Middlesex

Sated with controvercy and good writing

Very interesting read. On the surface, a story about a Greek-American hermaphrodite. Calliope/Cal narrates this tale of birth and rebirth.
Cal describes the family history and traces the journey of a rare, recessive gene over about 80 years. Cal's grandparents flee from their burning home in a small village in Turkey. Desdemona and Lefty, brother and sister, reinvent themselves during their journey to America and get married. When their son marries his cousin, two recessive genes collide. The result? Calliope, raised as a girl until an emergency room doctor notices something different about her. A visit to a famous specialist in New York sets Calliope on a completely new path and she is reborn as Cal.
Excellent character development and the intricate details of Cal's convoluted family history will keep readers turning pages. The normal adolescent angst and sexual exploration take on a whole new dimension, yet these issues are handled with grace, sensitivity, and, often, humor.
I did not expect to like this book, as it was on my "have to read" list, rather than the "want to read" list. Nevertheless, Cal's story grabbed me from the very first lines. I found this to be an excellent read.

11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

Gripping, Moving Page-turner

I loved this novel. I picked up this fat tome with some trepidation, hearing it was inspired by a memoir discovered and promoted by Foucault by and about a hermaphrodite. I pictured some post-modern turgid avant-garde mess--like Delillo's Underworld, which had been on the same recommendation list. Instead I found what was promised in Underworld's blurbs was fulfilled in Middlesex--a Great American Novel--and a page-turner.

Strangely, in the tale of a hermaphrodite I didn't find anything remotely freakish, but humanely universal, as if by having this protagonist of an ambiguous gender, Eugenides was able to embrace and bridge both (all?) genders. It's an ambitious work, taking in about 80 years from his Greek immigrant grandparents roots in Turkey, to his parents and childhood in Detroit, to his coming of age on the road from New York City to San Francisco and his current life at a diplomatic posting in Germany. It takes in massacres in Turkey, Ellis Island, the development of America's car culture, Prohibition with it's Speakeasies and bootlegging, The Great Depression, World War II, The Nation of Islam, Detroit race riots and Black/White relations, the sexual revolution, politics, religion--there doesn't seem anything missed, and yet nothing that feels rambling or contrived or caricatured.

The voice is miraculous. Technically it's a first person narrative, but it breaks the bonds of that point of view into an expansive omniscience in telling its story of three generations: Book One dealing with his grandparents in Turkey and their immigration to Detroit; Book Two with the story of his grandparents and parents in Detroit before his birth; Book Three with his childhood and early adolescence; Book Four with his crisis of identity when doctors discover he's not the girl he was raised to be. Even in those two parts of the book during his own lifetime, the narration has that expansive, feel of third person omniscience, but with the intimacy of the first person voice.

Eugenides makes me feel for his characters. I ached for Callie--and Cal--both. I worried for him. I hoped for him. I was propelled through the 500 pages not wanting to skip one paragraph and ended it sorry it was over and wanting to read this again sometime--and Eugenides other novel.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A Great Creative Epic

One of the most stimulating and original books I have read. Truly, a modern-day epic. This is one of my favorite books of all time. Highly recommended.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

boring!!!!!!!!

I just couldnt get into this book..I tried reading the first 100 pages and couldnt read it I was falling asleep.

2 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

I liked it but...

While reading this book, I realized that what I really was doing was watching a movie. I could actually imagine the scenes playing out on the big screen through Eugenides¿ eccentric writing. The way he wrote Middlesex was appealing he described the setting, the characters, the moods in full detail using various, sometimes hilarious analogies along the way. I am also a big fan of narratives that overlook many generations in one hardcover it is a reminder to all of us that everyone 'our parents, grandparents, so on and so forth' have a story to tell. I enjoyed the plot for what it was worth, since there were times I was engaged enough that I could not put the book down. I was slightly disappointed about the way the book ended, however, because I felt like there was still an unexplained development from his confused youth at 14 to where he was now as a cautious adult male. Overall, maybe I just expected a tad bit more from a book that is inducted into Oprah's book club.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Ho Hum

There was way too much detail on the past history of her family, and not enough info that delved into her 'prolem'. The ending had an interesting twist, but if you are an impatient reader, this is not for you. Also there were a lot of noticable typo's.

2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

A Fresh Main Character of an Original Epic

Calliope Stephanides undergoes birth and rebirth as she discovers that she is a hermaphrodite. Yes, this book is interesting. Yes, this book is about a hermaphrodite. But that isn't the one determining factor in making Middlesex memorable. Eugenides writes so beautifully that he instills a certain quality of life into his characters. Cal is so humane, charming enough so that you don't sympathize with him and instead continue reading to learn more about him; this fresh and imaginative character's flaw is just another stepping stone in his life. Even Desdemona and Lefty's incestuous relationship wrenches your heart, being so genuine yet sinful. Eugenides writes this book in a thoughtful perspective; it's filled with love and empty of regrets and resentment. Middlesex is certainly an unforgettable book, moving your soul as you stayed fixed to your seat reading this heartfelt tale.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Unbelievable, heartwrenching, fascinating

An absolute must in any library of any age, sex, or profession

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

AMAZING!

I am reading oprahs book club books and I was looking for something else but ended up with this. It didn't really appeal to me but I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down. Everything about it was amazing and I was crying by the end. I recommend it to anyone.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An excellent read. Written well enough that it will be a tough act to follow. There are not too many modern day fiction novelist with this type of talent for word usage and sentence structure. It tickles the senses.

Much better than most books on the Oprah Book Club Series so don't be discouraged if you are not a fan of the "list". This one is a don't miss.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Terrific read. Writing is superlative. Topic very, very thought provoking.

A real treasure in so many ways.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Middlesex Book Review

Middlesex contains a large array of imformation including the early years of Ford Motor Company in Detroit, the burning of Smyrna by Turkish troops in 1922, the nation and culture of Islam, as well the main topic -- hermaphroditism. Cal, the main character, on the first page tells that he was born and raised as a girl but was revealed as a teenager to be a boy, in genetic and chromosomal terms. His complications are due to a genetic mutation kept alive by incestuous marriages in a tiny village high on Mt. Olympus. Although, Cal does not believe that the scientific version of genetics and the ancient Greek notion of fate can explain his life or anyone else's for that matter. A common rags-to-riches theme is conveyed as the story tells the life of Cal's grandparents, then parents, then his own. America is shown as a place of opportunity and fortune and the title, Middlesex is accounted for the name of the street their mansion is on in Grosse Point, Michigan and it is also for Cal's own sexual conflicts. The book is eventful, unpredictable, eager to entertain, but missing the main character throughout the first 215 pages. And this happens when Cal's moment of transsexual truth comes when a hippie doctor decides to remove his testicles and treat him with hormones, give him surgically the nature that nurture has already dictated and make an honest woman of him. Soon after the procedure, he sets out for California on a journey that echoes closely his grandparents' flight from Smyrna. Intertwined throughout the novel, we get a taste of dry humor; for instance, Cal calls his brother "Chapter Eleven" and the "peep show" that occurs in San Francisco is wickedly humorous. The book is a symbol for anyone struggling with their sexuality and was well thought out and planned since it took Eugenides 10 years to write. The novel leads us to the future where particularities are what make us human and that takes precedence over the limitations of female and male as gender.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Enjoyed It.

The book started off with his grandparent's story, his parent's story, and then her/his own. I thought it was very clever to identify a person by not what she/he is or has done but what has happened in their grandparent's, parent's, etc lives. The story is very touching - a little distrubing at times but a very good story if you are open-minded enough to enjoy a book like this. It was a quick and tantalizing read. And I recommend it to people who have an open-mind about sexuality.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful and Totally Original

I resisted reading this book for a long time - frankly, I was turned off by the whole hermaphrodite subject. Things like that don't usually interest me. I guess I was visualizing Jerry Springer or Dr Phil or something. However, that is the key word I think - usually. There is nothing usual about this story - I could not put it down. I loved all the Greek imagery and the stories of the other family characters - I found myself engrossed and involved with all of them! You'd like to be angry at Lefty and Desdemona, but you can't be if you can visualize, even the littlest bit, what it might have been like for them. Anyway, I loved this story - could go on forever. I have to say that I disagree with a past reviewer in that I felt that the last chapter regarding Milton, and his death, was very necessary - critical in fact. And, I think we can rest assured that Cal's encounter went very well! For anyone else that is holding off on reading this, I say go for it!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Best i have read this year!!!

I have not read a book so far this year that comes close to the beautifully descriptive pages of this book. Far more than understanding characters,i actually found myself sympathizing and living their lives through these pages. An absolute joy to read.....thank you for sharing your story and further educating our world....

Middlesex is an extremely well written novel based on gender con

Middlesex is an extremely well written novel based on gender confusion and the fascinating recount of the history of a family. This book kept me reading during my every free moment, even when I had the opportunity to read one or just a few pages. This is a great book which any reader will have difficulties putting down for a moment. But one thing for sure is that I will start looking for more books like this.

Great book.

I was assigned this book for a class and I was hesitant about reading this but I was quickly convinced that this wouldn't be just another book for a class. I honestly plan on reading it again on a personal level!

Most amazing read

I read the virgin suicides first and fell in love. So I had high standards for this novel and found those standards met

Love!

I have to say that I am enamoured with this author's writing style, he has such a gift of the written word, that I was swallowed up in it. It is simply beautiful, and I recommend reading it just to be a part of this extoridinary talent. It started out slow ( for me), but before I realized it, I was hooked. The characters are captivating, especially, Calliope, I couldn't wait to see how his story unfolded. I was born and raised in the Detroit area around the same year as Cal, so I could relate to the surroundings. I was in Grosse Pointe all of the time. There was one thing the author messed up on, and I feel I need to make a point about it. There is a scene where there is a car chase on the Ambassador Bridge to Canada. The author is wrong on how that could have ocurred. When one enters the bridge, one must first pay to cross over, it isn't until one is completely over the bridge does one enter Costums, then one is on land and the bridge is behind. The author hoped for our ignorance and made it that they had to go through Costums before they crossed the bridge. Not true, because of this faux pas, I was a bit confused how the situation took place. Other than that, the story and writing is brilliant. I just wish he didn't get lazy in that very important scene.

I do not recommend this book.

I read the book completely. I really didn't care for it.