Tales from Respite, OH
Abstract
Tales from Respite, OH is a collection of short stories set in a fictional town, in my home state of Ohio, where they are left to struggle with addiction and attraction, with mental illness and an undercurrent of murder. I like to think I’ve learned a little something from the symbolism that abounds in myth and legend. My collection has its own recurring warnings—cigarettes and broken doors warn of coming doom, while night skies and dancing speak to the possibility of happiness. If I speak to religion and religious trauma, I hope it is more evenhanded than it first appears. If nothing else though, I hope my thesis encompasses the human spirit in some way—its capacity for cruelty and self-defeat as well as the strength found in community and connection. Failing that, I hope at least to return to some small part of the world an appreciation for diner food and memory.
Advisor
Robin Becker
Committee Member
Geoffrey Herbach
Date of Degree
2023
Language
english
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Program of Study
Creative Writing
Department
English
College
Humanities and Social Sciences
Recommended Citation
Demers, J. (2023). Tales from Respite, OH. [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Rights Statement
Comments
This thesis can be viewed in-person by appointment only in the University Archives at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Contact the University Archives to set up an appointment during normal business hours.