Middlesex -- 9780312422158

I really enjoyed Middlesex. I definitely enjoyed the beginning more -- I felt like it flowed more naturally and the story had an interesting tone. Though there were fantastic elements in the first half of the novel, their myth-like recanting allowed my brain to enjoy rather than fixate on them. I felt like the turning point for me was where the Detroit riot fire broke out and things started to be less believable (for me). While Cal's adolescence was full of turmoil because of her unusual circumstances, I felt like the character was difficult to relate to possibly because of all of the focus on sexuality and gender and teenager-ness. Since that's what set Cal apart from most people...maybe that was the point? to be as awkward as possible for a teenager and then compound it with gender identity crisis? I didn't completely dislike the last part of the book, it just was not as good as the beginning.

Regardless, I still left the book really liking Eugenides' description. I think he did an amazing job putting the right words together in ways that held me captive for hours at a time (and made a 3 hr bus ride at 1am feel much shorter). Most of the characters were so vibrantly flushed out that I had to take a step back every now and then and remember that this was a work of fiction. The book dealt with taboo subjects in a way that was interesting and amusing without being heavy-handed.

Anywho, I am very sorry I missed the book club meeting for this one as it is a book that begs to be discussed.