Kissing the Virgin's Mouth

Here is the inspiring story of Guadalupe Magdalena Molina Vásquez, a savvy woman—wife, scoundrel, and mother. In a society in which gender and class roles are unbending, and religion predominant, Magda climbs from the poor barrio of a Mexican town to American affluence, from wide-eyed childhood to worldly courtesan life, from full-blooded youth to oncoming blindness in middle age. With intelligence and humor, she bends the restraints of religion and culture to support her own drive for independence and, ultimately, passes along her earthy wisdom to her half-American daughter. A novel about love, the power of sex, and the struggles of women, Kissing the Virgin's Mouth is an extraordinary first novel from a major new literary talent.

About the Author:
Donna M. Gershten has previously published short stories in literary journals. She lives in Denver, CO.