logo

38 pages 1 hour read

Manuel Puig

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Manuel PuigFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1976

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Manuel Puig

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1976
Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Buenos Aires, Argentina • 1970s

Publication Year

1976

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Manuel Puig’s novel Kiss of the Spider Woman, Luis Alberto Molina, a sociable hairdresser, and Valentin Arregui Paz, a reserved Marxist revolutionary, share a prison cell in Buenos Aires from September to October 1975, where they bond over Molina's retelling of movie plots, gradually forming an emotional and physical connection, despite their ideological differences and Molina's secret mission to spy on Valentin. The novel includes scenes of imprisonment and torture.

Mysterious

Emotional

Romantic

Bittersweet

Dark

Reviews & Readership

4.2

19,953 ratings

75%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig is lauded for its compelling character development and innovative narrative structure that blends dialogue and storytelling. Critics appreciate its exploration of gender, sexuality, and political themes. However, some find the dialogue-heavy format challenging and the shifts in narrative style disorienting.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Kiss of the Spider Woman?

A reader who would enjoy Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig likely appreciates complex character studies and explores themes of human connection amidst adversity. Fans of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez may find it impactful for its narrative depth and socio-political commentary.

4.2

19,953 ratings

75%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Buenos Aires, Argentina • 1970s

Publication Year

1976

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.