I finished Middlesex about two months ago, so hopefully I can remember the book well enough to write about it.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Euginides was a very interesting book. It took me awhile to get interested in it, but once I got into it, I could not put down the book. The main character, born as Calliope, later known as Cal, is a hermaphrodite. If you're thinking that this book is weird, I can promise that it is not. The reader is invited into the mind of the main character, getting to know her/him as she grows up and matures into a man.

What makes this book unique from other coming of age novels is the narrator focuses on three generations of his family, rather than just his life. When the book opens we are introduced to Cal's grandparents. We learn about their move to America, and raising a family. Next we learn about Cal's parents, how they meet, fall in love, and eventually raise a family together. We are able to see the hardships both families go through. After learning about the lives of Cal's grandparents and parents, we are taken through Cal's life, up to the age of eighteen.

I loved this book for two reasons. The first reason is Greek mythology was mentioned in parts of the novel. Senior year of college, I took two Greek mythology classes, and loved them. I find all mythology fascinates me, and being able to recognize the mythical creatures mentioned in the book made me happy. The second reason why I loved the book so much was because I enjoy being in the mind of my characters. Since the narrator was Cal, the reader knows exactly what Cal is thinking and how she/he is feeling at that exact point in the book. It is hard enough being a young girl going through puberty and your teenage years. It is much harder to experience those years when you never receive your period, even though you're supposed to be a girl; go to an all girls school when you don't have a female figure; or fall in love with someone who does not love you.

As difficult as it was to watch Calliope struggle through her pre-teen and teen years, it was difficult to put the book down. Reading about Calliope's different love experiences were exciting. It was nice to read about her finding someone who accepts her as she is. It was also hard to put the book down when Calliope was upset and hurting because I wanted to see her happy again, and to figure out what she wanted with her life. Eventually Calliope realizes what she really is, and takes control of her life. Rather than letting a doctor dictate what happens to her body, Cal escapes. It was powerful to read about Cal's running away, but it took awhile for him to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He went through a few rough patches, which may scare the reader into not taking control of their own life.
Eugenides did not sugarcoat Cal's life. The novel had highs and lows for Cal and his family. The reader was able to relate to some of the issues the familes went through, feeling connected to the book. There was no "happily ever after" ending, but there also was not a completely devestating ending either.

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