Flan Parker has always had an inquisitive mind, searching for
what's hidden below the surface and behind the door. Her curious
nature and enthusiastic probing have translated into a thriving
resale business in the university housing complex where she lives
with her husband and two young children. Flan's venture helps pay
the bills while her husband works on his dissertation, work that
lately seems to involve more loafing on the sofa watching soap
operas than reading or writing. The secret of her enterprising
success: unique and everyday treasures bought from the auctions of
forgotten and abandoned storage units.

When Flan secures the winning bid on a box filled only with an
address and a note bearing the word "yes," she sets out to discover
the source of this mysterious message and its meaning. Armed with a
well-worn copy of Walt Whitman's LEAVES OF GRASS that she turns to
for guidance and solace, Flan becomes determined to find the "yes"
in her own life. This search inward only strengthens her desire to
unearth the hidden stories of those around her --- in particular,
her burqa-clad Afghan neighbor. Flan's interest in this intriguing
and secretive woman, however, comes at a formidable price for Flan
and her family.

Set during the year following the September 11 attacks, SELF
STORAGE explores the raw insecurities of a changed society. With
lush writing, great humor, and a genuine heart, Gayle Brandeis
takes a peek into the souls of a woman and a community --- and
reveals that it is not our differences that drive us apart but our
willful concealment of the qualities that connect us.

© Copyright 2011 by Ballantine Books, a division of Random
House, Inc.