The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez (1991)
4/5 stars In a nutshell The Gilda Stories could be described as Beloved by Toni Morrison meets Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. But it's also so much more than that. It begins in 1850 and follows a girl escaping from slavery who is taken under the wing of a brothel owner. Adjusting to her new life and connecting with other people, she takes a step further and is introduced to the life of the vampire. The story then spans the next two hundred years and each chapter is devoted to a particular time and place that she finds herself in, the people who enter her life and those who leave it, and what gives her life meaning over time. I really enjoyed Gomez's writing and I found this to be a captivating read. I loved the format and the vignette-style chapters that focus on each time and place, as well as the overall through-story. The characters are varied and interesting. Most of all Gilda is a unique and fascinating character. I would say this novel is a mix of horror, spe
