Self Storage
by Gayle Brandeis
Published by Ballantine Books
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Reviewed by Andrea Sisco
Flan Parker's first love was Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, which belonged to her deceased mother. She turns to the slim, yellow-covered volume whenever she needs strength. The words, thoughts and phrases often help her with her second love (her husband and two children).
Flan and her family live in a university housing complex in Riverside, California. It is the year following the September 11 attacks and Flan's husband, Shae, is supposedly working on his dissertation. However, he seems to be spending all of his time watching soap operas and generally getting a black belt in couch potato. He should be nominated for 'bad husband of the year.'
To pay the bills, Flan has built a thriving resale business. She bids at auction for the contents of storage units that have gone into arrears. When she wins the bid on a box with more of a location than address, she sets out to find the owner. The lone box contained a single piece of paper with the word Yes printed on it.
The chance discovery of the box and its owner sets Flan on the road to discover the Yes in her own life and of those around her. In particular, Flan is curious about her Afghan neighbor (Sodaba) who doesn't interact with the community and shrouds herself in a burka. The price Flan and her family pay for her involvement in Sodaba's life is steep.
The plot of Self Storage didn't immediately grab and compel me to continue reading. It was the rich, lyrical prose that sent me spiraling into Flan's world. And somewhere between the second and third chapter I found myself held hostage in Flan Parker's life, unwilling to put down the book to eat or sleep.
The story is vivid and rich, the plot twists and turns, the characters are quirky and deep, and you love some of them and dislike others. Brandeis has given us a snapshot of real life--and that's a feat for an author to accomplish.
Armchair Interviews says: Self Storage is a must read.
Author's Web site: http://www.gaylebrandeis.com