One sentence summary:
A sweeping novel about a Greek-American intersex person’s journey to understand their identity and family history.
Book genre:
Fiction, coming-of-age, family drama.
Main topic of the book:
The main topic of the book is the journey of an intersex individual to understand their identity and the impact of their family’s history and culture on their life.
Key ideas:
- The complexities of gender and identity
- The impact of family history and cultural expectations on individual identity
- The immigrant experience and the pursuit of the American Dream
- The search for belonging and self-acceptance
Main parts of the book and a short summary:
Part One: Adolescence
We meet the main character, Cal (formerly known as Calliope), and follow their journey through adolescence, growing up in a Greek-American household in Detroit. Cal struggles with understanding their feelings towards their brother and best friend, and their own changing body and identity.
Part Two: Descent
Cal’s true identity is revealed and we journey with them as they undergo gender reassignment surgery, becoming a man in the eyes of society. We also learn about the complex history of Cal’s family, including their grandparents’ migration from Greece to the United States.
Part Three: Education
Cal attends college and begins to explore their identity further, delving into their family’s past and the story of their grandparents’ journey to America. Cal also experiences love and heartbreak, and begins to question their own understanding of love and family.
Part Four: Drive
Cal sets out on a cross-country road trip, encountering different people and places that challenge their understanding of themselves and their place in the world. They realize the complexity of their identity and the impact it has had on their relationships and experiences.
Key takeaways:
- The search for one’s identity is a complex and ongoing journey
- Family history and cultural expectations can influence one’s sense of self
- Love and acceptance comes in many forms, and can be found in unexpected places
Author’s background and qualifications:
Jeffrey Eugenides is an American author who has won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novel, “Middlesex”. He studied English and Creative Writing at Brown University and later received his MFA in writing from Stanford University. His other notable works include “The Virgin Suicides” and “The Marriage Plot”.
Target audience:
“Middlesex” is a thought-provoking and beautifully written novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy literary fiction, coming-of-age stories, and family dramas. It may also be of interest to those looking to explore the complex themes of gender and identity.
Publisher and first publication date:
“Middlesex” was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 2002.