Most Accidents Occur in the Home: Stories
Date
2019-06-13
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MFA in Creative Writing, The University of Tampa
Abstract
Most Accidents Occur in the Home is a collection of a dozen loosely linked stories that focus on
family life and the damage we do to those who are closest to us, intentionally and
unintentionally. In a dark, realistic style, stories are, in turns, hopeless and hopeful, devastating
and humorous. Links between stories are predominantly implicit and thematic, and include
motherhood, gender, friendship, violence, money, obligation, the parent/child bond, revenge, and
the power of love to heal. Recurring motifs, including dogs, music, and pop-culture references,
strengthen the ties between the stories and anchor them in time and place. In settings as varied as
the U.S./Mexico border, Salt Lake City, Utah, and the coast of Virginia, and ranging in time
from 1944 to the present day, the characters in these stories grapple with violence and
redemption, exile and homecoming, abandonment and forgiveness. In a long-term care facility, a
character contemplates the right reasons to commit murder. A middle-aged woman weighs the
burden of her mother’s declining health. A grandmother gifts her small granddaughter an image
to strengthen and guide her in the future. A jealous mother callously teaches her child racism. An
unthinking girl makes a decision that will change a friend’s life forever. Mothers commit acts of
great selfishness and selfless love. Children navigate the world without guidance. Sibling bonds
are non-existent. Parents come and go with casual disregard. Violence—both subtle and
direct—suffuses all of these relationships and ultimately raises the question: What is the meaning
of family?
Description
item.page.type
Thesis
item.page.format
Keywords
Short stories, Violence