The Gilda Stories

Jewelle L. Gomez

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black lesbian vampire

identity and belonging

racism, sexism, homophobia

immortality and community

time periods in american history

concise, direct, poetic writing

multifaceted characters

evolution of american society

disjointed yet beautiful prose

moral journey

reflective to vibrant pacing

multi genre exploration

The Gilda Stories by Jewelle L. Gomez is a novel that follows the life of Gilda, a Black lesbian vampire, through various time periods in American history. The book explores themes of identity, community, and immortality as Gilda navigates through different eras while dealing with issues of racism, sexism, and homophobia. The writing style is described as concise, direct, and poetic, capturing the essence of Gilda's journey as she searches for a place to call home and grapples with her dual nature as both human and vampire.

Characters:

The characters are multifaceted, primarily focusing on Gilda's moral journey and her interactions with a diverse cast that reflects her community.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is poetic and can be occasionally disjointed, with moments of beauty that mirror the character's complexities.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers on a Black lesbian vampire's life experiences over 200 years, focusing on her search for identity, community, and belonging.

Setting:

The novel is set across a wide array of locations and time periods, showcasing the evolution of American society from the 19th to the 21st century.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, initially slow and reflective, transitioning to more vibrant and engaging sections as Gilda's journey unfolds.

The Girl slept restlessly, feeling the prickly straw as if it were teasing pinches from her mother. The stiff moldy odor transformed itself into her mother’s starchy dough smell. The rustling of the G...

Notes:

The Gilda Stories is written by Jewelle Gomez and was first published in 1991.

The protagonist, Gilda, is a Black lesbian vampire who escapes slavery in the 1850s South.

Gilda's journey spans over 200 years, covering significant historical events and themes of race, sexuality, and identity.

The novel combines elements of fantasy, horror, historical fiction, and speculative fiction.

Gilda learns to ethically acquire blood, taking only what her victims can give, unlike traditional violent vampires.

The story explores intersectionality and the Black experience throughout American history.

Gilda eventually takes on the name of her mentor, also named Gilda, who helps her navigate her new life.

Key themes include the importance of community, compassion, and moral obligations in relationships.

Gomez's writing is noted for being both imaginative and grounded in historical context, making it a unique take on the vampire genre.

The characters in Gilda's world often reflect issues facing marginalized communities, including racism, sexism, and homophobia.

Despite its focus on vampires, the book is more about the human experience than traditional vampire lore.

The narrative is structured as loosely connected stories rather than a single overarching plot, which some readers found challenging.

Gilda has a unique ability to communicate with both human and non-human animals, showcasing an ecofeminist perspective.

The Gilda Stories was one of the early works to address queer representation in vampire narratives.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include violence, sexual assault, and themes of slavery and historical trauma.

Has Romance?

Romance is present in various forms throughout the narrative, although it is not the central focus of the plot.

From The Publisher:

Before Buffy, before Twilight, before Octavia Butler s Fledgling, there was The Gilda Stories, Jewelle Gomez s sexy vampire novel."

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