Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Race, Gender, Class, Sexuality, and Family Values, 25 Jun 1998
By A Customer
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.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
With special guest appearance by Alice Dunbar Nelson!, 22 Jul 1997
By A Customer
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.
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by Iris Murdoch
by Maggie O'Farrell
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