Middlesex

Rating:
Summary: from virgins to hermaphrodites
Review: Rave reviews for Middlesex! It was completely a world apart from Virgin Suicides. Usually, writers write with the same tone and timbre - the undeniable literary DNA strand giving you away every time, every novel. His first novel was haunting and fragmented, leaving you with disembodied feelings instead of a sense progression of events. It introduced you to the untouchable Lisbon girls, without really knowing them, content with just seeing them. There are just their eyes and blonde hair and white arms leaving marks on your mind, and shapely legs dangling in the periphery of your consciousness. It was beautiful in its blackness, lyrical in its absurdity.

This time, Eugenides has managed to pull off three generations of androgynous (literally), circular narration in a straightforward plunge. Middlesex was more solid, expansive but intimate. While Virgin Suicides is the stuff made of dreams, this one is made of life in all its monotony and impossible explosions. While Virgin Suicides was fleeting, the pages flying on diaphanous wings, Middlesex was sturdy in its longevity. It's all the stuff that happens between falling in love and falling into a marriage - diaspora, wars, racism, Greek mythology and hackneyed genes included.

As heartbreaking events, layered emotions and unforgettable, quirky characters undulate in the mesmerizing sea of this novel, Callie (initially a she and later on a he) serves as the cohesive anchor and confused protagonist that takes the reader for a ride. Humorous and searing, this novel is an initiation to living.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent "story" - Confused at times
Review: It was chosen for my book club - always a great way to introduce me to an author I may not choose myself. It was an excellent book with many different twists and turns - it is tough to give a quick summary to this read and tell other people what the book is about. My only complaint was that it left me confused at times as it jumped around in time.

Rating:
Summary: Beatiful Writing
Review: Jeffery Eugenides is a beautiful writer. He takes subjects that are off kilter, controversial, or just plain awkward and he makes them somehow beautiful. If you look at the best books being celebrated, an argument could be made that "Middlesex" is the meeting point of where those books overlap. "Middlesex" has the flowery beauty of "Secret Life of Bees." It also has the ability to deal with emotional pain and raging sadness in a incredibly moving way as done in "My Fractured Life." Finally, there is the element of the obscure forced into the world of the norm as done in "Atonement." I'm still trying to figure out if "Middlesex" is the greatest book of all of them because it bridges the elements of each, or if it is not quite as great as the others because it only has elements. I'll probably realize the answer once I give all four another read. That they deserve another read so soon does guarantee their greatness.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: 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.
Also recommended: THE USURPER AND OTHER STORIES, VIRGIN SUICIDES

Rating:
Summary: LOVED IT!
Review: I have to say I was a little apprehensive about reading this book. I didn't think I would like it. It was chosen for our book meeting group so I felt I had to read it. Once I started though I could not put it down. What a great story. I loved it.
I definitely would recommend this book for discussion groups or anyone interested in a good story.


Rating:
Summary: Chapter Eleven and the Object
Review: This is probably my favorite book I've read all year, but I can't say anything that hasn't already been said, so I'll just answer the question someone posted below:

Chapter Eleven is presumably not his given name -- that's what Cal calls him because he drove Milton's business into bankruptcy. This is never explicitly stated in the book, though.

By contrast, it is explicitly stated (I think -- I'm doing this from memory) that the Object is named after a movie by Luis Bunuel called The Obscure Object of Desire. Cal explains that there would be no point to giving her actual name in the story, since what's important is that she played this role in Callie's life.

Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC
Review: This is the type of book where I'd be looking forward to leaving work in order to go home and read.
An epic feel with the protagonist's previous generations described in order to explain context. Great descriptions of several decades in the 20th century and truly realistic characters. You'll be glad that you read this fabulous novel.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling and Original
Review:
Jeffrey Eugenides richly deserves the Pulitzer Prize the novel received.

The novel traces the main character Callie's origins from before her birth to the present and explores every kind of middle ground, most notably that of gender identity. Hence the title...

From Callie's grandparents' immigration to her father's first generation success story with Hercules Hot Dog Stands, the novel explores the American Dream--what it is and is not. It takes a brutal look at what has become of urban America and how success ends up as a careless sort of upgrading without thought for what we leave behind.

The novel is filled with rich characters: Grandmother Desdemona who brings the knowledge of silkworms and cocoons to America, Grandfather Lefty who runs a speakeasy in his basement, Dad Milton who finds himself in a landing craft in World War II, and Mom Tessie who struggles to bridge Greek and American cultures. In their pursuit of love and success, they too often forget the lessons of their Greek forbears. Time and again, these loveable characters attempt to cheat fate with predictable, sometimes tragic but always engaging results.

Eugenides' portrait of Callie is, for the most part, dead on. He captures the angst of teenage Callie waiting to catch up to her peers but may assign a bit too much sexual expertise to the experimenting adolescents. Those who grew up in the 70's will surely enjoy the nostalgic resurrection of the music and clothing of the day (izods and Pappagallo).

The novel's structure is complex without being annoying. Eugenides shifts between settings and dates with ease. Additionally there is a rich under layer of literary and mythic allusion that will delight the knowledgeable reader. Chapter Titles, for example, are a story in themselves.

A wonderfully satisfying read that makes for scintillating book club discussion! Don't miss out! Another quick Amazon pick I recommend strongly is The Losers' Club: Complete Restored Edtion by Richard Perez.


Rating:
Summary: Clearly worthy of the Pulitzer
Review: This was one of the best books I have ever read. It is not a light read for the beach because you will relish every word.
If you enjoy history you will like this book. If you enjoy female coming of age stories, you will like this book. If you enjoy well written prose you will enjoy this book. I could go on. As you can see from all of the reviews, it appeals to so many types of readers. I could not put it down.
Thank you Jeffery Eugenides for sharing this story.