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Middlesex
by
Jeffrey Eugenides
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ISBN13:
9780312427733
ISBN10:
0312427735
Condition:
Standard
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$12.95
List Price:
$21.00
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Awards
2003 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
4.8
27
What Our Readers Are Saying
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Average customer rating 4.8 (27 comments)
`
finch917
, February 21, 2015
(view all comments by finch917)
One of the most exquisitely imagined, beautifully written, profoundly compassionate and compelling novels I've encountered. A premise seemingly a bit on the far-fetched side which becomes the story of everyone who has ever felt like they didn't fit into the right boxes--and a reminder of the pitfalls of trying to, of the opportunities found in accepting people for who they are, and of the fact that we are all on a journey of self-discovery in one way or another.
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sentina
, November 23, 2012
(view all comments by sentina)
What an appropriate title for a book that deals with "the third sex" -- hermaphrodites who are the one percent of people born with physical and hormonal characteristics of both male and female genders. "Middlesex" is a blend of racial, social, sexual, and family dynamics, as well as history, reproductive science, genetics, economics, politics, environment, and personal experience that is surprisingly non-egocentric and touching. Jeffrey Eugenides writes as though the main character, Calliope, is a fully aware and functioning person waiting to be born over several generations and observing everything that is going on, even as some cells in her/his mother. This fantasy actually lends credibility to the sequence of events that the author describes. There are stunning revelations about the intrusive bullying of medical "specialists" who want to control hermaphrodites' lives, through surgery, rather than allowing these people to make their own choices when they grow up. I found it difficult to plow through the extensive scientific and historical information early in the book, much of which is written as though it is common knowledge, but the parts that deal with Calliope's family, community, and sexuality are engrossing. I have a much broader view of human sexuality and the way we look at ourselves, each other, and the world after reading this story.
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ladymacbech
, December 22, 2011
(view all comments by ladymacbech)
If you've read all the overviews and reviews and you still haven't picked up and read this book - too bad - you don't know what you're missing. Go ahead -open it, I dare you to put it down. I was really astonished as to the approach of the subject and the added angst of a young person growing up and finding that an amazing new conflict of judgement and choice has added a different twist to life between childhood and becoming a young adult. The main character, and eventually a loving family find a new normalcy. It would be really wonderful if more people could pass by snap judgements as to differences and approach each other with greater depth and acceptance.
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Lokibug
, January 25, 2011
(view all comments by Lokibug)
Captivating and beautifully written. The author draws multi-generations together, giving each generation a distintive voice.
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CT
, January 11, 2010
As a member of 2 book clubs, I read many excellent books in the last decade. Middlesex, however, impressed me enough that I re-read the book on my own time. Middlesex is a sweeping overview of the twentieth century, beginning with the 1922 war between the Turks and Greeks, moving on to immigration to the United States, working for Henry Ford in Detroit, Prohibition, small business and the American Dream, the culture wars of the sixties, etc. The main character, however is the young man, Cal, born Calliope, an intersexed person believed to be a female by his naive parents. Author Jeffrey Eugenides treats his characters with respect, sensitivity and humor. The title, Middlesex, is a play on words, referring not only to Cal's sexual issues, but also to the name of the house and street where Cal's family lives in Grosse Point, Michigan. The book won many awards, including the Pulitizer Prize, Ambassador Book Award and the Great Lakes Book Award. Middlesex was also an Oprah Book Club Selection.
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Madisonreader
, January 08, 2010
(view all comments by Madisonreader)
Great epic American novel.
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(1 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
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karenb8
, January 06, 2010
Multi-layered, complex, yet eminently readable.
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Laura Scott
, January 06, 2010
(view all comments by Laura Scott)
Made me want to write. Even more.
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kcoday
, January 05, 2010
(view all comments by kcoday)
Best book of the decade? It's possible...
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catherine zukowski
, January 04, 2010
(view all comments by catherine zukowski)
A fascinating life journey. Includes descriptions of Detroit over decades, from alcohol running to Canada to race riots of 1960's.
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Eugenia
, January 04, 2010
hard choice over 10 years but this still sticks.
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reading4years
, January 04, 2010
(view all comments by reading4years)
Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" is my selection for "the best book I read in the 2000-2009 decade." Why? For starters, it can't help but increase tolerance and understanding, things that seem to be lacking in our currently polarized American culture. "Middlesex" illustrates the truth that all human characteristics, including sexual identity and sexual preference, exist on a continuum. One woman might be more or less female than another, and likewise with men. Eugenides' book educates the reader about the roots of, and the impact of confused gender identity on the main character's life. In the process, he also informs the reader about genetics, some Greco-Turkish history, and changes in the American city during the 20th century. This book is rich, teaming with characters, plot, history, society and settings. It's even better if you can hear Eugenides talk about the amazing coincidences he experienced when writing the book. Both the book, and the writing of it, are wonderful stories.
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emgee
, January 03, 2010
Brilliantly crafted, I could not put down this book until it was finished. Do not start reading it if you have anything important to do for the next few days! The narrator's transition from Callie to Cal due to a recessive gene is fascinating, but so is the twisted family history that the author traces from Greece to Detroit and beyond. Lyrical, intriguing, and surprising, this was favorite book of the decade.
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Booker H Readaton
, January 03, 2010
I don't read much fiction, as I have found it harder to stay rapt by stories as I get older. But this one had me up til 3am a few nights in a row until I finished it.
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Kimberly Sordyl
, January 03, 2010
wonderful history of 3 generations of greek immigrants to detroit with an intriguing twist. coming of age, and falling in love under difficult circumstances. i loved it!
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markperrone
, January 02, 2010
Eugenides' sprawling second novel spins many plates at once: it's a multigenerational immigrant family saga, a sweeping depiction of the rise and decline of a major American city (Detroit), and another of his pitch-perfect depictions of adolescent sexuality. It's also deeply funny to boot. I only wish he were more prolific, but when the results are as good as this, it's hard to complain. Best book of the decade.
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AngelaMcG
, January 02, 2010
(view all comments by AngelaMcG)
Epic family saga set within the historical context of Greeks fleeing Asia Minor in the early 1900s and Detroit in the 60s and 70s. One of my all time favorite books, up there with "East of Eden".
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SDK
, January 01, 2010
Best book of the decade!
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ameliarose
, January 01, 2010
This is my favorite book of the decade.
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traci.emerson
, January 01, 2010
It's very hard to determine which books are the "best of" a decade, year, or even century. I'm sure that this one will make all of those lists.
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kendalm
, January 01, 2010
(view all comments by kendalm)
Epic story of multiple family generations, starting in Greece and ending in America, this novel has brilliant style and approaches a myriad of subjects, including the history of Detroit, fatherhood, civil unrest, and least of all the condition of being a hermaphrodite. How many books can claim that? An engrossing novel, easily one of the best in the past decade.
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LycheeMama
, January 01, 2010
I think it's simply the best novel of the 2000s. Hard to imagine the world of fiction without it. It's time for a rereading...
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Alisha
, January 01, 2010
One of the best books I have ever read in my entire life. It encompasses all you could hope for in a book. Beautifully written, an engaging, creative story that drew me in on such an emotional level it was unbelievable. A true page turner, everyone I know who has read it agrees, you will not be disappointed.
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Alex Pieske
, January 01, 2010
My vote for best book of the decade.
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lychee13
, January 01, 2010
Eugenides not only successfully tackles one of the topics in society that is taboo -- transgender identity and gender being more than a duality of just male/femal -- but he has written a book of exceptional literary quality. I am astounded by the narratives voice, which, while always consistent, transcends our expectations of gender in narrative voices. This is a compelling and beautiful story about identity and humanity.
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Emily DeVoto
, January 01, 2010
Middlesex is a most unexpected novel. It's at once brave, tender, utterly original, unpretentious, and profound. I can see myself re-reading it at different times of my life, and continuing to learn from it.
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Lucy Little
, August 20, 2007
(view all comments by Lucy Little)
Not a favorite for me, but I know many members of my book club liked it. The main character is born with ambiguous genitalia, but as was done historically, was assigned a gender. The story is well written, especially descriptions of supporting characters, extended family and locations. I liked the main character in the end, but couldn't quite reconcile him/her with the character she/he was in the beginning. It seemed like two different people, but then again, maybe that was the point?
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Product Details
ISBN:
9780312427733
Binding:
Trade Paperback
Publication date:
06/05/2007
Publisher:
MACMILLAN PUBLISHING SERVICES
Series info:
Oprah's Book Club
Pages:
544
Height:
1.10IN
Width:
8.30IN
Thickness:
1.00
Series:
Oprah's Book Club
Number of Units:
1
Copyright Year:
2007
Author:
Jeffrey Eugenides
Author:
Jeffrey Eugenides
Subject:
Gender identity
Subject:
General Fiction
Subject:
Domestic fiction
Subject:
Literature-A to Z
$12.95
List Price:
$21.00
Used Trade Paperback
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Qty
Store
15
Burnside
9
Cedar Hills
5
Hawthorne
11
Local Warehouse
More copies of this ISBN
New, Trade Paperback, $21.00
Used, Trade Paperback, Starting from $3.95
This title in other editions
Used, Hardcover, Starting from $13.50
Used, Trade Paperback, Starting from $9.95
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