Make Yourself at Home
Year of Award
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Degree Name
Creative Writing (Fiction)
Department or School/College
Department of English
Committee Chair
Emily Ruskovich
Commitee Members
Makim Loskutoff, Ione Crummy
Keywords
literary fiction, autonomy, Arabic, language learning, fairy tales
Subject Categories
Arts and Humanities | Creative Writing | Fiction
Abstract
Set in 1990’s Vermont and New York City, Make Yourself At Home tells the story of twenty-six-year-old Alison (Sonny), as she navigates graduate studies in Arabic, a difficult love relationship, and increasing debt and self-doubt. This is a coming-of-age novel, narrated mostly in the second person, in a darkly humorous tone, close to Alison’s point of view. The work incorporates journal sections written by Alison in Arabic, as well as sections that tell or retell fairy tales and myths. The novel deals with themes of language learning, autonomy, self-doubt, moral ambiguity and love.
Recommended Citation
D'Alvia, Jennafer Elizabeth, "Make Yourself at Home" (2025). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12452.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12452
© Copyright 2025 Jennafer Elizabeth D'Alvia