Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic

Digressions

In this episode, Lily and I talked about American cartoonist Alison Bechdel's acclaimed graphic novel/memoir Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, which is a profoundly moving account of the author's childhood in Pennsylvania, her complicated relationship with her father Bruce, the latter's unexpected death, the author's sexual awakening, and the uncovering of Bruce's repressed homosexuality. Drawing on personal experiences as well, we addressed themes and ideas including childhood exposure to death, the use of literary references, individual vs. society, family structure, and the creative process. Whether from a critical perspective or a lay reader's point of view, Lily and I agreed that this is a memoir so thoughtfully created and beautifully written that we would return to it over and over again. If you haven't read it, you should! And let us know what you think!