This book was a re-read for my GLBT reading group. I first encountered one of the Gilda Stories in the Penguin Book of Lesbian Vampire Stories. Yes, it exists, and yes, it is as awesome as you are imagining right now. I promise. Anyway, I liked the story so much that I ordered the book - this book. And I still had it many years later (a signed copy addressed to Amy) when it wound up on this reading list.

Gilda is a vampire. Each chapter of this book follows a short section of her life, with both memories of the past and plans for the future included. She travels the country, forming bonds with both women and men, continually seeking the good in both herself and humanity. The earlier chapters of the book include details of black history. The later chapters of the book get speculative, thinking about where our world is going.

This book is less explicitly politicized than the three previous we've read for the group. I enjoyed it a lot - of course, I'd read it before and already knew that I liked it. I recommend it to any fans of vampire stories with GLBT and/or minority themes. Four stars.