Comments on: Fun Home, Alison Bechdel

By: Alison Bechdel – Fun Home « Fyrefly's Book Blog

Alison Bechdel – Fun Home « Fyrefly's Book Blog — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 11:16:14 +0000

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By: Jenny

Jenny — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 04:36:10 +0000

In reply to moonrat.

I wish I knew how authors of memoirs manage this – the extent to which they change names, consult involved parties, etc. Bechdel talks about it pretty openly, but I am so curious about how it all worked, what specific incidents they wanted gone and she declined to remove. I especially wondered if she contacted her first girlfriend – we don’t get to know the character that well, but it’s her relationship too.

I expect it does depend on the situation, but I never know the situation well enough to decide how I feel about it. (Alas!)

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 04:33:49 +0000

In reply to Mum. Yes, that was icky. People are icky. I found that photograph of their baby-sitter particularly disturbing - not just that the father took it, and Bechdel found it, but also that she copied it and put it in her book. If I were the babysitter and I read this book I would be plenty pissed. At the father and Bechdel.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 04:32:31 +0000

In reply to Nymeth. Would fictionalizing it be better, do you think? It's not like the family wouldn't spot themselves in the mum and dad and brother characters. I find this a very vexing problem, and I just can't come to any satisfying conclusion about it.

By: moonrat

moonrat — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 03:25:07 +0000

i happened to have read this a couple months ago–i really enjoyed it, particularly the literary framework/allusions.

i don’t read many memoirs–this was a gift, and i was surprised to have enjoyed it, but i did! but the thought about the author’s family hadn’t crossed my mind, somehow. since i don’t acquire/edit memoirs i’ve never had to deal with it on that end, either. but… yeah, good point. how could a memoir amount to anything more than a betrayal, ever? hmmm. but is that reason enough to stop the writer? i guess it depends on the situation.

By: Mum

Mum — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:38:42 +0000

Jenny, weren’t you disturbed at all by the fact that Bechdel never acknowledged the most troubling aspect of her father’s sexuality: the fact that he was preying on underage boys? These guys were teenagers, yes, but he was their TEACHER – and in several cases, their employer as well, so the balance of power was well tilted to his side of the scale. The novel was fascinating, yes, but I think Bechdel’s self-awareness stopped dead at this (to me) seriously creepy aspect of her father’s life. It seemed like she thought that the cultural forcing of his closeted life was excuse enough for what he did – I really have to disagree.

By: Nymeth

Nymeth — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:47:22 +0000

I do wonder about that sometimes when reading memoirs. I can’t imagine the family being completely comfortable even when the story is a happy one. Sometimes I start thinking that it could have been changed into fiction, and what exactly was lost/gained by publishing it as non-fiction. But I do read and enjoy them, so like Petunia was saying, I shouldn’t condemn the writers.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:56:52 +0000

Petunia – I am SO GLAD I’m not the only one bothered by this! People say the worst things about their families in some of those books, and it’s even worse when they have kids. Actually, as memoirs go, Bechdel wasn’t saying anything nasty about living people – it’s more the betrayal of revealing their secrets. I can’t decide which is worse…

Jackie – I hope so too, although if I were the mother, I’d probably be saying, pfft, there are thousands of books in the world about people and their sexuality that DON’T reveal humiliating truths about my marriage and my family life. On the other hand, it’s Bechdel’s story too, in a way her story to tell.

Matthew – Before I started reading graphic novels, I had no idea how diverse they are in style and content. I’ve been reading more and more, and they go to some fairly dark places. This one is fantastic, I hope you enjoy it!

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:33:35 +0000

I have always thought graphic novels delve into lighter subject than dealing with a gay closeted father. This one actually does sound very intriguing. Perhaps it’s a good idea to adopt this subject in a graphic novel so that this social issue can reach a wider audience. I am going to check this out!

By: Jackie (Farm Lane Books)

Jackie (Farm Lane Books) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:10:08 +0000

I loved this book, but know exactly what you mean about the family. There were a lot of very private moments in this book. I can see why her mother would feel uncomfortable with this story being told, but hope she can see that it will have helped so many people who are coming to terms with their sexuality.