Summary:
Review of Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
Everybody's story has a beginning, most of them earlier than is even remembered. Cal* has a surprising history, unraveling all the way back before his grandparents' immigration, and including a trait that was known to nobody before Cal was born. However, I will get back to that in a moment. The history described in Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides is weaved with passion, feeling more like a historical fiction novel rather than a person simply reciting their family's past. I am not usually as captivated by history as I was in Middlesex, and though it was still not the main reason why I started reading the book, Cal's history proved an important and interesting part of his mystery and the story he told. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment you've all been waiting for, the grand finale...well, not really, since it was revealed that he was a hermaphrodite during the middle of the book. The moment where it is finally revealed, however, releases a sense of anxiety in the reader. The start off most chapters begins with a glimpse into Cal's current life, living in Germany and struggling with relationships of all kinds. A difference is first noted when Cal referred to his own self as "Calliope", which raises the first suspicions. The hints grow more and more, but there is always a feeling that one can never be sure of what they are thinking. The moment when Cal finds the information about being a hermaphrodite, a tension is lifted from the reader's chest. The information is finally out in the open. This is where the real journey begins.
See, for me, the real journey was not one about his past and getting to where he finds out this crucial information. For me, the real journey was the process after he finds out the information and how he deals with it.
I chose to read the book because I knew it was about somebody confused about their gender/sex, and this is why I felt more of an interest into his journey after finding out that he was a hermaphrodite.
No matter what journey is more important or more captivating, the writing style of Jeffrey Eugenides enthralls you anyway. The book switches back and forth between Cal's present life and his past. Of course, the book switches right when one of the situations is getting interesting. This technique creates an interesting and thoroughly suspenseful style of writing. The detail put into describing both the past or present situations is exquisite, as well. Such places like the doctor's office where Cal goes are described meticulously, leaving out hardly a detail. I knew from the start that the book was fiction, but Jeffery's writing style made me try to convince myself that it was real, simply because of the amount of detail included and the emotions conveyed through those details. It was also extremely emotional when Cal finds the file the doctor kept on him and finds out he is a male, especially because neither his mom, dad, nor doctor told him, nor were they going to tell him. I could sympathize when he is hurt during field hockey because earlier in life Cal was forced to live as a female and got hit in the testes that he did not know he had (and were still in his body), and his coach told him to get up because she thought he was just suffering from cramps. Even more dramatic was when some homeless men steal food from him and are about to rape him, then see that he is a hermaphrodite and instead urinate on him. The vast display of emotions is amazing, and makes the book all the more interesting to read. Mr. Eugenides also includes another technique in his writing. He mentions things that are not necessarily supplemental, but help to make the story much more personal. His illustration of Cal's current social situation is not necessary to make the story interesting, but adds another dimension to the story and makes it much more personal.
This is the complete article, containing 673 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
