Kissing the Virgin's Mouth: A Novel [Paperback]

Donna M. Gershten (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2002

Guadalupe Magdalena Molina Vásquez -- wife, scoundrel, courtesan, mother -- is full of contradictions: she believes in love but is suspicious of men; she rejects religion but admires the Virgin Mary; she respects tradition while breaking all the rules. Here, in the Golden Zone of Teatán, Mexico, Magda tells her extraordinary life story -- from a poor Mexican barrio to American affluence, from wide-eyed childhood to worldly courtesan life, from full-blooded youth to oncoming blindness -- and bewitchingly imparts the hard-earned wisdom she has gained through the years.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Choosing to tell her debut novel from the point of view of a Mexican woman, North Carolina native Gershten produces a moving, convincing tale. Born in Teatl n (for which read Mazatl n) at mid-century long before it became a resort, narrator Guadalupe Magdalena Molina V squez embodies most of the contradictions of Mexico itself: she believes in love but is suspicious of men; she rejects religion but yearns for faith; and she respects tradition while breaking all the rules. The adult Magda describes her coming of age in the barrio, selling the corn-based drink tejuino in short shorts at age 14 and making more money than her father. Driven out of town three years later by the League of Decency--a cover for jealous wives--Magda becomes a go-go dancer in Tijuana, a rich rancher's wife in Monterrey, then marries a professor and lives in Idaho for a dozen years. Always, however, she is drawn back to Teatl n, even at the cost of being separated from her half-gringa daughter, Martina, for months at a time. Magda endures every form of abuse, and it is no surprise that the novel is dedicated to "all the whores in history." Magda may not be a winner in the tradition of unsinkable heroes, but she is not a loser, either. She is unafraid to use, learn and move on, and she is independent, determined not to succumb to the demands of her native country or her adopted one. Agent, Jean Naggar. (Mar.)Forecast: Gershten's appropriation of Mexican themes and language--Spanish colloquialisms pepper the text--may strike some readers as condescending, but this spirited novel, the first recipient of Barbara Kingsolver's Bellwether Prize for a work of socially or politically engaged fiction, will ultimately win over most skeptics. Author appearances in the Southwest, Denver and North Carolina and a 15-city NPR campaign should get sales off to a good start.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Recipient of the first Bellwether Prize, established by Barbara Kingsolver for socially or politically engaged fiction, this debut novel depicts the life of a young woman who has grown up poor in Mexico's extremely patriarchal culture. Through observation and experience, she has developed rules that she believes will insure her survival within this culture. Unfortunately, when she marries into a U.S. household, she finds that these rules no longer apply. Despite her acquired affluence, Magda is haunted by childhood hunger and poverty and unable to adapt to her new lifestyle. It is as if she were watching a foreign-language film without subtitles. Gershten writes powerfully, carefully choosing words that create atmosphere and portraying characters that are tangible and have depth. This deeply moving work should find a place in the fiction collections of both academic and public libraries.
-DRebecca Stuhr, Grinnell Coll. Libs., IA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; First Edition edition (February 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060933585
• ISBN-13: 978-0060933586
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,274,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful, Haunting Work, February 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Kissing the Virgin's Mouth: A Novel (Hardcover)

This is an exquisite novel, full of heat and violent with story. From the first page, the lyrical voice of Magda grabbed me by the throat and did not let go. She is in unforgettable character - rebellious, resourceful, imaginative and eccentric. Donna Gershten plants you squarely in Magda's world and while you make your way through that world you may learn plenty you didn't already know - about the nature of longing and the resilience of the spirit.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, June 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Kissing the Virgin's Mouth: A Novel (Hardcover)

I was required to read this book for my Literature class. The first couple of pages were the hardest to get through,(because of the transition from Spanish to English) after that, I couldn't put it down! Donna has a wonderful way of weaving words and bringing the gritty texture of reality into focus. I've bought this book for everyone in my family and am anxiously awaiting her next one. We got to meet with the author and she is an incredible person!

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Hey look--I speak Spanish!, May 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Kissing the Virgin's Mouth: A Novel (Paperback)

Previous reviews of this book seem to be divided into two camps--those who found this book an window into Mexican culture, and those who found the book, written by an Anglo, to be both presumptuous and pretentious. Now, I don't have a problem with anyone wanting to tackle someone else's culture, but I found the author's continual use of Spanish and worse, her translation of Spanish idioms into English unendurable. I think it doesn't really matter if you speak Spanish or not, either, since I lived in Spain and speak Spanish (though of course some of the Mexican words were unfamiliar to me) The "Do you have long nails, daughter?" phrase finally made me slam the book shut! Someone should have told both the author and the editor that using a foreign language in a narrative is like putting salt in a dish--a little goes a long, long way.