Middlesex

[Tabac]

One reviewer states that to say Jeffrey Eugenides’ Middlesex is “about a hermaphrodite” is to say the Odyssey is “about a bunch of guys on a ship”. The novel is, indeed, of epic proportions, and the first sentence is enough to get one very interested or the opposite. The main character’s condition was caused by several instances of consanguinity in her family’s long Greek history.

The 2002 best-seller brought the author the Pulitzer and was recommended to me by a friend. Reading clubs have kept the library’s copies in good use, and I very much enjoyed reading it. It is compelling reading!

[mike401]

I picked up a copy of this book pretty soon after it came out in hardback..being a fan of Eugenides' "Virgin Suicides" I thought I'd give it a go, and for the most part I was pretty satisfied.

Up until the end, at least. Maybe its the nature of the book itself, but there was something extremely...inconclusive about it, no glimmer of hope at the end, no secret meaning of life hinted at, etc., that one expects at the end of the novel. On a scale 1-5, I'd give it a "meh."

[Tabac]

I was satisfied with the ending. I think the purpose of the novel was the history before Callie and the becoming of Cal. Conclusive, for me, in that Cal is a person who knows, finally who he is. He is very young, and we don't know exactly what will transpire (although he has given clues about a career in the foreign service in Germany) any more than he does. I see hope in that he is now FULLY aware of his heritage, cultural and geneological, and that he can deal with it.

Any way, nice to have conversed with you.

[Scheherazade]

Ah, am I glad to find a thread on Middlesex!

I agree with you, Tabac, that from the very first sentence, Eugenides captures reader's attention and hardly lets it go for a minute till the very end of the novel (It might be one of the most memorable opening sentences).

The ending... I like the ending. Cal makes a decision as to how he wants to live his life and is ready to have the consequences of his choices. And I cannot agree that there is no hope at the end of the novel. On the contrary, after meeting someone who seems to be willing to accept him the way he is, Cal is sort of reward for his 'sacrifices' and the way their relationship is moving on, it seems like there is a great deal to hope for. Cal is telling his story; at the present that is all he could tell us.

What do you think of the title, Middlesex? I am aware that it is very 'becoming' to describe Cal but why is their house named 'Middlesex'? It is obviously symbolic. Is it because like Cal, the house has a unique and unusual 'design'? And in one way why is the novel named after the house?

[~Maude~]

I was hesitant to start reading this when I heard what it was about but after several friends assured me I must read it I picked it up. I was immediately wrapped up in it, the stories of Cal's family and everything that made Cal into Cal were so interesting. I agree that you could not just call this a story of a hermaphrodite and leave it at that. There was so much to the story of Cal and some of my favorite parts were the Grandparents' story. I was not at all disappointed with the ending or any other part of the book I thought it was wonderful all through out.

I will have to read the Virgin Suicides soon.