Kissing the Virgin's Mouth: A Novel
Worth buying if: You enjoy character-centered, emotionally honest fiction.
Skip it if: You prefer plot-driven thrillers or fast-paced action.
Exact edition: Paperback · ISBN-13 9780060933586. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
Donna M. Gershten's novel follows a woman's fragile journey back to her hometown where buried truths, religious tensions, and intimate betrayals force reckonings with identity and belonging across a tightly observed community.
Why this book now
For readers drawn to intimate domestic dramas and explorations of faith and memory, this quietly powerful novel remains resonant and emotionally timely.
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You enjoy character-centered, emotionally honest fiction.
- You appreciate stories about family, faith, and small-town tensions.
- You prefer plot-driven thrillers or fast-paced action.
- You want light, escapist beach reads without moral complexity.
- You only want something with very current references and examples.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Paperback · ISBN-13 9780060933586
Worth buying if: You enjoy character-centered, emotionally honest fiction.
Skip it if: You prefer plot-driven thrillers or fast-paced action.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Light Short sit-downs
At about 240 pages, this is a moderate, contemplative read best savored slowly over several sittings to absorb its emotional subtlety.
What stands out here
This Perennial edition highlights Gershten's measured prose and close psychological observation of family and faith dynamics.
Best way to approach it
Read attentively, pausing to reflect on character motives and the novel's moral ambiguities rather than rushing for plot resolution.
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Paperback: ISBN-13 9780060933586
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.