Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides

I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974. Specialized readers may have come across me in Dr. Peter Luce's study, "Gender Identity in -Alpha-Reductase Pseudohermaphrodites," published in the Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology in 1975. Or maybe you've seen my photograph in chapter sixteen of the now sadly outdated Genetics and Heredity. That's me on page 78, standing naked beside a height chart with a black box covering my eyes.

This Pulitzer-prize winning book is an amazing piece of writing. The author presents a seamless inter-generational tale that remains compelling from start to finish. I can't recall a book which contains such a wide spectrum of people and events over time that never bogs down in the telling. A thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening piece of writing.

The main character becomes a person the reader can completely relate to, in spite of the fact he is a hermaphrodite. With a late developing form of hermaphroditism, his tale of maturing is unique. The author, however, is able to take us on this strange journey making it seem less than strange. The subjects covered-- grandparents growing up on a small Greek island, parents establishing themselves in American life, the city of Detroit in its glory and its decline, race riots, lower class neighborhoods, upper class suburbia, runaway in San Francisco, generational changes, and more, could be the subject of several books. The brilliance of Eugenides is to weave this all into an original tale of growing up. Most highly recommended!

Unholy Business - Nina Burleigh

People tell two versions of how Moussaieff made his billions, with a twist depending on whether the teller likes or dislikes the old man. The nice version is that for four decades he sold pricey jewelry to oil sheiks from a tiny shop on the ground floor of London's glittery Hilton Hotel, and also knew the prostitutes they employed. The sheiks paid the girls in jewelry because they deemed it more honorable to give their "girlfriends" presents than to pay them hard cash. After these transactions, the unsentimental ladies rode the mirrored and gilt elevators downstairs and sold the jewelry back to Moussaieff, at prices far lower than what the sheiks had paid. Then Moussaieff sold the pieces again at full value. The nastier version of the story, told by men who think the old man has crossed them, is that the jeweler sold the sheiks precious jewelry and then the escorts stole the baubles and brought them back to the shop.

This is a fascinating book that enlightens the reader about antiquities dealing in the Middle East. It reads like a good mystery as it uncovers the tale of master counterfeiters. The world of antiquity traders, collectors, seekers, archaeologists, and others associated with this little known subculture is detailed as a tale of intrigue is told. The author does a nice job of balancing facts from her research with a story line.

A whole world, previously unknown to me, exists in antiquity dealing. The book portrays the problems with counterfeiting, robbing of ancient sites, and the devious buyers and sellers. What a complex network exists trying to prove the Bible and other ancient texts. An enjoyable read that also educates.

From the Other Side of Night - Francisco X. Alarcon

back then hours were so long

mornings lasted entire days,

the sun in the sky our only clock,

and the wind sat down to chat

while the earth, damp with rain,

tickled the soles of bare feet,

and among the trees and hills,

clouds played hide and seek

and glances like butterflies

flitted toward dreams--in a

blink they'd alight in our hands

back then to laugh was common sense,

even to weep a pleasure, and friendship,

like tenderness, was a daily gift

This book is great introduction to the poetry of Francisco X. Alarcon. It includes poems covering fifteen years of his work from previous books along with some new poems. Francisco poetry highlights his chicano heritage. His poems range from political observations to deep passions about lovers, families, and the mysteries of life. He creates lovely images that brings smiles and tears, both of joy and sorrow.

Some of my favorite poems come from his book of Sonnets to Madness and Other Misfortunes. He observes and notes that which often passes unnoticed, but not without importance, in our lives. A very significant poet of our time who deserves to be well read. His is a voice speaking a language that answers many questions.

Salmonella Men on Planet Porno - Yasutaka Tsutsui

"Ludricrous! What species has no agression?!" Mogamigawa ranted, parading his basi knowledge of ethology. "If they lose their aggression they will also lose relationships between individuals. If relationships between individuals disappear, they won't even be able to reproduce. The same is tru for humans, after all."
"Ah, but this planet is special in that respect," I countered. "I believe the aggressive impulse is incorporated in the erotic here. Think about it. Animals often bite each other's necks when couplating, or chase or grapple with each other in foreplay, don't they. In other words, they do things that, at first sight, seem like aggression when mating. So wouldn't you agree it's impossible to make a clear distinction between the two impulses? And for animals on this planet, the erotic is amplified, since there's no need to show aggression, either to heterogeneous or to homogeneous individuals. So they try to mate with individuals of both types."

This collection of short stories displays the author's wild, humorous, and imaginative mind. The stories read like humorous versions of Twilight Zone shows. The characters are often in seemingly frightful situations, but they are detached and aware of situations too bizarre to be real. The author is a Japanese science-fiction writer and that is evident in these stories. Most are not science-fiction, but strange what-if scenarios. Very well composed and enjoyable to read. I was looking for something light and different after reading too many dark, heavy books and this book was that.

The author's sci-fi background is most evident in the title story, which is also the longest in the book. Like many stories in this collection, it has light-hearted takes on sexuality. On Planet Porno, we see an ecology based around sex rather than survival of the fittest. The world is too fantastic to have any sense of reality, but never-the-less has a premise that is not altogether implausible.

Water - Bapsi Sidhwa

Bhagya sat cross-legged on the kitchen floor, grinding rice with a mortar and pestle and adding it to the flour she stored in a brass jar. Dusk had thickened into night outside the kitchen window, and the hectic twittering of the birds had given way to the muted sounds of nocturnal animals of the forest and the sudden orchestration of cicadas. Her day's choirs done, her family fed, this was Bhagya's hour of solitude. The rhythmic pounding of the pestle and her automated movements had a meditative quality, and she often chanted or hummed holy passages from the Bhagvad Gita or the Mahabharata at this time.

This is the first time I have read a book based on a movie. The book is very good, while I hear the movie is excellent. This is gut-wrenching tale that is still able to find humor and hope in unimaginable circumstances. I liked the pacing of the writing- easy to read, yet dense with emotions. This is another book that supports a world wide revolution to bring justice for the women of the world. You will find yourself saying "Oh no, this isn't really happening to this poor innocent child."

In spite of the horrible and indefensible religious oppression of the Hindu women in the book, the hope of youth keeps this book from becoming too depressing. It is fascinating reading about Indian culture and places that have not changed in a millennium. The book is quite an experience and leaves a strong impact on the reader.