MIDDLESEX was published in 2002 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2003. Its characters and events are loosely based on aspects of Eugenides' life and observations of his Greek heritage. Primarily a coming-of-age story and family saga, the novel chronicles the effect of a mutated gene on three generations of a Greek family, causing momentous changes in the protagonist's life. The protagonist of the story, Cal or Callie Stephanides, was born with female characteristics but later finds out he is intersexual (hermaphrodite) with predominant XY male chromosomes.
I enjoyed this novel immensely. Eugenides expertly tells the story of three generations of the Stephanides family who travel from a small village in Asia Minor to prohibition-era Detroit during the booming days of the auto industry. It's the story of Cal's grandparents who manage to escape the burning city of Smyna at the end of the Greco-Turkish War (1919â1922) and make it to Detroit and of them keeping a secret through the generations that ultimately leads to Cal's condition which is manifested primarily in inbred, isolated population groups. It is also the story of Cal's parents who move from the race-riot torn city of Detroit to the suburbs of Grosse Pointe, Michigan and to the upper middle class. But most of all, it's the story of Cal/Callie which runs the gamut from joyful to tearful and everything in between.
I liked the characters in this novel very much and could empathize with them all. Cal's sexual awakening and discovery of his intersexual state was really a strong point of the novel. How the doctor's wanted to solve his problem was probably a common practice at the time and how Cal deals with it was quite drastic but how it turned out was pleasing overall. I've had this book on my shelves for several years and glad I finally got around to reading it. Very high overall recommendation.
I enjoyed this novel immensely. Eugenides expertly tells the story of three generations of the Stephanides family who travel from a small village in Asia Minor to prohibition-era Detroit during the booming days of the auto industry. It's the story of Cal's grandparents who manage to escape the burning city of Smyna at the end of the Greco-Turkish War (1919â1922) and make it to Detroit and of them keeping a secret through the generations that ultimately leads to Cal's condition which is manifested primarily in inbred, isolated population groups. It is also the story of Cal's parents who move from the race-riot torn city of Detroit to the suburbs of Grosse Pointe, Michigan and to the upper middle class. But most of all, it's the story of Cal/Callie which runs the gamut from joyful to tearful and everything in between.
I liked the characters in this novel very much and could empathize with them all. Cal's sexual awakening and discovery of his intersexual state was really a strong point of the novel. How the doctor's wanted to solve his problem was probably a common practice at the time and how Cal deals with it was quite drastic but how it turned out was pleasing overall. I've had this book on my shelves for several years and glad I finally got around to reading it. Very high overall recommendation.
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