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Stefi

Jenny Paschall
Robert D. Reed Publishers (2007)
ISBN 9781931741804
Reviewed by Audrey Larson for RebeccasReads (3/08)

Who or what is Stefi?  When she constantly shows up at 42-year-old Sue’s workouts in the gym in London, practically forces friendship on her and subtly (and not so subtly) encourages big changes in Sue’s life, one wonders. 

Stefi doesn’t give her phone number or address, and seems to live on tortilla chips and wine.  Stefi dresses and acts like a 70s hippie, is supposedly 24-years-old, but also has insights and wisdom to give Sue.  Stefi first appears in Sue’s life after Matt, her boyfriend of several years breaks up with her.

Sue’s next love interest is a doctor, who was also her gynecologist.  They have fun for a while, but he is a cheapskate, and the way Sue dumps him is incredibly funny. Stefi encourages Sue to change jobs, and embark on a journey to India, where Sue meets an old school friend, has new job opportunities, and discovers that life in India is far different than anything she has experienced before.

The old friend, Jake, becomes Sue’s next love interest, and also her guide to the ways to get along in India.  Jake became very rich at an early age, and had enough money to live the rest of his life without working again, if he wishes.  Jake wants to marry Sue, although he is at least 5 inches shorter than she is, and her mother makes all kinds of snide remarks about it. Sue’s mother is twice widowed and never seems to have a nice word to say to Sue.  She is extremely harsh and mean-mouthed, hates sex, and never hesitates to say so.  Stefi doesn't like Sue’s mother or Jake.  In fact, strangely, Stefi doesn’t like any of Sue’s love interests except Matt.

Stefi is supposed to join Sue on her trip to India, but at the last minute she says something came up, and she will join her later.  So, Sue embarks on her journey to and in India alone until she meets Jake. The teeming masses, heat, humidity, lack of adequate plumbing and sanitation, plus the diseases and poverty change Sue’s outlook on life.  Volunteering at a hospital for sick and dying people, one of whom Sue becomes close to, opens her eyes to life.  When one young woman whom she attends in the hospital becomes snarling and angry when dying, because of all her lost opportunities, Sue realizes what a good life she really has.

Along the way, in India, Sue has encounters with two funny pigs, yaks, a tour bus with bald tires, and sees the Taj Mahal and other beautiful sights, as well as the slums, poverty, and overpopulation.  Sue also faces danger as a taxi driver drives in the opposite direction from where she wants to go, and then tries to assault her.  Sue literally has to run for her life.

Sue’s production work on a documentary proves her skills and abilities, and consequently she receives even better work opportunities.  She also makes more money than she ever had before in her life. When Sue is back in London, with a better job, she has Stefi redecorate her apartment with much brighter colors and fabrics from India.  When Jake becomes difficult upon their breakup and refuses to give her plant back, Sue retaliates by swiping his Indian bedspread.  It becomes the focal point of her newly redecorated bedroom. Sue realizes that Stefi is her best friend ever, and the end of the book is surprising when Matt re-enters her life and Stefi is revealed for what she really is. 

Jenny Paschall has written a book with humor, frank language, sexuality, and glimpses into life in London and India.  “Stefi” is an intense, interesting read.


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