A great book written by a Pulitzer Prize novelist is an epic tale of a girl/boy,- a hermaphrodite who grows up in a Greek immigrant family that settle in Detroit.
Calliope is the teller of the tale and she tells the tale with stories within her own personal story of her Greek family.
It is full of drama, starting with the fleeing of her grandparents from Smyrna and then continues with the interesting tales of the whole family as they settle, prosper and try to understand the ways of American life through the 20thcentury.
During the book, Calliope , later Cal, her masculine persona, tells of her family background and the mixed genetics which has resulted in her being born as a hermaphrodite. Unfortunately, Callie, or her family have no idea or understanding of the problems she will encounter or face .
It is a multifaceted book that touches not only on biology and science but on the love and emotional aspect of immigrant and family life and the history of a large city in America.
Not a book you can read quickly but a book that holds your interest and is a real page -turner.
Another one to look up, thanks Shirley!
ReplyDeleteJohn