Alison Bechdel’s starkly illustrated graphic novel Fun Home has Bechdel examining her flawed relationship with her father shortly after his sudden death. As an homage to his interest in canonical literature, the text is peppered with literary references, most of which serve as parallels for their relationship. She not only puts her family under a lens, but also her own burgeoning sexuality, as the book also follows her coming out as a lesbian in college. Fun Home may not be the peppiest read, but it’s a well-written, haunting story about family, love, and the lies we tell ourselves about both.
image via Powell’s.
