Reviewer: Kate
I received a copy of The Walk-In Closet by Abdi Nazemian in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
Kara Walker has never found much glamour in her own life, especially not when compared to the life of her best friend Bobby Ebadi. Bobby, along with his sophisticated parents Leila and Hossein, is everything Kara always wanted to be. The trio provides the perfect antidote to what Kara views as the more mundane problems of her girlfriends and her divorced parents.
And so when the Ebadis assume that Kara is Bobby’s girlfriend, she willingly steps into the role. She enjoys the perks of life in this closet, not only Leila’s designer hand-me-downs and free rent, but also the excitement of living life as an Ebadi.
As Kara’s 30th birthday approaches, Leila and Hossein up the pressure. They are ready for Kara to assume the mantle of the next Mrs. Ebadi, and Bobby seems prepared to give them what they want: the illusion of a traditional home and grandchildren. How far will Kara be willing to go? And will she be willing to pull the Persian rug out from under them when she discovers that her own secret is just one of many lurking inside the Ebadi closet?
Review:
The Walk-In Closet is an irreverently narrated novel about the myriad of ways we can all get stuck in the closet. Kara, Bobby and the Ebadis are all skulking in self-made claustrophobic spaces just hoping that the others will not see their dirty little secrets. But then, secrets are meant to be revealed—the light in the closet will at some point snap on. Then the question becomes, what happens once the darkness is revealed?
The premise of The Walk-In Closet is poignant. There is humor here, and an authenticity that is honest and on point. Abdi Nazemian creates a rich landscape of characters; indeed, I feel as if I know each and every character presented in this menagerie. But perhaps for this reader, there is too much reality here. As in life, things are purposely glossed over, ignored, and unresolved. The ending, for me, was unsatisfying. There is movement but where moments of explosive truth occur, they are quickly contained and censored, leaving much of the story to chronicle the mundane. But that would depend on one’s perspective. If you’ve never had a gay friend, or known wealthy people, or had a friend who swears you to secrecy and enlists you in their duplicity—well then, this will be a revelation to you. But if you’ve had any or all of these experiences (as I have) then there is no ah ha moment in this book.
This is not a perfect story: the characters can be painfully awkward, vapid, sexist, immature and materialistic; some of the plot twists are less than inspired; and the narrative drags for large portions of the story. But—There are flashes of brilliance. Moments of sheer hilarity. And stark reminders that the world has not come as far as it ought by the year 2014. But there is also hope and a reminder that life goes on and so must progress.
There are interesting baubles to be found in The Walk-In Closet, so I would recommend poking around in it. Just don’t expect any kind of fanfare when you emerge from its depths. There is no reward for coming out of the closet.
Rating: 3 ½ Stars
About the author:
Abdi Nazemian is the screenwriter of The Quiet, Celeste in the City, Beautiful Girl, and the short
film Revolution, which he also directed. He is an alumnus of the Sundance Writer’s Lab, a mentor at the
Outfest Screenwriter’s Lab, and has taught screenwriting at UCLA Extension. He lives in Los Angeles with
his two children, and his dog Hedy Lamarr. The Walk-In Closet is his first novel.
Connect with the author:
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1jkYO07
Twitter: @abdaddy
Website: http://abdaddy.com Goodreads: http://bit.ly/QC54K1
