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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
A modern Greek tragedy in the truest sense. Middlesex is a profound read for anyone, but in particular, any Greek-American that fails to read this book is doing themselves a serious disservice. The story, so vividly written, so intricate and heart-breaking in its plot, is full of ideas, lessons to learn, characters to relate to. I really can't remember feeling quite so intensely sympathetic and as close to a character as Callie/Cal since reading the Of Human Bondage in my emotionally heady college years.
This is an original tale of a hermaphrodite with a complicated genetic history. It is a family saga covering several decades and three generations, moving from Greece to Detroit to Michigan. The novel provides the reader some of the basics of the science concerning intersex persons. Many thought-provoking observations are made about gender and identity.
The narrative, told in Cal's voice, is full of humour and feels very genuine. I found it to be an enlightening story about a subject that western society unfortunately still finds very uncomfortable.
The narrative, told in Cal's voice, is full of humour and feels very genuine. I found it to be an enlightening story about a subject that western society unfortunately still finds very uncomfortable.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Eugenides caught me from the second I started this book. It is beautiful.
This was a pretty good book, it definitely kept me interested, but I it could have been shorter and just as effective.
Read my full review of the audiobook version here: http://booksforears.com/2010/02/22/middlesex-by-jeffrey-eugenides/
I try to try to read all of the big prizewinning novels. I loved The Virgin Suicides, and decided to hold off on reading this one for a little while until I knew I could savor it. And savor it I did. I think, with this one, Eugenides has written a defining boom of an age. I know that sounds ridiculously grandiose, but the novel is astoundingly good.
The book is an intricate, beautifully researched and written novel about Greece, Smyrna, family, war, silk, race, civil rights, Detroit, prohibition, gender, sex, and genetics. The scope seems unmanageable, but Eugenides pulls it off with grace and compassion and specificity. I know I'll read it again. I'm tempted to read it again right now.
I try to try to read all of the big prizewinning novels. I loved The Virgin Suicides, and decided to hold off on reading this one for a little while until I knew I could savor it. And savor it I did. I think, with this one, Eugenides has written a defining boom of an age. I know that sounds ridiculously grandiose, but the novel is astoundingly good.
The book is an intricate, beautifully researched and written novel about Greece, Smyrna, family, war, silk, race, civil rights, Detroit, prohibition, gender, sex, and genetics. The scope seems unmanageable, but Eugenides pulls it off with grace and compassion and specificity. I know I'll read it again. I'm tempted to read it again right now.
i was very close to giving this 5 stars but the fact that it took me two months to get through it is holding me back just a little. i feel like this book accomplished what “on earth we’re briefly gorgeous” tried but failed to do … i looooved the lyrical writing style and the way the author seems to capture an entire history within a single story (a modern epic of sorts, the caveat being that it takes some time to really soak in. hence the two months). it’s an objectively good book — worthwhile read, deserving of the praise it has gotten, creative, unique — just not at the top of my “to reread” list.
Another novel that I couldn't put down, but had to in order to carry on with life. While it is sad, I admired the detail for the hilarity that spilled out of his characterisation.
When this won the Pulitzer prize, I groaned. Oh no, I have to read another angst-ridden saga of gender confusion. Hah! Nothing of the sort! This utterly original tale will keep you spellbound. It gets a little loopy at the end, but I loved the story so much, I was willing to go along with anything by that point. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.