Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme started by @Lauren’s Page Turners but is currently hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog. This meme is quite easy to follow – just randomly pick a book from your to-be-read list and explain why you want to read it. It is that simple.

This week’s book:

Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig

Blurb from Goodreads

Sometimes they talk all night long. In the still darkness of their cell, Molina re-weaves the glittering and fragile stories of the film he loves, and the cynical Valentin listens. Valentin believes in the just cause which makes all suffering bearable; Molina believes in the magic of love which makes all else endurable. Each has always been alone, and always – especially now – in danger of betrayal. But in cell 7 each surrenders to the other something of himself that he has never surrendered before.

Why I Want To Read It

Happy Monday, everyone! Technically, it is already Tuesday. I know—not many people get excited about Mondays (though I’m sure a few are out there). I, too, am not exactly a fan. Still, we push forward. After all, we’ve got to start somewhere, and Monday is one of those starting point. It provides us an opportunity to work on our goals; ironically, in any endeavor, the start is often the hardest part. I hope everyone had a restful weekend and is ready for the week ahead. The weather here in the Philippines has been unpredictable. Today, the skies are over cast. The day started with a downpour. It has become noticeable how the evening breeze has become cooler. I guess the holiday season is just around the corner. Colds and coughs have also become prevalent. As such, I hope everyone is doing well—mentally, emotionally, and physically—and that we all make it through (or survive) the workweek.

Time really does fly. Just like that, we’re already in the last week of November. In a couple of days, we will be waving goodbye to the eleventh month of the year and welcoming December. 2026 is just over the horizon. Despite the uncertainties the future holds, time keeps pressing forward—regardless of our readiness. While the future remains shrouded in uncertainty, there’s still much to look forward to. I hope everything goes well for everyone in the remainder of the year. May the rest of the year be kind to us all and shower us with blessings, positivity, healing, and growth. I hope good news and kindness come knocking on your doors in the coming weeks. May you be rewarded for all the hard work you’ve put in this year. Wishing you continued success and happiness.

With the start of a new week also comes a new reading adventure, hence a fresh Goodreads Monday update. My venture into the vast landscape of American literature—and, by extension, African literature—is in full swing. This is in line with my goal of completing all my reading challenges and goals this year; the remaining books from these challenges were written by American and African writers. My current read, Nell Zink’s Sister Europe is one of the ten books I listed on my 2026 Top 10 Books I Look Forward To List, a list of new releases I wanted to read. However, not once did I succeed on completing this list and 2026 is just going to be a part of this streak. Maybe one day I will finally be able to complete all ten books I list. Obtaining a copy of these books pose a challenge.

Anyway, back to what this weekly meme is about. Yesterday, I featured books written by Argentine writers on my 5 on my TBR list, in line with the Latin American nation’s celebration of its National Sovereignty Day. Searching for works of Argentine writers was an experience as it introduced me to familiar names whose oeuvres I have yet to explore. Among them is Manuel Puig. I encountered him before, and interestingly, it was with Kiss of the Spider Woman. This initial encounter was through an online bookseller. I can’t recall why I dismissed it back then. But now, I am curious about what it has in store. Further, it is going to be a part of my expansion into works of both Latin American and Argentine writers. My foray into Latin American literature is dominated by Nobel Prize in Literature awardees and Chilean writers.

Originally published in 1976 as El beso de la mujer araña, Kiss of the Spider Woman is often considered as Puig’s magnum opus. It was even adapted into a stage play and an Academy Award-winning film. It is also listed as one of the 1,001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. The novel’s premise also piqued my interest. Basically, it is about two cellmates in an Argentine prison. Further, the novel’s structure deviates from standard narrative structures. But what really caught me by surprise was its being tagged as a work of queer fiction. I guess this was not something I expected. This, however, does not preclude me from wanting to read the book. Rather, it made me want to read it even more. In short, there are several reasons for me to want to read the book. I guess it is no longer a want. It has become imperative for me to read the book. I just hope I get to acquire a copy of it soon.

How about you, fellow readers? How was your Monday? What books have you recently added to your reading list? Drop your thoughts in the comments. For now—happy Monday, and as always, happy reading!