Customer Reviews

Kiss of the Spiderwoman

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I love it when a random pick turns out to be an interesting read. In keeping with a long tradition of getting acquainted with a place through its literature in advance of an actual visit; an upcoming trip to Argentina precipitated the search for literature by Argentine writers set in Argentina. "Kiss of the Spider Woman" was selected since it was available at my local library. Oddly, I didn't find much Argentine literature published within the last two to three years. Argentina's most prolific writers appear to have been at the height of their careers during the early 1900's.

Although this novel takes place in Buenos Aires, it didn't provide much imagery of the city. The majority of the story takes place in a jail cell, inhabited by a political prisoner (Valentin) and a gay cell mate (Molina) arrested for "indecent" behavior. Through a series of deceptive intentions on the part of the prisoners and Argentine authorities a tangled web of seduction and betrayal is woven. I found it particularly interesting how films are used in the novel as a lure for the prey. Will Molina get what he wants from Valentin? Will Valentin get what he wants from Molina? Will the authorities get what they're looking for from both? Does love truly conquer all?

Although I doubt this novel will provide many déjà vu experiences when traveling in Argentina - a few street names perhaps - "Kiss of the Spider Woman" wasn't a bad read. I'm hopeful that I'll find a more current novel during my travels that I can highly recommend; in the mean time give this on a try if you're looking for an interesting read from Argentina. There's also a film based on the novel so I plan to rent it upon my return to the States.