Without question my favourite book of recent years. Part Great American Novel, part Greek tragedy, Middlesex depicts the coming of age of the hermaphroditic protagonist Calliope. Stretching from a small village in Asia Minor, to America and Berlin, this is a rich family epic which cleverly intertwines real places and events (autobiographical and historical) and is a beautiful telling of the Greek immigrant story in America.

The physical, emotional and social evolution of a striking young girl into an androgynous male is skillfully written, and challenged my own preconceptions of gender identity. With so many facinating themes, I regularly found myself staring into the distance in a Middlesex induced bout of self-reflection. Through Cal’s story, Eugenides shows us that every person is a rich tapestry of family, history, environment and genetics. 

Not only is Middlesex a sophisticated commentary on social, cultural and gender identity, but it is a beautiful, tragic, funny and marvelous read. Highly recommended.

-Cam