50 books to read before you die discussion

From the 100

Awesome, will definitely be starting this one.....(too) :)

Well, like I posted in the other thread, I've been doing tons of construction in my home this week since Saturday. Little time for reading. Despite that, I have managed to start this large book, and am on page 50.

I note that the ratings are a little average on goodreads, yet it was a Pulitzer prize winner, so hopefully I'm in the camp that ends up enjoying it a lot.

So far I like the novelist's writing form. The casual humor is in the same vein of a dark-comedy tv sitcom show. I dislike that so far he keeps going back in time to tell of a point for different relatives, as I'm not crazy about time hopping such as that, but I'm sure this should calm down and is just setting up the stage.

Just got this one. Will start it tomorrow. Doesn't look like I've missed out on much discussion.

I read this last year. Will post my thoughts from them & discuss with you Buck.
I had mixed feelings. While I thought the author examined an important topic in an insightful way, I found the book overlong at times.

Erin, I agree that he converses well. Have you read The Virgin Suicides? I thought his style was even better there.

For some reason, without knowing the first thing about this book, I had thought I wouldn't like it. Judging a book by the cover.

I'm about 10% in. Lefty and Desdemona have just arrived at the train station in Detroit. So far, he's got my attention. I'm enjoying it.

I recently read Robert A. Heinlein's Time Enough for Love. It's dominant theme is incest, not something one comes across in literature every day. Now, in Middlesex, our narrator's grandparents are brother and sister.

Buck wrote: "Just got this one. Will start it tomorrow. Doesn't look like I've missed out on much discussion."

No, you haven't yet. I'm only 90 so pages in.

Lisa wrote: "Erin, I agree that he converses well. Have you read The Virgin Suicides? I thought his style was even better there. "

No, this is a new author for me. His writing style is fine I just haven't gotten in the story yet. I don't like flashbacks and back in forth on time perspective. If a characters backstory pops up, I will be interested if I already like the characters...but starting a book out like that can be risky.

Buck wrote: "I recently read Robert A. Heinlein's Time Enough for Love. It's dominant theme is incest, not something one comes across in literature every day. Now, in Middlesex, our narrator's gran..."

Im pretty sure this will be the 'secret' and helps explain some of the mixed sex issues for the main character, who hasn't really been around yet besides as a narrator. Not sure what to think on that. Its a theory but not sure it would cause the errr...mixup. There may be other secrets involved.

I read it for awhile last night and am into the story more now. Sad about what happened to (view spoiler)[Jimmy (hide spoiler)]

On the mountain they came from (view spoiler)[ So I'm starting to think there is more to the upbringing and genes than I previously thought. Maybe a lot of inbreeding over time. (hide spoiler)]

Erin (Paperback stash) *is juggle-reading* wrote: "I read it for awhile last night and am into the story more now. Sad about what happened to [spoilers removed]

On the island they came from [spoilers removed]"

What Island? Maybe I haven't gotten that far yet. Lefty and Desdemona came from a small mountain village of Greeks near the city of Bursa, Turkey.

About a quarter of the way in. The writing reminds me of John Irving

Buck wrote: "Erin (Paperback stash) *is juggle-reading* wrote: "I read it for awhile last night and am into the story more now. Sad about what happened to [spoilers removed]

On the island they came from [spoi..."

No I changed it, was being moronic I guess. I'm terrible with location, clearly.

Buck, I think that incest here was used to introduce the idea of a heritable genetic abnormality & later gender dysphoria. At the time, I wondered about going for this specifically.

Lots of secrets in this family.

You're right, incest is fairly taboo in literature, I can think of Flowers in the Attic as the only book that I've read.

Lisa wrote: "Buck, I think that incest here was used to introduce the idea of a heritable genetic abnormality & later gender dysphoria. At the time, I wondered about going for this specifically.

Lots of secre..."

Ah, yes, Flowers in the Attic...I can also think of the cheesy horror sequel to Rosemary's Baby, Son of Rosemary. You're right that it doesn't seem to be done often.

Anyway, I have gotten more into this book so am reassured. Unfortunately I haven't had time to read much this week though.

Interestingly, the name of the book obviously has to do with its subject, hermaphroditism, and it is also the name of the street in Grosse Point where the narrator's family lived.

Finished this afternoon. Very good. Middlesex won the Pulitzer. I can't say if it was the best book considered for that award that year, but it certainly was in the same league as other Pulitzer winners I've read.

The structure of the story is interesting. Looking back from the age of 41, the narrator tells us the story of his grandparents, and then of his parents and then of himself/herself as a child, up until the early teen time of sexual discovery. (view spoiler)[Then when Callie is 14, pretty far along in the book, it takes a turn, which at first I was not comfortable with. Callie's parents take her to see a special doctor after an ER doctor discovers her peculiar genitals. He recommends treatment and surgery to resolve her hermaphroditism by converting her to a female, which is how she (and everyone else) had always thought of herself. She was concerned about not developing breasts and not getting her period, but she hadn't had much in the way of gender identity issues up to that point. But when the doctor makes his recommendation, Callie runs away. Suddenly she declares herself to be a boy, changes her appearance, and hitchhikes to San Francisco. The transition was instantaneous, full blown, and permanent. The story ends a few months later, with Cal, a 15 year old boy, back at home on Middlesex. (hide spoiler)]

It's a good book, well written. I recommend it.

I am almost done but not finished yet. I should have it finished up by the mid of the week, hopefully sooner.

I just finished it tonight. My final rating is a three. Not a bad rating, but the story style was too disconnected for me to fully embrace. I can see how it could appeal to many who find the story style more to their taste.