stephania

i started ilona karmel's stephania just a few hours into march 4th as sort of the ultimate tribute to myself and my bday. i actually also only bought the book because it's title has a strong resemblance to my name. at any rate, it should've been no surprise that it was a pretty good read (there goes that egotism again...). it's about a polish jew named stephanie who's ::gasp:: 23 and in the hospital for surgery to get rid of her hunchback. ... like me she isn't always the easiest person to get along with but she's alright. she's pretty, smart and when she wants to be, quite friendly and nice. as i was reading the book i kept expecting one of those 'light breaking thru the clouds' moments. an epiphany. alas, no such moment occurred. still, it was a pretty good book. an easy read with a good pace. reminded me a bit of somerset's of human bondage. which is one of my favorite books. that's also about a young person with a physical affirmity (a boy this time, wit a clubfoot) and how they learn to deal with it.