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192nd out of 304 books
—
243 voters
Kissing the Virgin's Mouth: A Novel
Guadalupe Magdalena Molina Vasquez -- 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 Teatan, Mexico, Magda tells her extraordinary life story -- from a poor Mexican barrio to Amer...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
February 5th 2002
by Harper Perennial
(first published February 1st 2001)
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Purely as fiction, this was a fascinating portrayal of a strong, independent woman looking back on a life rife w/ experience and success, but also misfortune and mistakes - it read much like a memior WRT its immediacy and life. However, I was put on guard by the writer's choice of perspective - that of a Mexican protagonist who spends the majority of the novel in Mexico when in fact the writer is a white (middle class?) American who grew up in NC. I have to admit that held me back, but I guess i...more
I had a hard time reading this because I know very little Spanish, and while the author translates some of it, she doesn't translate all of it. It was a lot like traveling in Mexico and staying in someone's home when neither of you have a great grasp of the other's language or culture. I felt out of place, uncomfortable.
But I think this says a lot more about me than it does about the author, because Gershten does some amazing things with this character and the format of the book itself. I would...more
But I think this says a lot more about me than it does about the author, because Gershten does some amazing things with this character and the format of the book itself. I would...more
Another Barbara Kingsolver Bellwether Award book. I think this may have been the first to receive the award. If I had more knowledge of the Spanish language, I feel rather confident that this would have been a four star selection. I really liked the story and the way the author used both dialogue and reflections to tell the life story of Guadalupe Magdalena Molina Vasquez. But there were so many Spanish words and phrases, that even with context, I sometimes had trouble with the content. I think...more
This book started as a 2 for me but ended closer to a 4 so I will be kind and give it a 3. The woman in this fictional memior grew up in major poverty in Mexico. She deals with all kinds of terrible things that were hard for me to read. There was quite a bit of Spanish in the book that wasn't always translated. You might want to read it with a Spanish/English dictionaary on hand. However, many of the naughty little words she used will not be found in a dictionary. Maybe that's why it seemed so b...more
Great book about how we move through life based on the strange mix of one's background, personality and experiences. This was a pleasant reminder of why I read fiction - its ability to completely absorb you in another life and time because of its lack of restraints compared to nonfiction.
Guadalupe Magdalena Molina Vasquez grows up in extreme poverty in a Mexican barrio of Teatlán, but is able to create a life for herself in places like Tijuana, Monterrey, Guadalajara and even Moscow, Idaho. Gers...more
Guadalupe Magdalena Molina Vasquez grows up in extreme poverty in a Mexican barrio of Teatlán, but is able to create a life for herself in places like Tijuana, Monterrey, Guadalajara and even Moscow, Idaho. Gers...more
She is a good descriptive writer. She really owns her main character - the reader's experience of the setting is totally vicarious. The denoument about 3/4 through the book is shocking because you don't expect the character to have real humility, but the story follows her to the point where her amazing luck and ability to cope in the world break down, and she has to choose between her old tricks and a new way of being in the world. This shift isn't very finessed, but feels real. A great novel fo...more
This story- this main character is so far from me culturally, spiritually, emotionally, and languagewise that I spent most of my time lost amid the mixture of Catholism and Spanish. The cuss words I knew, but I didn't understand the main character at all. I never knew why she did what she did or why sexuality affected even the way she breathed. I don't think I've ever read a book about a woman that I didn't get the way I didn't get this one. More than a foreign location and culture, there was a...more
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This story is written from the perspective of a woman who was raised by a Mexican mother. It's the story of her mother's life in Mexico, her marriage to the woman's father and their move to America. It's full of stories about life in Mexico and the cultural differences between Mexicans and Americans. My favorite example is when the mother and daughter are walking down the street and they get the construction worker cat calls. The daughter, raised in America, is mad and thinks she's being objecti...more
Beautifully written story following the life of Magdalena from the slums of Teatlan, Mexico to America and back again.
Initially this book was very uncomfortable to read: life in the barrio is dirty, hard, and unforgiving. Things that the general American public are unfamiliar with and yes, it's startling to read about it. And therefore, leaves you extremely uncomfortable. But as the you continue with Magda's journey, you realize the barrio doesn't make the person, although it will always be with...more
Initially this book was very uncomfortable to read: life in the barrio is dirty, hard, and unforgiving. Things that the general American public are unfamiliar with and yes, it's startling to read about it. And therefore, leaves you extremely uncomfortable. But as the you continue with Magda's journey, you realize the barrio doesn't make the person, although it will always be with...more
A little "weird" at times, kind of like a novel from the Realismo Magico style but in a more readable and accesible way. Loved the way it was written, really liked the main character in all her beautifully flawed quirkiness. Not sure I would have been ok with all the Spanish thrown in there if I didn't speak it. Then again, I wouldn't have been able to be bothered by the mistakes in Spanish...that was a little off-putting. All in all, a good book and really tugged at my heart strings with all th...more
I give this book 3.5 stars***!
This book begins and ends on the rooftop of the home of Guadalupe Magdalena Molina Vasquez (Magda, for short). While sitting on the chair that once belonged to her Tia Chucha overlooking the golden zone of Teatlan, the resort city in Sinaloa, in Mexico. Where we learned the story of her life: businesswoman, courtesan, wife, mother. The cover is what caught my attention in the first place with the Virgen de Guadalupe. To Magda, the Virgen was very important to her. E...more
This book begins and ends on the rooftop of the home of Guadalupe Magdalena Molina Vasquez (Magda, for short). While sitting on the chair that once belonged to her Tia Chucha overlooking the golden zone of Teatlan, the resort city in Sinaloa, in Mexico. Where we learned the story of her life: businesswoman, courtesan, wife, mother. The cover is what caught my attention in the first place with the Virgen de Guadalupe. To Magda, the Virgen was very important to her. E...more
This book was not very good, and it bothers me that I really like Kingsolver, and she gave this book an award. As others have mentioned the Spanish with no translation is excessive. I read this on an elliptical and did not have a English/Spanish dictionary with me. Also as someone mentioned, most of the Spanish appeared to be explicit so I think it might not have been in a dictionary anyway. Anyways, would not recommend.
Good to read, but I'm not entirely certain I liked it. It is, at once, beautiful and vulgar. The language is rich and the world that is created is lush and brightly colored. Something about it, though . . . rather like eating a doughnut that you thought you were enjoying, only to discover a film in your mouth when you've finished.
An emotionally compelling story about the strength of a woman & the love she has as both a daughter & mother herself. If you know Spanish, all the better. I read it with my iPhone set to Google translate next to me, which I'm sure took away from the poetry of the story. I'd love to read more from Donna M. Gershten.
Magda grows up in the barrio with a near-blind mother, a "ruined" aunt, a legless grandfather, and a philnadering father. By careful observation, she learns how to use her gifts (long legs and provocative beauty)to make her way in the world. She uses men to better herself, but never trusts them. 3 anbd 1/2 stars.
I loved the perspective of life in poverty-stricken Mexico without an ounce of sentimentality. I loved the stark reality of the sex in dirty circumstances. Dirty in every sense of the word. "Ugly doesn't stop sex. Age doesn't either." Loved that.
This book is set in Mexico, and I brought it with me on our honeymoon in Mexico to kind of help put me in the moment. I'm a big fan of reading fiction set in the locale where you are vacationing while you're there.
This book was pretty good. It reminded me of La Cucina. Mostly, I think books that pay homage to an ethnicity are enjoyable because they're typically filled with so much life and passion.
The author is also very talented. She has a beautiful writing style that is that of a great storyt...more
This book was pretty good. It reminded me of La Cucina. Mostly, I think books that pay homage to an ethnicity are enjoyable because they're typically filled with so much life and passion.
The author is also very talented. She has a beautiful writing style that is that of a great storyt...more
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It masterfully captures the tension between two cultures, los pobres en Mexico and the relative wealth of many in the United States, and those who try to live in both worlds.
Excellent read as we journey with Magdalena through her life as it takers her from dancing in GO-GO cages to the wester of America, to the very feet of the Virgin in Mexico. Cool blending of languages into Spanglish.
Mar 03, 2009
Lisa
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those who are bilingual (Spanish/English) or want to learn a lot of naughty Spanish swear words
I had a hard time getting into this book. I think it would help if you knew Spanish, although based on alot of the words I looked up I'm not sure that they're words you get taught in school! When I finally gave in to the idea that the phrases and words sprinkled liberally throughout were just going to remain a mystery to me, it got easier to get into the story although I think you probably lose some of the subtleties of the writing. Loved how the titles of the chapters made up Magda's "rosary"....more
This is very different than the other Bellwether prize winners I've read. It deals a lot with the situation of women in society. It's an interesting, but sad read. My only problem with the book is the amount of Spanish that is used, and not always translated for the reader.
ohmygosh this was such a great book. She writes about her childhood in Mazatlan during the 60's or 70's and I think the author even lived in Idaho for a brief spell. You must read it!
needing a vacation read I picked this up and opened to a random page in the middle to see if it was going to 'grab' me. I had a hard time putting it down. So I packed the book.
I haven't been grabbed by the beginning of the book - but have been waiting to reach that middle section. I'm up to that point now and feel that it may pick up.
Not sure what's distracting me from reading vacation or all the Spanish words in the story or both or something else. I'm just not as sucked in as I'd hoped to be...more
I haven't been grabbed by the beginning of the book - but have been waiting to reach that middle section. I'm up to that point now and feel that it may pick up.
Not sure what's distracting me from reading vacation or all the Spanish words in the story or both or something else. I'm just not as sucked in as I'd hoped to be...more
A feisty woman who pulls herself out of poverty - describes a culture in Mexico with wonderful smatterings of Spanish to enrich the novel with even more atmosphere.
Fast and fun read through the unexpected life of Magdalena in both Mexico and America. Very enjoyable and culturally sound.
Enjoyable as a pastime to distract me from classes, but not recommended for much else.
A vivid and richly imagined story that journeys across culture, religion, and geography. The narrator never flinches or dissembles as she recounts her life from extreme poverty and the shackles of machismo to her new life in America (Idaho, of all places), then back to her roots and her home country. Even as she slowly loses her sight, she provides richly-colored images for the reader, we are with her on her roof watching the waves roll in, ocean spray stinging our eyes.
Nov 24, 2009
Lisa
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
god-bless-goodwill,
literature-fiction
Bellwether Prize (2000) - Barbara Kingsolver's 1st award winner
I found the message disturbing.
At first I found this book somewhat of a struggle to enjoy, but in the end I admired Magda's resilience. Mainly, I appreciated Gershten's descriptive scenes and being taken to an entirely new world through her story.
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