Middlesex

(6) Tree Line

It took Eugenides ten years after The Virgin Suicides to write Middlesex, but it'll only take you a fraction of that time to read it. That doesn't mean it's easy, though. Middlesex is long, chock-full of literary language, historical references, and a confusing narrative structure. Still, it's not without insight and humor, so you should take the time to read it. Plus, we're here to help with all the symbols, shout-outs, themes, and characters with the Greekest names you'll see this side of the Atlantic. It'll take a few hours, days, or weeks, but who knows? It might stick with you for a decade, or longer.