Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
Written and Illustrated By: Alison Bechdel
Book Quote:
"I'd been upstaged, demoted from protagonist in my own drama to comic relief in my parents' tragedy" - Chapter 3, p 58Library Cat Rating: 😻 😻 😻
Review:
It is only appropriate that Alison Bechdel, a prolific cartoonists with pieces published in The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Slate and others, would pen her memoir in the form of a graphic novel. Bechdel explores her relationship with her father whom she finds out was a closeted homosexual following his early death. Her father's death, which comes shortly after Bechdel reveals to her parents that she is a lesbian, occurs under unusual circumstances which she speculates may ultimately mean suicide. This is a difficult story that is made more accessible with Bechdel's dry sense of humor and quirky artistic stylings. It is a story that is relatable in many from her difficult relationship with her parents, to her exploration of sexuality, and ultimately her very real processing of grief.
It is only appropriate that Alison Bechdel, a prolific cartoonists with pieces published in The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Slate and others, would pen her memoir in the form of a graphic novel. Bechdel explores her relationship with her father whom she finds out was a closeted homosexual following his early death. Her father's death, which comes shortly after Bechdel reveals to her parents that she is a lesbian, occurs under unusual circumstances which she speculates may ultimately mean suicide. This is a difficult story that is made more accessible with Bechdel's dry sense of humor and quirky artistic stylings. It is a story that is relatable in many from her difficult relationship with her parents, to her exploration of sexuality, and ultimately her very real processing of grief.
As someone who has previously worked for The Public Theater, the off-Broadway theater where Fun Home the musical was first produced, Alison Bechdel's story is something that I have heard about, but had somehow resisted reading until recently. I attribute my lack of initiative to a personal reluctance to read biographies and nonfiction in general. Having now read Fun Home, I can guarantee it is a book that I will read again in the future and would recommend to older teens and adults, including those reluctant to read nonfiction.
Awards:
Stonewall Book Award for Non-Fiction (2007), Judy Grahn Award for Lesbian Nonfiction (2007), Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Memoir/Biography (2007), Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for Best Reality-Based Work (2007)
Citation:
Bechdel, Alison. (2007) Fun home: A family tragicomic. New York, NY: Mariner Books.
Annotation:
This is Alison Bechdel's story of coming to terms with her sexuality and it's affect on her relationship with her parents, specifically her father.
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Bechdel, Alison. (2007) Fun home: A family tragicomic. New York, NY: Mariner Books.
Annotation:
This is Alison Bechdel's story of coming to terms with her sexuality and it's affect on her relationship with her parents, specifically her father.
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Extras:
-Fun Home has been made into a Tony Award winning best musical on Broadway! Check out their 2015 Tony performance here.
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