This summer, members of the Vise Library are participating in a Summer Reading Challenge. We have received copies of several books from publishers for honest reviews. We hope that you enjoy these reviews (and books)!
The seventh book on our schedule is The Walk-In Closet by Author Abdi Nazemian.
About the book:
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?
Kara has just celebrated a milestone birthday (30) and she's living a pretty good life. She lives in a great apartment, wears designer clothes (that are given to her), receives a new car, all thanks to the Ebadi's. Leila and Hossein Ebadi are the parents of her best friend, Bobby. Bobby is non-working screenwriter and party boy. The Ebadi's love Kara and they pay for her and Bobby's lifestyle in hopes that they will soon marry. Kara and Bobby have a great relationship but there is a serious problem with their relationship: Bobby is gay. Bobby being gay is apparent to everyone except to his parents. Bobby and Kara have an agreement to keep the charade going until the other person meets someone. However his parents are trying everything to get them to marry and are pressuring for grandchildren. It becomes all too much for Kara to keep up the act. Kara starts to question whether what they are doing is right and she tries to find her own life. She meets a stranger in an usual way and tries to keep it to herself. However the relationship with this stranger starts to affect her relationship with Bobby, her friends and the other Ebadi family members. The past of the Ebadi's starts to affect her future and all of it finally comes to blows.
I enjoyed this book because of the characters and their Persian culture. The Ebadi's are Persians that have immigrated from Iran to Los Angeles. It is funny at times when Leila tries to find out what certain words in the English language mean. However throughout the story you learn how each family member has tried to adapt (whether for good or bad) to the new culture. I think people can relate to the main message of the book. It seems like all of the characters struggle with acceptance and what will happen if their true selves come to light. There is another message of seeing what you want to see due to pride and the Ebadi's are faced with a challenge when a major plot twist happens. Will Kara continue to coast through life or will she finally live her own life?
I enjoyed this book because of the characters and their Persian culture. The Ebadi's are Persians that have immigrated from Iran to Los Angeles. It is funny at times when Leila tries to find out what certain words in the English language mean. However throughout the story you learn how each family member has tried to adapt (whether for good or bad) to the new culture. I think people can relate to the main message of the book. It seems like all of the characters struggle with acceptance and what will happen if their true selves come to light. There is another message of seeing what you want to see due to pride and the Ebadi's are faced with a challenge when a major plot twist happens. Will Kara continue to coast through life or will she finally live her own life?
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:
·
Twitter: @abdaddy
If you want to find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge click the image above!
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