The Wardrobe's Best Dressed: My Family Was Like a Russian Novel by Carla Sarett

This selection, chosen by Managing Editor Krista Cox, is from My Family Was Like a Russian Novel by Carla Sarett (Plan B Press 2023).

My Family Was Like a Russian Novel, Everyone Says

We woke exhausted. All temperatures were unbearable. In rain, doors were locked, we never owned keys. When
Mother cooked, flames arose from the antique stove, we showered salt to calm them and ate burnt meats. As consolation,
we drank vats of cocoa while Mother read Pride and Prejudice and Brother slept with his unnamed cat and
Father lost all of his money. Mother took to her closet after a doctor shouted she’d murdered Brother…a lie but not
entirely untrue. Father strayed and of course returned to find Truth. There were rare tumors. Dead, Brother appeared
at Mother’s deathbed. I knew you’d come my darling, she sighed, how long can anyone stay away?

Carla Sarett is a poet and novelist based in San Francisco. Her poetry books include She Has Visions (Main Street Rag Press, 2022) and two chapbooks, Woman on the Run (Alien Buddha Press, 2023) and My Family Was Like a Russian Novel (Plan B Press, 2023). Her work has been nominated for the Pushcart, Best of Net and Best American Essays. Carla has a PhD from University of Pennsylvania.

Krista Cox is Managing Editor of The Wardrobe, Doubleback Review, and Sundress Publications. She is growing her hair out again and reclaiming her childhood dreams.