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"Middlesex"

by: Jeffrey Eugenides,

2002; 529 pages,

Rating: 5

"Middlesex" is the story of a hermaphrodite, and incest. I know, not the most comfortable subjects out there. In fact, some of the really uncomfortable subjects to write a book about. However, "Middlesex" by: Jeffrey Eugenides won the Pulitzer Prize. You might be asking "Why?". Well, once you read the book, you'll understand.

The answer is the writing. Eugenides' writing is absolutely brilliant. I don't know the last time I read a book that was as beautifully or as well written as "Middlesex" by: Jeffrey Eugenides. Even though I owned my copy, I didn't underline any of the passages as I read. I wish now that I would have, as it would be so easy to go back and reread some of the golden sentences.

The story line was an interesting one, in a bit of a grotesque way. But, to be honest, I was rather interested in the whole thing - once I got past the first couple of chapters, I had a hard time putting the book down. I was really interested in the whole story. I really wanted to know how Cal's life story would turn out, and how it began.

I highly highly recommend that you read "Middlesex". Here's just a small taste of the story - the opening line: "I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974."

Please give "Middlesex" a shot, even if the subjects do make you uncomfortable. The writing is so beautiful, I'd hate to have you miss it.