hannakutlu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Genocide and Dysphoria
mpswans1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Incest, Medical trauma, Genocide, Dysphoria, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Grief, War, and Death of parent
Minor: Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Body shaming, and Drug use
fruitfem's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
on the one hand, middlesex has exquisite writing, wonderfully fleshed out characters, and an unforgettable narrator.
on the other hand, i found the entire first half of this book psychologically disturbing, and a little bit boring.
the amount of this book that is dedicated to describing incest love stories is perhaps necessary, and perhaps well-written, but also extremely unpleasant for me to read.
i also felt a little bit cheated when i got to the end: for so much of the book, the glimpses of cal's adult life were what kept me motivated to keep reading, only for me to find that we don't get to see beyond those glimpses. it would have been nice to get a little less desdemona and milton and a lot more cal.
it's been a while since i read a book that immersed me so fully that i actually felt lonely upon finishing it, though. and i can absolutely see why it might be a modern great american novel—this is a book about which i actually want to have a class discussion.
in spite of it all, it feels criminal to give middlesex less than 4 stars.
Graphic: Transphobia, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Dementia, Car accident, Incest, and Genocide
wormgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Sexual content, Dysphoria, and Incest
Moderate: Genocide, Dementia, Violence, Murder, and Death of parent
Minor: War, Antisemitism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Racism, Transphobia, Car accident, Drug use, Police brutality, and Racial slurs
queenantipodes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Incest, War, Genocide, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicide
patrick_hommel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Dementia, Genocide, Gun violence, Incest, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, and War
darkmattersoybean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gun violence, Grief, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual content, Transphobia, War, and Violence
beetsnotbombs's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Incest, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Ableism, Antisemitism, Dementia, Genocide, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Religious bigotry
b_caligari's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Incest and Death
Moderate: Child death, Murder, Medical content, Gun violence, Genocide, Drug use, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Racism
Minor: Bullying and Car accident