Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (2003, Paperback, Reprint)

Bought the this book in a rush while in an airport, got because it was on Oprah's List before reading the about the subject. I couldn't put it down, has many touching moments that will make you laugh and wonder... Truly an amazing read!

Middlesex

The Entertainment Critic Book Review, By James Myers
MIDDLESEX
By Jeffrey Eugenides
Published by Picador Books
An Imprint of Farrar, Straus and Giroux
529 Pages
ISBN 978-0-312-42773-3
2003 WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION
OPRAH’S BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB SELECTION, 2007 SUMMER SELECTION
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER
Five Star Rating: *****


“I had never seen such a big dictionary before. The Webster’s at the New York Public Library stood in the same relation to other dictionaries of my acquaintance as the Empire State Building did to other buildings. It was an ancient, medieval-looking thing, bound in brown leather that brought to mind a falconer’s gauntlet. The pages were gilded like the Bible’s…Following where the trial led, I finally reached

Hermaphrodite -1. One having the sex organs and many of the secondary sex characteristics of both male and female. 2. Anything comprised of diverse or contradictory elements. See synonyms at MONSTER.”



The latest novel by Jeffrey Eugenides is a coming of age story that traces a defective gene in an unforgettable family saga. The story is narrated to us by the protagonist herself. Born Calliope Helen Stephanides, her physician fails to recognize that Cal is not all that she appears to be, but rather she has 5-apha-reductase deficiency. Chromosomally, Callie is a male (she has both an X and a Y), she has no real penis, but instead a kind of extended clitoris and testes, but they remain undescended. The story of her Greek family is the most interesting and provocative tale I have read in sometime. This story is a very rough parallel to the Greek fable of Hermes and Aphrodite.

The novel begins in the small Greek village of Cal’s grandparents, Lefty and Desdemona. The two fall in love. The problem is that they are brother and sister, and intermarriage is forbidden by the church. They are forced to flee when the Turks invade Greece in 1922. On the passage to America, no one knows them. There are free to marry without risking social rejection. They marry while still on the ship. They come to American and meet their cousin Sourmelina and her husband in Detroit, Michigan. Lefty and Desdemona have a son, Milton. He later marries Lina’s daughter, Tessie. This again complicates things because we now have second cousins who intermarry. Tessie and Milton have two children “Chapter Eleven” (a reference to the fact that he eventually bankrupts the family business, Hercules Hot Dogs), who is a normal boy and Calliope, who is intersexed. This goes undetected for 14 years of Callie’s life, because his parents take him a doctor, Dr. Philobosian, who is from the old country, and is so elderly himself that his vision is impaired. Callie is therefore raised as a girl. But Callie has what she refers to as "the crocus";

The turning point in the novel comes when Callie reaches fourteen. She falls in love with her best female friend (referred to in the book as “The Obscure Object”), and has her fist sexual experience with both sexes. After an accident that leads to a physical exam for Callie, her doctor finally discovers the truth. Her parents take her to a trendy physician in New York, who puts Callie through a series of test, exams and photographs. He has plans to take his unique find national. Faced with the prospect of sex reassignment surgery, Callie becomes Cal and runs away to San Francisco, where he becomes an attraction in a sex show. The

I experienced very fast shipping and I really appreciated that. The book is in great condition and I am looking forward to reading it soon. I highly recommend this seller. A++++

Interesting book. I enjoy historical novels and this was set in Detroit where I grew up. It was interesting to recognize streets and settings that I knew when I was a child. Everyone's life has stumbling blocks but this person's were very challenging and were treated with a great sense of humor. I bought because of it being Oprah's book club selection and being set in Detroit.

I bought the book because, and I hate to admit it, I saw the author on Oprah. I was impressed that he had won a Pulitzer and thought I should give it a read. The unique storyteller adds an interesting point of view to the novel. I love the interwoven historical fiction. It is well written. I was impressed to learn it took the author something like 15 years to write and it shows. It is a well crafted novel. I would recommend it again and again. Usually I resell books, few make the book shelf. This one is a keeper.

I turn page corners down when I come across a word I don't recognize, a beautifully written line, a piece of history that I didn't know, etc. With this book that I could not put down nearly half of the page corners are turned down.
The story itself was so cleanly layed out and it was a very complicated story of Turkish and Greek culture, intermarriage within a family and the results of this practice. The results being chromosomal defects resulting in physical abnormalities. The ignorance and superstition that led to a mosaic of pain and fears over several generations. There is also a time line linking the history of the auto industry in Detroit as well as the race riots that occured there in the 60's.
I also learned why San Francisco is the epicenter of gay culture and how silk is created.

So this was unlike anything I've ever read before...but obviously I loved it. I can't say too much without giving the plot away, but basically if you really were analyzing what was going on, especially in the first book, it would be pretty icky. There is some unconnventional relations going on, lets just say. But the great thing is you just get so swept up in the characters and the story that the icky stuff pretty much gets pushed to the background and you are totally rooting for a hookup. Well, at least I was... very interesting, to say the least.

One of the best books i've ever read. I loved the unusual story line and the very graphic style of the author. The story is incredibly powerful and made me laugh and cry at the same time. I also enjoyed Detroit setting, it gave me a picture of the city as it once was that I never would have had.

GREAT READ.....YOU FIND YOURSELF SMILING AS YOU READ AND EVERYONE IN THE ROOM THINKS YOU ARE CRAZY. THIS GUY IS A MASTER STORYTELLER!

I enjoyed this book alot, the way it was wrote keep you wantingto go back and pick up the book up. Reading the history of one's family for 150 years and how things happen down the tree. highly recommend this book11

It was a very interesting book, with a different perspective. It was told from the main character's point of view but in the far future. He went back and told his family history from his grandparents until him. He also discussed his childhood, as a female, which was very fascinating. The reader can see the character as both male and female, depending on the age of the character. I really enjoyed the book and the new experience it shared. I could sympathize with the character and it is something that I would never have experienced otherwise. I highly recommend this book!

This book, although it starts out slow, pulls you in, grabs your attention, and keeps you wrapped up beyond the last page. I just wanted to know EVEN MORE! I would highly encourage any reader to enjoy this interesting novel, with it's unique subject matter, candid truths, and revealing ending.

The characters are beautifully developed, locations are described so that I am there, and although I knew where the book was going, I couldn't wait to get there, enjoying every line and chapter. Not a light or quick read, but for someone who loves intellectual stimulation, you will not be sorry.
The subject matter may offend some.

This book is extremely unique. It rightfully won the Pulitzer with its beautiful language and multi-layered characters. This novel also evokes a wonderful sense of time and change. The author has a wonderful way with character development, giving them strange quicks and traits, which makes them all the more believable.

The same author penned The Virgin Suicides! This is a great book for book clubs because it lends it self to lenghty discussion.

I am actually pleasantly surprised by this book. I bought because it was the chosen book for my book club. My initial feeling was that I was not going to like it. The beginning of the book was a bit bogged down with Greek names, war information and places. Once I got past that, I really enjoyed the book. The author really has a unique writing style that pulls you into the book and makes it feel very realistic.

Love this book. Very interesting story about love, growing up, and personal identity. Everyone should read this at least once in their lifetime.

thank you very much
awesome condition,i am very pleased with everything..!
;)) now i just have to find the time to read!
merry christmass

The writing of this novel is seamless. Frequently flowing from one time period to another, one voice to another, its fluency was striking. The skill and command of the craft by his writer will, no doubt, endure time. It is a remarkable work of art to tell such a compelling story with such deftness. I never lost sight of the 'reality' of such lives nor the fantasy that unfolded with each page. The characters became real and, most importantly, human...

When I requested this item, it was no longer available. I was really disappointed, considering that's the reason I ordered so many books from this seller.

“Middlesex” is story of Cal/Callie/Calliope, an hermaphrodite. But it is also much more as Cal reaches back to the time grandparents’ courtship and tells the story of his extended family as a way to explain his own life.

The novel includes:

-Immigration experience
-Prohibition-era Detroit
-Social upheaval and racial violence the 1960’s
-Homosexuality
-Intersexuality and gender roles
-Destructive power secrets

This big, intricate book is a page-turner!

This book was rich in history, symbolism, science and character development. Some chapters were overly descriptive, but all together it was an entertaining read. I would recommend this book.

My item looks like new and its was shipped fast i am very satisfied with this transaction .

It was the book of the month with my book club. I tried to read it several times but it just didn't capture my attention.

book came quickly and in better condition than i expected! Book was less expensive than most places that i had looked at.
thanks!