Picture courtesy of goodreads.com
I know I’ve complained about this book already, but here I am making it official. I will not be finishing Middlesex. In fact, I will even be paying my library 50 cents in overdue fees because I sort of forgot I’d had it sitting around so long.
What can I say about this book? I don’t think I made it more than 50 pages in. I should have read more reviews before I started it, I guess. Many of the reviews over on Goodreads mentioned that it is a loooooong, slow start about family history/secrets/mistakes before Eugenides actually gets to the boy-raised-as-a girl, gender-fun part of the story. I was so unimpressed by the family saga stuff, though, that I did not want to slog through another 400 pages of it. Also, I might mention that incest is big in this book. I didn’t realize how uncomfortable that would make me, but it was disgusting to read about the growing attraction between a brother and sister. I guess that family sagas like this are just not my thing.
Sad to say (since so many people I respect have enjoyed him), I don’t think Eugenides is my cup of tea. The Virgin Suicides was decent, but not near as intriguing or beautiful as I’d been led to believe. I am left in total confusion here as to why people are so into this guy’s writing.
Clearly, if I can’t finish the book, I can’t recommend it. Read at your own peril/pleasure.
When do you give up on a book? What helps you decide to put a book down or to plow through it?
Don't Take My Books Away 