A review by cupidcove
The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This book is fascinating. Gomez manages to both portray Gilda as distant from humanity while still being empathetic to it, making for an interesting perspective on Black history in America. The portrayal of lesbian relationships was also interesting because of this distance and the focus on family was something you don't often see in older queer stories. I did find the pacing to be a bit odd at points and the shift in genre in the last portion was jarring (though I overall enjoyed that aspect and wished we got more of it) but neither of those things hindered my overall enjoyment of the text.