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Closet Case: A Novel
As he tries to conceal his homosexuality from his co-workers, Lionel Frank runs into some snags, including a crush on a straight Transylvanian anarchist medical student. By the author of Fag Hag.
330 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2014
6 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Robert Rodi
210 books123 followersRobert was born in Chicago in the conformist 1950s, grew up in the insurrectionist 1960s, came of age in the hedonist 1970s, and went to work in the elitist 1980s. This roller-coaster ride has left him with a distinct aversion to isms of any kind; it also gave him an ear for hypocrisy, cant, and platitudes that allowed him, in the 1990s, to become a much-lauded social satirist.
After seven acclaimed novels set in the gay milieu, Robert grew restless for new challenges — which he found in activities as wide-ranging as publishing nonfiction, writing comic books, launching a literary-criticism blog, and taking to the stage (as a spoken-word performer, jazz singer, and rock-and-roll front man).
In 2011, excited by the rise of digital e-books, he returned to his first love, publishing new fiction inspired by the work of Alfred Hitchcock. He also organized the republishing of his seminal gay novels under the banner Robert Rodi Essentials.
Robert still resides in Chicago, in a century-old Queen Anne house with his partner Jeffrey Smith and a constantly shifting number of dogs.
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German version: Robert Rodi wurde 1956 in einem Vorort von Chicago geboren. Im Alter von 22 schloss er sein Philosophie-Studium ab. Schon vorher beschäftigte er sich mit Comedy. Sein erster eigener Roman, "Fag Hag" aus dem Jahr 1991 war ein großer Erfolg. Es folgten mehrere andere komische Romane, zahlreiche Kurzgeschichten und Sketche. Robert lebt mit Partner und Hund in Chicago.
After seven acclaimed novels set in the gay milieu, Robert grew restless for new challenges — which he found in activities as wide-ranging as publishing nonfiction, writing comic books, launching a literary-criticism blog, and taking to the stage (as a spoken-word performer, jazz singer, and rock-and-roll front man).
In 2011, excited by the rise of digital e-books, he returned to his first love, publishing new fiction inspired by the work of Alfred Hitchcock. He also organized the republishing of his seminal gay novels under the banner Robert Rodi Essentials.
Robert still resides in Chicago, in a century-old Queen Anne house with his partner Jeffrey Smith and a constantly shifting number of dogs.
.
German version: Robert Rodi wurde 1956 in einem Vorort von Chicago geboren. Im Alter von 22 schloss er sein Philosophie-Studium ab. Schon vorher beschäftigte er sich mit Comedy. Sein erster eigener Roman, "Fag Hag" aus dem Jahr 1991 war ein großer Erfolg. Es folgten mehrere andere komische Romane, zahlreiche Kurzgeschichten und Sketche. Robert lebt mit Partner und Hund in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 9, 2023
Having been a tad starved for laughs as of late, this offered some welcome comic relief. Rodi writes well and comes up with some remarkably original descriptions. His characters are mostly over the top cliches, which is hilarious at times, a bit grating at other times (especially some of the female characters) but renders them rather two-dimensional. Lionel, the MP could have benefitted from a little more profile and depth. Ultimately though, I did find myself rooting for him. Underneath the comedy the core topic is a sad one and his personal circumstances were pretty bleak.
Bottom line: for the most part I was sufficiently entertained. During the last quarter however, the mojo subtly left the building and the slightly creepy and very silly showdown veered a little into Overkill Lane.
Bottom line: for the most part I was sufficiently entertained. During the last quarter however, the mojo subtly left the building and the slightly creepy and very silly showdown veered a little into Overkill Lane.
October 23, 2014
The exquisite agony of being in the closet has been rarely more hilariously penned than by Mr. Rodi. Poor Lionel Frank is a truly memorable literary creation. In his increasingly frantic attempts to appear straight, he runs into such dilemmas he comes off as being like a Keystone cop—it’s just one ineffectual flailing after another. Desperately horny, lonely and sexually frustrated, Lionel just can’t seem to get a break and his yearnings after inappropriate men are both touching and vastly amusing.
You feel for Lionel. He’s a marvelously sympathetic protagonist precisely because he’s so determined to give everyone around him what they want: helping his Spanish neighbor avoid her increasingly bizarre boyfriend, sticking up for the rights of Romanians (excuse me, Transylvanians), laughing along with the awful jokes of his homophobic co-workers, escorting an attractive unattached female co-worker to an awards dinner, placating his ex-military father and Jesus-loving sister, etc. If there are a few too many clichés around him, they’re so capably written you really don’t care.
This is an extremely funny romp through the closeted homosexual life and I think can be enjoyed by anybody who’s ever known what it’s like to sit on an explosive secret.
You feel for Lionel. He’s a marvelously sympathetic protagonist precisely because he’s so determined to give everyone around him what they want: helping his Spanish neighbor avoid her increasingly bizarre boyfriend, sticking up for the rights of Romanians (excuse me, Transylvanians), laughing along with the awful jokes of his homophobic co-workers, escorting an attractive unattached female co-worker to an awards dinner, placating his ex-military father and Jesus-loving sister, etc. If there are a few too many clichés around him, they’re so capably written you really don’t care.
This is an extremely funny romp through the closeted homosexual life and I think can be enjoyed by anybody who’s ever known what it’s like to sit on an explosive secret.
January 1, 2010
I read this book years ago and I was an immediate Robert Rodi fan - his writing sparkles and his characters are full of humour and affection. His books might be considered 'light reading', but they are fabulous nonetheless.
This book ended far too soon, and I really wanted to know what else happened to these wonderfully likeable characters.
This book ended far too soon, and I really wanted to know what else happened to these wonderfully likeable characters.
January 3, 2024
this was okay , very funny at times but truly melancholy in its core. lionel though, as fun as it was watching him and his hijinks of sorts, i couldn’t help but feel like he is a caricature with no actual depth i don’t know if this is just me, overall a pleasant experience and an easy read.
December 7, 2022
I'm so glad I don't live in the 1990s anymore.
This was probably a good book, but it wasn't fun for me until near the end. I loved Yolanda though.
This was probably a good book, but it wasn't fun for me until near the end. I loved Yolanda though.
May 8, 2017
Like a cheesy 1990s sitcom in the best way possible. A period piece if we want to get real scholarly LOL
April 9, 2021
Closet Case was written in 1994 and it's kind of obvious. Growing up, a lot of the lgbt literature that I read was published during the 90's, and they're so much different than what's being released now that for me it felt a bit like coming home, even though I've not actually read this book before (it helps that I've read Rodi's other five books about gay archetypes written throughout the 90's and into the early 2000's, so I also knew exactly what to expect).
Closet Case is the story of Lionel Frank who is, well, a closet case. Lionel's big dilemma is that he doesn't want to come out of the closet for fear of losing his job and because he wants to be treated like one of the guys that he works with (90's!). My biggest issue with the book is that the central conflict (Lionel does not want to be outed) gets a bit repetitive - Lionel is put in a situation where he might be outed, he freaks out, and then he isn't outed, only for him to enter another situation where he may be outed, freaks out, and then isn't outed... I would have liked some more layers, as it were. Things improve by the second half where we've gotten to know some of the other characters, particularly his neighbor Yolanda and the anarchist Transylvanian Emil, as well as their own issues. Granted, we're still getting Lionel's attempts to remain firmly in the closet, but we care about the other characters more.
My other issue is that the ending feels rushed, or at least like it ended at a point where I'd like to know more about what happened. The ending left me with more questions than before, and I wanted to know more about what happened with the characters, especially Lionel - because his whole world opened up and I want to know how things changed for him.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this. Definitely a beach read, and definitely a slice of what gay life looked like in the 90's (from the perspective of a very closeted gay man, but still...) I definitely recommend, and it makes me want to go back and read the other books Rodi wrote around the same time.
Closet Case is the story of Lionel Frank who is, well, a closet case. Lionel's big dilemma is that he doesn't want to come out of the closet for fear of losing his job and because he wants to be treated like one of the guys that he works with (90's!). My biggest issue with the book is that the central conflict (Lionel does not want to be outed) gets a bit repetitive - Lionel is put in a situation where he might be outed, he freaks out, and then he isn't outed, only for him to enter another situation where he may be outed, freaks out, and then isn't outed... I would have liked some more layers, as it were. Things improve by the second half where we've gotten to know some of the other characters, particularly his neighbor Yolanda and the anarchist Transylvanian Emil, as well as their own issues. Granted, we're still getting Lionel's attempts to remain firmly in the closet, but we care about the other characters more.
My other issue is that the ending feels rushed, or at least like it ended at a point where I'd like to know more about what happened. The ending left me with more questions than before, and I wanted to know more about what happened with the characters, especially Lionel - because his whole world opened up and I want to know how things changed for him.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this. Definitely a beach read, and definitely a slice of what gay life looked like in the 90's (from the perspective of a very closeted gay man, but still...) I definitely recommend, and it makes me want to go back and read the other books Rodi wrote around the same time.
June 5, 2018
An often times funny, over the top, novel of a gay man desperately trying to act “straight”, even though it constantly back fires on him.
Aside from the lack of nuance in how the author writes his women, the characters for the most part, are all well drawn out and Lionel himself, our protagonist, is a hot mess. So scared of coming out, Lionel hides in paranoia and fear. It’s only a business retreat with the partners that all comes out, in the best and oddest way. The whole book is slightly absurd, sarcastic, and oddly sweet. The ending, however, was perfection.
It took me a while to get into the story because it’s very 90s and I wasn’t reading it with a 90s mentality. At this point, 1994 is a period piece. But, once I did I really enjoyed this.
Aside from the lack of nuance in how the author writes his women, the characters for the most part, are all well drawn out and Lionel himself, our protagonist, is a hot mess. So scared of coming out, Lionel hides in paranoia and fear. It’s only a business retreat with the partners that all comes out, in the best and oddest way. The whole book is slightly absurd, sarcastic, and oddly sweet. The ending, however, was perfection.
It took me a while to get into the story because it’s very 90s and I wasn’t reading it with a 90s mentality. At this point, 1994 is a period piece. But, once I did I really enjoyed this.
February 19, 2024
Parts of this book are VERY funny, and the story is interesting enough, but unfortunately this one feels pretty dated. The ridiculous hijinks that Lionel went through in order to keep himself in the closet just wouldn't happen today. This is an interesting relic of the 90's, nonetheless.
March 24, 2018
Loved it! Laugh-out-loud funny!
November 9, 2023
I LOVED this book. It’s such a descriptive and beautiful piece of queer experience that anyone would enjoy.
January 4, 2024
I read this (and several other Robert Rodi books) in the 90s when it first came out and loved it. I was newly queer and was so happy to have things to read that were also queer.
July 10, 2025
A product of its time, but it did deliver the promised comedy of errors.
December 22, 2020
My journey into Gay Lit continued with this title and enjoyed the story very much. I read this book many years ago and have recently down loaded Rodi's other titles to read again. Well recommended if this subject matter is to your liking.
August 15, 2007
IIRC, I had liked Fag Hag - it wasn't as funny as touted, and it was severe at a time when I was looking for gay romance, but it had very funny bits and terribly true observations. I think!
I'm no longer sure, because Closet Case starts out weakly. The writing isn't a pleasure to read, and it's dangerously close to that Ben Idontwanttorememberhisname of the Gay Hollywood School, ie. extremely boring and bland while listing what you know you're meant to find hilarious yuppy life.
I'm still hoping that Lionel, like the heroine of Fag Hag, will stop bemoaning how wonderful hetero couples have it with all the support that makes their relationships heaven, and that the book will fall into the other Gay Novel tradition of eg. Chris Kenry, with the narrator learning something and changing his tune.
ETA: he didn't.
The coming-out-scene was touted as the funniest ever, which in a summary it might be (having had sex with the gay ex-priest son of his rich client, the effeminate ex-bf of Lionel's female friend chases him with a spear while he's finally screaming I'M GAY, something not even threats and sense could get him to do (so, no, I'm not impressed). You can see how it's meant to read - except it doesn't. Having characaturised rather than portrayed the other characters, and completely negatively at that, the humour doesn't quite work, and that most important thing - CARING at least about the main (couple) - was impossible (unless you're also a slightly dim, uninteresting gay yuppie, perhaps).
I'm not sure why I want to read another of his. Rodi definitely is unable to portray feelings, let along strong loving/caring feelings. His attempt at them was - no, really nothing. Lionel met the guy at lunch, heard he was gay at dinner, had sex with him after breakfast and new that he really really lurved him for the first time in his life. While I'm all for pants and gulps rather than screamed proclamations, to claim that the sighs showed this man to be honest and true and giving was too much - or rather, too little.
And still I want to read more, instead of rereading Fag Hag (which I also remember as unsatisfying in the relationship depiction, incl. gun-touting, just as in Closet Case prostitution was lauded) I want to read some other books, unable to accept that he's not as funny as Keenan (who really could have made those scenes hilarious), nowhere as deep or moving or even able to write short sex snippets like Gale or Bram, or as warm and funny as Kenry, but at least still better than Schell or Tyler.
Just not buy them *keeps brooding about it*
I'm no longer sure, because Closet Case starts out weakly. The writing isn't a pleasure to read, and it's dangerously close to that Ben Idontwanttorememberhisname of the Gay Hollywood School, ie. extremely boring and bland while listing what you know you're meant to find hilarious yuppy life.
I'm still hoping that Lionel, like the heroine of Fag Hag, will stop bemoaning how wonderful hetero couples have it with all the support that makes their relationships heaven, and that the book will fall into the other Gay Novel tradition of eg. Chris Kenry, with the narrator learning something and changing his tune.
ETA: he didn't.
The coming-out-scene was touted as the funniest ever, which in a summary it might be (having had sex with the gay ex-priest son of his rich client, the effeminate ex-bf of Lionel's female friend chases him with a spear while he's finally screaming I'M GAY, something not even threats and sense could get him to do (so, no, I'm not impressed). You can see how it's meant to read - except it doesn't. Having characaturised rather than portrayed the other characters, and completely negatively at that, the humour doesn't quite work, and that most important thing - CARING at least about the main (couple) - was impossible (unless you're also a slightly dim, uninteresting gay yuppie, perhaps).
I'm not sure why I want to read another of his. Rodi definitely is unable to portray feelings, let along strong loving/caring feelings. His attempt at them was - no, really nothing. Lionel met the guy at lunch, heard he was gay at dinner, had sex with him after breakfast and new that he really really lurved him for the first time in his life. While I'm all for pants and gulps rather than screamed proclamations, to claim that the sighs showed this man to be honest and true and giving was too much - or rather, too little.
And still I want to read more, instead of rereading Fag Hag (which I also remember as unsatisfying in the relationship depiction, incl. gun-touting, just as in Closet Case prostitution was lauded) I want to read some other books, unable to accept that he's not as funny as Keenan (who really could have made those scenes hilarious), nowhere as deep or moving or even able to write short sex snippets like Gale or Bram, or as warm and funny as Kenry, but at least still better than Schell or Tyler.
Just not buy them *keeps brooding about it*
March 24, 2016
Closet Case is the term use in the gay world for someone who has not "come out." He decides to hide his homosexuality from everyone.
Rodi has created a great case. You have an ad exec firmly in the closet, his flamboyant hairdresser, his conservative, gossipy coworkers, his army dad, his fundamentalist Christian sister, and his downstairs Latina neighbor and her 'gay straight man' boyfriend. Not to mention the guy from Transylvania...
And it all happens in the Chicago scene. Being from Chocago I enjoyed the book even more.
Rodi has created a great case. You have an ad exec firmly in the closet, his flamboyant hairdresser, his conservative, gossipy coworkers, his army dad, his fundamentalist Christian sister, and his downstairs Latina neighbor and her 'gay straight man' boyfriend. Not to mention the guy from Transylvania...
And it all happens in the Chicago scene. Being from Chocago I enjoyed the book even more.
August 3, 2010
While I really enjoyed this book, I didn't find it as laugh-out-loud funny as other reviews toted it to be. It was a bit wordy in parts, and I have to admit, I skipped whole lines just to get to the point.
Overall, a pretty good read. Next on my list is Rodi's Drag Queen. Hopefully it's a bit funnier.
Overall, a pretty good read. Next on my list is Rodi's Drag Queen. Hopefully it's a bit funnier.
Read
April 16, 2012Book group selection. This represents what I like best about a book group--it pushes me to read things I have never heard of or considered.
And I think I've met the author in singing classes at the Old Town School, only I didn't know he was a novelist, just a good singer.
And I think I've met the author in singing classes at the Old Town School, only I didn't know he was a novelist, just a good singer.
March 20, 2007
Not as good as his others but still a good read
March 15, 2009
Among the funniest books I have ever had the pleasure to have read.
August 29, 2010
Not my favorite of his work. I found it to be an ok read. Not my favorite Rodi book
May 25, 2016
A crazy plot, but definitely fun.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews