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A review by woodslesbian
The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am a complete sucker (pun intended) for lesbian vampire books, and this was such a refreshing and thoughtful read! Gilda's story, from her escape from slavery, becoming a vampire, and on to the many impactful connections she forms over hundreds of years, was a truly incredible read. So much of this book was incredibly powerful and inventive, especially for such an over saturated genre. This book is split into several sections, each in a new time and place, and each one focuses on who Gilda has become in that moment, her views on the changing world around her, and especially the bonds she forms with humanity and other vampires. This was just a stunning look at community and human nature, using vampirism as a tool to explore these themes.
This book is definitely on the slower side and focuses more on character work than action, though there are absolutely some tense moments throughout. I really enjoyed this leisurely pace, but it is very different from a lot of vampire fiction and might not work for some. The writing style itself I would describe as reserved, giving the reader a clear sense of Gilda's interiority but is not overly descriptive or saccharine. While all are moments from Gilda's life, some of the different sections felt a little too disconnected from each other for me, more like short stories than an overall narrative, though others called back to Gilda's past more strongly. I will also admit that the last two sections lost me a little bit--since they are set in 2020 and 2050 in a book written in the 90s, the tone moved towards speculative rather than historical fiction. While many of Jewel Gomez's predictions were very accurate, others made me lose my suspension of disbelief a little bit. These sections also felt a little less grounded and thoroughly explored than the earlier ones, and I really enjoyed that slower pace a bit more.
I'm so glad I read The Gilda Stories; it really felt like I got a key insight into such an important development in the vampire genre and a beautifully told, heartfelt exploration of one woman's life!
This book is definitely on the slower side and focuses more on character work than action, though there are absolutely some tense moments throughout. I really enjoyed this leisurely pace, but it is very different from a lot of vampire fiction and might not work for some. The writing style itself I would describe as reserved, giving the reader a clear sense of Gilda's interiority but is not overly descriptive or saccharine. While all are moments from Gilda's life, some of the different sections felt a little too disconnected from each other for me, more like short stories than an overall narrative, though others called back to Gilda's past more strongly. I will also admit that the last two sections lost me a little bit--since they are set in 2020 and 2050 in a book written in the 90s, the tone moved towards speculative rather than historical fiction. While many of Jewel Gomez's predictions were very accurate, others made me lose my suspension of disbelief a little bit. These sections also felt a little less grounded and thoroughly explored than the earlier ones, and I really enjoyed that slower pace a bit more.
I'm so glad I read The Gilda Stories; it really felt like I got a key insight into such an important development in the vampire genre and a beautifully told, heartfelt exploration of one woman's life!