Attic.doc
by Teja Rhae Watson
In January 2010, after an unmentionable incident, Nara flees Kamakura, Japan, for a communal Victorian on the Oakland/Berkeley border. In a Word doc, she tracks the half-truths she’s telling her new roommates, Lily and Asha, along with her field notes on their queerdo hippunk vibes.
In February, Nara accidentally tosses Lily’s sourdough starter. In March, Nara crushes on Asha. In April, she escapes all the drama, isolating in the attic. In May, when the house hosts a naked party, Nara falls hard for the new butch next door.
But come June, Nara’s past catches up with her. Then, in July, tragedy strikes. Can Nara reassemble her house of cards before year’s end?
A thriller–turned–love story that delves deeply into death, Attic.doc details the divide between self-delusion and authenticity, the dangerous decisions we make to survive our trauma, the fine line between codependence and selflessness, and the liberating power of letting go.
Selected praise:
“A fun, weird, queer read … with butoh dancing!”
“A raw take on the complexities of reinventing oneself.”
