Vampires in the Lemon Grove

Each story in the collection uses magical elements amidst a realistic setting. As a result, the magical elements are representative of a deeper psychological issue and are often metaphorical of broader commentary. This is first evident in the title story, “Vampires in the Lemon Grove.” The main character and his wife, Magreb, are vampires who live in a lemon grove somewhere in the Italian countryside. They suck on the lemons to appease their unquenchable thirst. While the lemons work for a while, eventually the placating effects of the lemons wear off, and the couple realizes that they will have to search for something else. The narrative is also a relationship story. Clyde thought he was the only vampire in the world, until he met Magreb and found his likeness in her because she, too, was a vampire. This magical element, their vampire nature, represents how a relationship, at least in the beginning, makes a person feel less alone in the world. At first, Clyde is content to let go of his former vampiric ways to make Magreb happy. However, as the years go by, he forgets who he used to be and becomes nostalgic for human blood.