The Places that Became Home: a Collection of Short Stories and Memories

This is a collection of short stories and memories from the eight places that I have lived. Through these stories and memories, I reflect on themes of identity and community. I also consider the idea of home: what defines a home, how we make a place feel like a home, and what transforms a city or a town into a home. Each chapter also includes my own original designs and photographs. The stories about Sharon and Westwood, small towns in Massachusetts, focus on childhood and familial relationships. The narratives about St. Louis, Missouri and Toluca Lake, California, consider the transition from childhood to adulthood. Meanwhile, the memories from Claremont, California, Silver Lake, California and Santa Monica, California all meditate on the idea of belonging. Lastly, the recollections from London, England, contemplate how a foreign city can become a home