It has been twelve years since “Fun Home” was first printed and it still holds up as a beautifully funny and tragic tale of family, sexuality, death, and literature. The narrative bounces through important moments, some immediately labeled, others later realized as such, it is an ingenious cyclical story that needs to not only be read, but experienced.
Written, Illustrated & Lettered by Alison BechdelCover by Alison Bechdel
This stellar graphic novel is an autobiographical account of Alison Bechdel’s life and her complex relationship with her parents, especially her father: an enigma of a man.
So why should we be talking about “Fun Home” twelve years after its initial publication and five years after it was turned into an award winning, yet short-lived musical? A blend of comic book and memoir, it pushes both forms of literature in new directions. Wildly engaging, the reader is pulled into these lives with such force that it is near impossible to put the book down once started. It is unfortunately mostly unheard of. Anytime I have brought it up in discussion, it turns into me having to recommend it rather than turning into a two-sided exchange. A few of my theater geek friends (I use this term in a loving manner, as I too am one) have heard of it because of the play, but most only knew it as the play, or knew the book, but had not read it. This book is unlike most things I have read in my life. The way it stands apart from most of what is out there makes it hard to compare or connect it to other works.
The book opens with a small offering of knowledge about the Bechdel family. The title comes from the fact that Alison’s father Bruce ran the funeral home in the small rural Pennsylvania town in which he grew up. Other than that, Alison, her two brothers, and parents lived a seemingly normal life for many years. Their father who was an English teacher spent most of his personal time either reading or remodeling their house, or other buildings. We are almost immediately given a shocking morsel: Bruce died at the age of 44. He was killed by a truck and to this day no one is completely sure if it was an accident or suicide. From this point forward we are taken on Alison’s life and a concise summary is impossible.
Although the bulk of the book covers some of the most private moments in her life, it is never difficult to get through. At no point are you driven to cringing, rather you applaud her bravery and the striking clarity in which she recalls these moments. The combination of the humorous, melancholic, and endearing qualities of this book are what gives you the safety net to jump right in. As we move through her life, the mystery around her father starts to become much clearer, or as clear as Alison herself was ever able to make it. She learns that they had more in common than just their love of literature. Uncomfortable truths come to light from nearly everyone in her life.
This is a graphic novel that perfectly balances its illustrations and writing. It is incredibly rare to find a comic where the quality of the art and writing is equal and doesn’t fall into the same old tropes. Of course it helps that Bechdel’s exceptionally interesting life is the subject of the book and embellishments are not necessary. Mostly told through prose, the text is dense, jumping between text box narration, dialogue bubbles, typed and hand-written letters. Bechdel perfectly re-creates photographs and letters from her and her parents’s past. Though text heavy, the pace is never bogged down by it. Everything is perfectly placed in this story. This is a genius work that deserves as much recognition as possible. I will admit this is the only work of hers’s that I have read, even having read this for the first time five years ago. This is an error that I will be changing after this most recent revisit.
The entire book is illustrated in cartoonist style black lines with hints of blue/gray shading throughout. Initially coming off as simple drawings, nothing more than an extension through which to tell the story. The true detail and craftsmanship comes to light as you move from page to page. It is nothing short of perfection. The monotone art reflects the subtle, dry humor of the written word in a way that is so profoundly beautiful that it takes hold of you from the basement of your subconscious and works its way up. This is one comic that has effected me like few others have. It becomes a purely emotional journey that allows you to simultaneously become immersed in Alison’s story and reflect on your own, whether or not you share any key similarities. It took Bechdel seven years to write and illustrate “Fun Home” and the time taken is evident in her attention to detail in both the art and story material.
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This is one of the most difficult reviews I have ever had the pleasure of writing. Feeling the well of emotions that have gathered from my re-reading has made getting my ideas from my brain to the page exceptionally difficult. I wanted to discuss this book without getting too far into the story details. Starting this book knowing only the basic premise is the absolute best way to get into it and allows for it to seep into your soul. Nothing I can say will compare to experiencing it for yourself. I implore you to read it.
An important addition to works about the LGBT community, this book celebrates inclusion and acceptance through personal experience and pain; acceptance that we all crave, no matter our background. This book is a must read. No less praise can be said of it. It is a game changer in the comic book world. While this is probably evident from the information I have given, this book is for adult readers.
“Fun Home” is available anywhere comic books are sold and is available in paperback, hard cover and on the e-book reader of your choice.
