Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides is acclaimed for its ambitious narrative and rich prose, which compellingly intertwines personal and historical elements. Reviewers praise its exploration of identity and family, though some find its pacing uneven. Overall, it is a captivating, thought-provoking read that deftly addresses complex themes.

Readers who enjoyed the coming-of-age and family saga aspects of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold or the complex identities in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon would appreciate Jeffrey Eugenides’ Middlesex. This novel appeals to those interested in generational stories and themes of identity transformation.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides follows the multigenerational story of the Greek-American Stephanides family, with Cal, who was raised as a girl named Calliope, narrating the journey of his grandparents, Lefty and Desdemona, from Greece to the US. Their family secret—a close genetic relationship—affects generations, culminating in Cal’s discovery during adolescence that he is intersex. The story intricately explores history, identity, love, and the complexity of gender. 

The novel includes depictions of nonconsensual medical interventions on intersex individuals and uses outdated terms for intersex people.

Jeffrey Eugenides

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore Middlesex reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read Middlesex | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Middlesex and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Middlesex Summary

Background

Middlesex Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1 Middlesex Part 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 2 Middlesex Part 2 Summary & Analysis

Part 3 Middlesex Part 3 Summary & Analysis

Part 4 Middlesex Part 4 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

Middlesex Character Analysis

theme

Themes

Middlesex Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Middlesex Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

Middlesex Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

Middlesex Essay Topics

Middlesex

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Middlesex?

Reading Age

Book Details