| | The Gilda Stories |  | Author: Jewelle Gomez
Publisher: Firebrand Books
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $4.98
You Save: $9.97 (67%)
New (1) Used (4) from $4.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 737791
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 268
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6
ISBN: 1563411407
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781563411403
ASIN: 1563411407
Publication Date: January 30, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: older edition
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 The taste of midnight October 31, 2000
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
This remarkable novel is about a runaway slavegirl in the 1850s who is befriended by 2 enigmatic women who run a brothel. The two women help the girl and make her like themselves, as vampires. The girl takes the name Gilda (from one of the two) and spends the next 200 years searching for a place to call home, for love, and for greater meaning in the world. Gomez has created an amazing tale that is utterly intriguing. I wanted to love it more, but sometimes the story almost worked against itself by moving too quickly from time period to time period without giving us (and Gilda) a chance to really connect. I heartily recommend this book because of the many thought-provoking points Gomez introduces. It's quite a tasty story.
 Race, Gender, Class, Sexuality, and Family Values June 25, 1998
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Definitely kinder, gentler vampires than vampire fans may be used to, and that's a wonderful recommendation in itself. In addition, the politics of race, gender, class, and sexuality abound. Black women's communities, women and work, lesbianism and women's friendships, black activism, and vampire subculture-as-gay/lesbian subculture are all parts of the impressive multicultural politics of this book. It's a great read, as well. My only critique is of what I consider its ultimate political statement as the novel ends: "family is the most important thing" (over work, politics, etc.). Though the novel redefines family in progressive ways, the emphasis on family is still a tad too conservative for me. However, this may also be a reflection of my personal jewish (middle-class) feminist politics meeting a form of black feminist politics and colliding a bit based upon race and class difference. Buy this compelling and important book and read it, then judge for yourself.
 An intense and moving vampire tale November 30, 2001
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
Jewelle Gomez departs from the usual vampire scenario, first because her vampire heroines are almost all female, and second because they are a truly diverse group. Instead of following the Euro-focused trend set by most vampire story authors (from Laurell Hamilton to Brian Lumley), Gomez crafts a believable multiracial and multicultural vampire tradition, embracing a gritty kind of realism and a compelling spiritual focus. The story begins like an historical novel, recreating the antebellum South, and moves through the present and into the far future, as befits a tale of immortals. One of the most interesting themes in the book is the gradual distancing of the immortal from strictly human concerns, and the necessity of maintaining one's connection with the emotions of hope, love, and compassion. This is an excellent read and highly recommended for those tired of vampire melodrama.
Vampiric feeding as "sharing," water as a convincing threat. July 23, 1997
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
(With special guest appearance by Alice Dunbar Nelson!)I've tried loaning this book to four different people. None of them seem interested in it until I start giving away what I consider to be the good bits. You've been warned.
Gomez writes feminist vampires and portrays a kinder, gentler vampirism than I'm used to. They have small clan-like societies based on philosophy of life rather than ability. The act of drinking blood isn't a near-rape for one clan, but a "sharing." These vampires leave hopes, dreams and inspiration to the random people upon whom they feed. Rather than murder, Gilda herself may have saved a life through her hunger.
The book follows Gilda from the late 1800's through to the early 2000's. It also follows her small cell of vampire family from a time when they were the stuff of legend to their exposure.
This is a fine book. It's the first I've read that actually uses the idea of running water as a problem for vampires, or the passing on of a name and legend from one vampire to the other. Gomez's writing is clear and somewhat poetic, and her ideas are sweet enough to even make the legendary bloodsucking demons of the night seem like kind, gentle, neighborly folk. Please read it.
Beautiful and touching! November 1, 1999
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book delves into the mysteries of life, including love, romance, loss of love, and death. It's a very compelling novel that looks into how women think and feel about others. I promise you won't be putting this one down easily!
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