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The Kiss Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Kiss


Kathryn Harrison's memoir, The Kiss, is an excellently written narrative of incest. The time-frame is not one of a young child being molested, but rather that of the author as a young woman (in her twenties) who meets her estranged father and is seduced by him to engage in sexual acts. The contents of this disturbing account leave the reader in awe of the author's ability to capture and hold our attention without overt acts of purience. There is no physical force or "rape" in what society would consider such a term to mean. The "seduction" which occurs is understated but the devestation which occurs to the psyche of the author is both real and powerfully addressed for the reader.
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This is a very, very well-written book. I would urge anyone to read it.
The review of this Book prepared by Delynne Troy



Chapter Analysis of The Kiss

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Plot & Themes

Kids growing up/acting up?    -   Yes Kids:    -   seducing/being seduced    -   first sexual experience    -   parental abuse Family, hate    -   Yes Struggle with:    -   Father The difficult family member    -   disapproves of personality    -   is a molester (ick!) Taboo Sex Story?    -   Yes Kind of sex:    -   incest Period of greatest activity?    -   1950+

Subject of Biography

Gender    -   Female Profession/status:    -   writer Ethnicity    -   White Nationality    -   American

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   3 () United States    -   Yes The US:    -   West City?    -   Yes City:    -   New York Century:    -   1980's-Present

Writing Style

Book makes you feel?    -   thoughtful Graphic sex in book?    -   Yes Pictures/Illustrations?    -   None How much dialogue in bio?    -   little dialog How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life?    -   0-25% of book

Books with storylines, themes & endings like The Kiss

Kathryn Harrison Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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