After reading a synopsis of Annabel, I seriously wondered if Kathleen Winter had violated Jeffrey Eugenides' copyright on Middlesex! Winter chronicles the compelling life of a hermaphrodite born in rural Labrador; as a child, "Wayne" was never informed about his condition at the insistence of his father but, of course, Wayne's feminine side does not remain latent.
While not exactly a page turner, Annabel thoughtfully portrays a tortured but courageous protagonist who learns that life contains no easy answers. The novel dwells in uncertainty but highlights the human capacity for both ignorance and tolerance. As Wayne's friend Tomasina puts it, "Everyone is a snake shedding its skin. We are different people through all our lives."
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