flo_sg's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Incest, and War
Moderate: Police brutality, Transphobia, and Racism
Minor: Hate crime, Gun violence, and Sexual violence
dada0407's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Eugenides's writing is really striking and well-woven. It brings his questionable characters to life, and manages to drag us through decades of events, from the greatest tragedies to the utmost pedestrian.
I was deeply moved by the narration of the greek genocide and the migration of the Stephanides family, and the description of the subsequent lives of the greek and turkish diaspora in the US, the portrayal and history of the city of Detroit. This felt real, and this is what I will keep from this book.
I am embarrased, though, by the treatment of the novel's protagonist, Cal, and the way their intersex identity is handled.
First: although I get the "greek tragedy" fatum plot device, it is unacceptable that this character's intersex identity is presented as a fatal punishment, subsequent to the family's wrongdoing and. While the rest of the book can be informative on many parts, this (ever-present, hovering) bit is incredibly offensive AND disinformative. Also, I was unsettled by the sex scenes in the book, and in restrospect, I think it comes from the fact that an adult man writing a detailed account of (very young) teenage girls' experiences IS questionable, and from a feeling of fetishization - the very same that Eugenides seems to point at (from the doctors, the club...) of intersex genitals. This is a shame.
I will end on the fact that this book still holds interesting information of the mistreatments of intersex people that still happen today, with forced genital surgery and amputation, imposing a binary frame on people who do not fit it. I don't understand how Eugenides managed to raise that critic while still pushing back Cal into this same binary frame. ()
This feels really awkward. Let's keep in mind that this was written in 2003, by someone who was not informed about intersexuality. While I would still encourage people to read this book, it is really NOT for its portrayal of an intersex character.
I was deeply moved by the narration of the greek genocide and the migration of the Stephanides family, and the description of the subsequent lives of the greek and turkish diaspora in the US, the portrayal and history of the city of Detroit. This felt real, and this is what I will keep from this book.
I am embarrased, though, by the treatment of the novel's protagonist, Cal, and the way their intersex identity is handled.
First: although I get the "greek tragedy" fatum plot device, it is unacceptable that this character's intersex identity is presented as a fatal punishment, subsequent to the family's wrongdoing and
Spoiler
incestI will end on the fact that this book still holds interesting information of the mistreatments of intersex people that still happen today, with forced genital surgery and amputation, imposing a binary frame on people who do not fit it. I don't understand how Eugenides managed to raise that critic while still pushing back Cal into this same binary frame. (
Spoiler
"I am OK as a girl. I like a girl! (And more precisely "boobs" -_-) That's because I have a high level of testosterone. I don't want to undergo an operation to be a "proper", binary girl... Thus, I am a man!This feels really awkward. Let's keep in mind that this was written in 2003, by someone who was not informed about intersexuality. While I would still encourage people to read this book, it is really NOT for its portrayal of an intersex character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Sexual content, Violence, and Medical trauma
majortomwaits's review against another edition
4.0
While beautifully written and with a very interesting premise, the very core of it struck me as very mean spirited to say the least. Still a good read, but thread carefully.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
_maia3_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
If you're looking for a graceful, reflective handling of intersex people and issues, never touch this book. Intersex people have said what I'm about to say better and in more detail if you're interested, but in short, this book seems deadset on painting intersexuality as some kind of monstrous deformation, and it is not lighthanded in this treatment either (for example, the main character's intersexuality is a direct consequence of incest). Furthermore, for a book all about living inbetween categories, it absolutely refuses to look at gender as anything other than binary. I didn't find out until after reading that Eugenides refused to research anything about intersex people for "authenticity" (!?). Its a real pity, because the first half of the novel speaks very poignantly about the experience of immigration and growing up an immigrant, and the prose (whilst sometimes a little overworked and cringey) works in its favour most of the time.
If it's possible for you to only read the first half of the book and then return it to your local library once the main character gets born, that would be ideal.
If it's possible for you to only read the first half of the book and then return it to your local library once the main character gets born, that would be ideal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Genocide, Racism, Transphobia, Medical content, War, Body shaming, and Fire/Fire injury
belgaer's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia and War
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
overmonroeville's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest, War, Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Lesbophobia
kibiiiariii's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Classism, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, War, Abandonment, Car accident, Death, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Sexism, Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cultural appropriation, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Genocide, Grief, Infertility, Islamophobia, and Pregnancy
bells_shelves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.75
WOW. This book has left me speechless. I almost DNF’ed this book around page 50-60, but then I was completely sucked in. The character writing is incredible, and they feel undeniably like real people. What a story. There were so many stories all wrapped up in one, and the way it was told was beautiful. This is a read I’ll never forget. There were so many beautiful sentences, the writing is impeccable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Transphobia, Incest, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Police brutality and Death of parent
Minor: Racism and Islamophobia
lyktestolpe's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Hate crime
thelaurasaurus's review against another edition
The only time I remember I'm meant to be reading this book is when I log in to review another book. It's fair to say it hasn't grabbed me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Xenophobia, Incest, and Violence