Cheap Kiss of the Spider Woman (Book) (MANUEL PUIG) Price

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Customer Reviews of Kiss of the Spider Woman

Don't read this, read the book!!
This book was recommended to my by a very enthusiastic friend, and I must say, having finished the book, I understand why. Roughly, the story is about two men in prison: Luis Molina, the homosexual window dresser, and Valentin Arruiga Paz. That, however, only begins to describe it. It's also about movies: Molina tells the plots of movies, partially to pass the time, partially because these movies -- living these movies -- is his escape. He prefers the movies from the forties and fifties, with the real divas, short hair, lots of blood-red lipstick . . . The movies aren't just time-passers, either: they reflect the events of the book.

The style is one of the most outstanding features of the book. It is almost entirely in dialogue, with some brief spates into play-format and a couple of police reports. It varies with the setting. There are also a couple of sections in stream-of-consciousness, where one receives Molina's movies as he thinks of them, no bothering with sentences. It all contributes to a wonderful effect.

I have, however, heard, that although this is the only translation available, it isn't the best. For example, Molina refers to himself as a woman throughout the book in the Spanish version. Although this isn't as possible in English, one could have made more of an effort, to preserve the feel of the original.

So go learn Spanish (if you don't know it already) -- but read this first!

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Mesmerizing
I saw the movie, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN several years ago and fell in love with it, but I'd never read the book until last week. As wonderful as the movie is, for me, the book is even better. I was fascinated by this story from the very first page and that fascination only grew until I reached the book's surprising end.

KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN begins as a character study of two very different cell mates in an Argentine prison. Molina is a former window dresser who deals with life's uncertainties by escaping into fantasy via his love for the cinema. Valentin, a political revolutionary, is very much the opposite and appears, at first, to be well-grounded in reality. Gradually, however, the two men find common ground and their relationship deepens into something both lasting and life-changing.

By the time I got around to reading this book, I'd forgotten much of the film's plot, especially its ending. I was fascinated with the interplay between Molina and Valentin and absolutely mesmerized by the twist Puig gives their relationship...not once...but twice. This story ends on a surprising (at least for me) note, but one that "fits" perfectly. KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN is the kind of book you can't put down until you reach the end and after you do, the story stays with you. It lingers, ensaring you in its web.

The bulk of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN is written in dialogue. Any description of the prisoners's surroundings (or of Molina and Valentin, themselves) is left to the reader's imagination. I know some readers may not agree with or like this choice, but I thought it was perfect. This is very definitely a character-driven novel (and a claustrophobic one at that) as opposed to a plot-driven one and telling the story through dialogue only deepens and enriches our insight into the psyche of the two men involved.

I loved KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. It's not upbeat and it won't make you feel good, but it is luminous and mesmerizing from the first page to the last. Puig's style differs greatly from that of other great Latin American writers, but he's just as important and just as influential. This is one novel I think everyone should read.

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kiss of the spider woman
a good read if you're interested on how to use dialogue to convey action/emotion