Misshapenness

by J.J. Steinfeld

Though he is best known for his plays and prose works, J.J. Steinfeld is also an accomplished poet and in Misshapenness as in his fiction luminous poems reveal the struggle and, with distinctive good will and humour, the dislocation of the self within the world. The narrative records how so many elements collectively press and guide the heart as it strives for understanding and unity, even in those moments when the mystery is unresolvable and unbearable. Steinfeld's overriding theme is the absurdity of modernity and the attempt by individuals to make sense of that absurdity. Misshapenness is a poignant book of transcendence and joy in the midst of despair, and aware of the world s beauty and its pain, one can, as in the finest of Woody Allen's films, persevere through grace and stoic acceptance. It offers senseful glimpses into a world, past and present, that is wondrous and damaged and, ultimately, baffling.

122 pages, Paperback

Published December 7, 2009