite authors and poets, Sandra Cisneros (that is now painted periwinkle with hyacinth and turquoise trim): I think her house looks charming, fanciful, and so like the whimsical style of her precious stories.

Moreover, the three cool, analogous hues harmonize well together and are soothing to the senses against the harsh, humid, hot landscape of historic San Antonio. If the house stands out at all, may I suggest that it is not the only one. The huge, postmodern, downtown San Antonio Public Library is painted in the most lurid shade of fiery red orange.

I suggest that those stodgy neighbors need to get lives of their own, but if they make her repaint it, I hope she paints it back to pale bone white and moves to my neighborhood, where people are not nearly as provincial, and where we will be honored to have such a beautiful lady living here.

ROBERT L. KNEELER III

Los Angeles

* Ode to Cisneros:

I never saw a purple home,

I never hope to see one.

But let me say in forthright tone--

I’d rather see than be in one.

KENNETH LARSON

Los Angeles