Reviews

• Fantastic and life-changing work

  Fantastic and life-changing work. Intimate yet universal, as many have said. As a personal introspection of her own formative years and her father's death, Alison Bechdel's celebrated graphic memoir, "Fun Home," is deserving of every bit of praise it has received. If like me, you came to this after learning about/experiencing the now equally celebrated musical adaptation, this is not quite exactly the same. They're entirely different creations, yet have the same heart and soul.

• Fantastic

  I discoved Fun Home in France in Liberation and I was very happy to able to find again this story.

• Incredibly touching

  One of the best books I've read recently, I've fallen in love with Alison Bechdel way of drawing as well as writing. To write such a deep and personal story, drenching the book in a fun yet tragic atmosphere... It's like magic. I really recommend you buy this book, like, right now.

• Words and text working together perfectly

  I chose this for my bookclub to read as an example of a graphic novel, none of us ever having read one before. I quickly realised that this was a memoir which made it even more interesting. From the start there are pointers that her life is developing into a tragic tale. We are left in no doubt that her father was a complicated man with many internal torments. The language is rich and luxurious with the great use of some unusual words (one or two even had me looking up definitions). I've now read a few graphic books and think this book is put together brilliantly. The words and pictures both add to each other. There is great detail in the graphics as well, many of which add more to the story than the words can alone. There is much tragedy but it is related in a blackly humorous way (man times crossing back and forward the line between comedy and tragedy). The narrative sections break into four types: the overall story telling, dialogue in speech bubbles, occasional explanatory notes and labels highlighting an element of a drawing. Essentially the book is about a father and daughter relationship. They struggle to come to terms with their differences whilst refusing to acknowledge their obvious similarities. Much of the commonality is around literature and the arts, leading to a few points where the author relies too heavily on literary references. However, I very much liked the reliance on the artistic talents in the family, particularly the mother's acting which allows her to step away from her real world. What strikes me most about this book is the depth of emotion that is written into every, carefully chosen, word. It can be a cliche to say that the process of writing is cathartic but, with this book, that feels appropriate.

• Um trabalho ao mesmo tempo incrivelmente pessoal e perturbadoramente artístico

  É impressionante porque é ao mesmo tempo uma narrativa familiar muito íntima mas uma análise em alguns momentos até bem imparcial de uma pessoa tão próxima como o próprio pai. A arte é incrível, a narrativa é brilhante e se você tem problemas com seu pai você provavelmente vai chorar algumas vezes.

• Dobra robota

  Szybka dostawa. Książka przyszła w idealnym stanie. Sposób pakowania (kartonowe pudełko typu tear off) bardzo mi przypadło do gustu.

• Must read

  Seriously one of the best graphic novels. Adult topics -- grief, suicide, sexuality -- all handled with deep thought and introspection.

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