Alison Bechdel, author of the comic “Dykes to Watch Out For,” strikes a chord with a look back on her family life. This memoir told in graphic novel form is easy to devour in one sitting. The drawings and short dialogue actually slow you down in a good way and help you focus on the simple story of a girl, her father, and the secret they both keep. The narrative is both hilarious and heartbreaking all with the backdrop of the family business– a funeral home– or as the family and title describe, a “fun home.” Eventually, as Alison is away at college, her and her father form a bond over books but the attention is both overwhelming and repulsive– not really understanding why he finally offers the relationship she had longed for. This is great for just about any reader teen and up (due to one slightly explicit sex scene) but would be a great fit for those just coming out or dealing with family issues and sexuality.
—Melissa, Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane, WA
Did you hear the piece about Alison Bechdel on NPR recently? NPR helps make the nation aware of great books, but if you shop at independent bookstores like Auntie’s Bookstore, you’ll probably be ahead of the trends.
