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Summary: Middlesex
Review: "Hermaphrodite- 1. One having the sex organs and many of the secondary sex characteristics of both male and female. 2. Anything comprised of a combination of diverse or contradictory elements. See synonyms at MONSTER."
Calliope Stephanides is a "monster." He is a hermaphrodite. Jeffrey Eugenides, best-selling author of The Virgin Suicides, introduces us to the inbred Cal. Callie. We are invited into the complex life of a man raised as a woman. However, before bringing us in too close, we must understand his history.
The first half of the novel brings to light the incestuous, shameful, past of Cal's Greek American family. Journeying through three generations of luck and chance, this saga of a dysfunctional family is utterly satisfying in its realism. Cal vividly illustrates the chaotic past from which he immerged, with intelligence, and an amusing dark humor. The blend of historical accuracy as well as raw emotion proves a clever combination of both fact and fiction. Eugenide's intense detail is fulfilling, but at times a bit excessive. However, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise extraordinary book.
The remainder of the novel is devoted to the complicated world of Cal. Eugenides captures the essence of Cal's femininity, as well as his transformation into masculinity with both wit, and a harsh truth. As Cal fights his sexual and emotional battles, it's an amazing experience to be along for the ride. The conclusion of the novel leaves you content, but at any opportunity you would open the door again. A door revealing page 578 of "Genetics and Heredity", naked beside a height chart, a black box covering his eyes, stands Cal, a two-dimensional photograph.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Book!
Review: This was a fantastic book! I loved the way that Jeffrey Eugenides explored the way we struggle through adolescents and learn to recognize what we are and develop our own voice and inner strength. I was impressed also with how humorously and poignantly this novel explored the craziness that is a part of all families to some degree. The secrets that we discover along the way about who we are versus who we thought we were, and how we either have to come to grips with the reality or just quit. This book reminded me that I want to be as courageous as the main character becomes in recognizing that true strength comes from loving yourself with all your weirdness and being willing to be honestly vulnerable in order to develop true intimacy with those around you.
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Summary: A Gender Confusion Story
Review: 'This year's most sumptuously enjoyable book,' wrote Sunday Times Books of the Year. It is, if English is your native language. Go for it. Even if you are a native English speaker, it demands the highest range of vocabulary. If you are not a bookworm, you won't enjoy reading this book. If you are just buying a book to read on a long flight or bus ride, don't buy this book, buy something shorter and something doesn't require concentration. Middlesex is a 530 page long, complicatedly and complexly written novel. It starts from when grandfather and grandmother of the main character were just falling in love, and ends with the granddaughter, Calliope's (the main character) gender confusion. (...) You grown mustache as a teenage girl and you go to a beauty saloon every week to get it removed? You are unusually taller all the girls who are in your age group? That's the life of Calliope. The beautiful heroine ends up becoming a handsome hero when she/he was fourteen. It is a good story if you understand every single word that is written in the book.
The novel was introduced to me by the professor from my university who teaches English literature. I took the literature class in Spring II semester, 2004. The class was called "the Great Books Seminar." So, students were required to read two great books, first one was Middlesex and the second one was "Midnight's Children" by Salman Rushdie, the winner of the booker prize.
Thank God for the electronic dictionary. I have to look up the words in my e-dictionary at least twenty times each page. Do you only have a paper dictionary, and English is not your native language? Paper dictionaries are good but they are not time savers. I suggest you go buy an e-dictionary before you buy Middlesex. Do you want to know which e-dictionary do I use? It is Houghton Muffin's American Heritage Electronic Dictionary (Just kidding).GOKOOL
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Summary: This book truly amazed me!
Review: I knew exactly what to expect when I bought this book. Since I had read The Virgin Suicides and absolutely loved it and I was expecting another amazing novel. And boy I got more than that, I got an astounding novel of epic porportions. Let me just say this, since this was going to be Eugenides sophmore effort I was kind of getting nervous, since many wonderful novelists recent sophmore efforts have received over all negative reviews. This refers to Donna Tart's The Little Friend and Zadie Smith's The Autograph Man. I was getting worried about what would happen to Eugenides. But the reviews have mostly been raves including mine. The story most of you know is about Cal Stephanides and how he once was called Callie by his family. Yes that means Cal is a hermphodite(sorry if the spelling is wrong). Cal begins the story with the story of his Greek grand-parents. Who just happen to be brother and sister. Eugenides takes somewhat taboo subjects such as Hermphodites and makes you feel completely comfortable. Sorry if that sounded bad but I dont know how to describe it but it is just so amazing. I've already read it about two or three times. You need to pick up your copy today. If you like epic stories that involve the American way of life then you will love this book.
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Summary: wonderful enticing read - couldn't put it down!
Review: This book was recommended to me by a friend. At first, I was intrigued by the story of the Stephanides' family's immigration to the US. But then, the story becomes so interwoven with Cal's life, the history of living in Detroit, life in America, life as an American, issues of gender, love, identity, pride, love, loss, death, birth...it just goes on. This is one intricate tale - told through the heart and eyes of Calliope. I couldn't put it down. The story's poignancy, attention to detail, humor and pain gripped me in a way that most books do not. I was sad when it had to come to an end. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for layers of stories wrapped in an attention-grabbing headline: hermaphrodism.
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Summary: Intricate
Review: I found this book to be an intricate mixture of Greek culture, history, science, and musings on adolescence and family. I only wish we delved deeper into Cal's mind and emotions throughout the entire process. The author moves the reader throughout the various plots by taking us forward and backward in time simultaneously, which provides a rich experience. I'd recommend reading it in smaller doses to appreciate all the detail.
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Summary: Brilliant writer, captivating story!!! Top Ten Book List!!!
Review: This book ranks up there with my all time favorite "top ten." I could not put it down! It is an incredible, historically based, novel that captures the insecurities of an adolescent in dealing with unbelievably "unfair" life situations. Through telling this story, vividly captures the shades of color that stream through all walks found in society today. This is one of those books, even though it is a substantial read, that I was so disappointed to see it end.
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Summary: middlesex
Review: this is one of my favorite books of all time. it is the story of a greek-american immigrant family, narrated through the voice of a third generation american family member, who happens to be a hermaphrodite. this book is interesting on many levels (cyprus history, immigrants in america, etc., etc.). for me, the book was an inspiring reminder that every person is a sentient being who deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. eugenides is a wonderful author; every sentence is well-written; every sentence counts. he has a wonderful sense of humor and eye for detail and the book is an absolute joy to read.
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Summary: Excellent book-Highly recommended
Review: "Middlesex" is a prolific and poignant piece of work, a memior that deals with male-femal issues. The book is written in such a way that you can easily "detect" Calliope from Cal. The words so clear that you can almost hear the voice changes. I am quite impressed with this book and can truly see the heartbreak that this person had to deal with while trying to grow up "Normal".
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Summary: An amazing read!
Review: A truly worthy recipient of the Pulitzer, I might say..Euginides does his homework and he fastidiously wants to see to it that the reader is entertained and engaged. What a fascinating read! On drawback: the characters aren't vey interesting people. Some minor ones are...but...these Greeks are very bourgeois...yet the author makes them real and palpable.That is the saving grace and I want to say: the sheer genius of this author. Rich and damned good.
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