Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel

Carol M. chose the book and hosted the discussion. 

As a memoir written in the form of a graphic novel, this book was unlike any we’ve previously read, and for that reason some of us chose not to rate the book. We had varied opinions of it, though we almost all agreed that we were glad Carol selected the book because it was one that we wouldn’t necessarily select ourselves, it was an easy read, and it exposed us to a new reading experience. 

This book is a true story about a child who grew up in a dysfunctional family that lived in a small isolated community.  She struggled to come to terms with her own sexual identity and that of her father. She carried guilt associated with her father’s untimely death and wondered if it was an accident or suicide (our group unanimously agreed that it was an accidental death).

The book was filled with references to many other (sometimes obscure) literary works, and included some very challenging vocabulary words. A few of us found that to be very off-putting, maybe even condescending, to the point that one member of our group suggested that the author was an overly academic snob! It sure made us realize how little we know about such literary works and maybe even made us feel a little stupid. But others thought that this was probably a natural way for her to write considering her own and her parents’ extensive backgrounds in literature studies. They believed that this style of writing is simply a different form of expression and that, rather than directly expressing her own views, the author used the notions and ideas of those depicted in literature and Greek mythology to explain her thoughts. 

We talked about the family; we didn’t like the parents and the way they chose to raise their children who were pretty much on their own. We discussed the influences of living in a small town environment where they continued to stay due to having to take over the family business (Fun [funeral] Home). We talked about family pretenses and how their lovely Victorian home may have served to enhance and therefore misrepresent the family image. We agreed that relationships in all families can be very complicated.

A number of us did not like this book due to the writing style and subject matter. Some of us (at the risk of sounding prudish) said that the sexually explicit drawings were offensive and unnecessary.  A few thought that personal mental anguish is something they’d rather not read about.  Still others really liked the book -- appreciating its deep, thought-provoking themes. Most of us were very impressed with the author’s artistic ability, detailed recollections, creativity, and extreme amount of effort in putting together all of the graphic panels. One member pointed out how she found the book to be very relevant in today’s society that includes sometimes persistent homophobia. The book was considered to be “very interesting” by some of us, and discussion was, as always, lively and fun.

 Author's website: http://dykestowatchoutfor.com/