Book Review: Middlesex

Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides

I was quickly sucked in to this quirky and lonesome tale of a child with two sets of sex organs, a hermaphrodite. Born as Callie, her doctor missed the diagnosis at birth, so she begins her life raised as a female. The story follows us through Callie’s childhood in Detroit. During her teenage years, Callie makes some unsettling discoveries, leading her to run away from home. Her family helps to keep this story lively, but they don’t draw focus away from Callie. The story is voiced by Cal, which is the identity Callie takes on later in life. Told in a series of flashbacks, we get a glimpse of Callie and Cal, and where they met/transitioned. This was really a great read, as I was rooting for Cal I found myself wishing the story was true. Endings are always important to me, and this one was good, simple, and felt real.