Fun home

Last night, I saw the musical adaptation of this graphic novel, and it was a striking show. They had a t-shirt for sale depicting audience members leaving the theater saying, “That's exactly like my family except completely different.” I think those words speak for the original piece as well. I don't have a lot in common with Alison Bechdel on the surface. I've never struggled sexual identity, obsessive compulsive disorder, or losing a loved one to suicide. Also, I'm a pretty terrible artist. That said, I was still able to strongly identify with her because she highlights a lot of the struggles that we feel are unique but are actually almost universal: depression, not knowing your family as well as you think you do, shame about being the only one, grief, self-doubt. Her story is one of extremes, told in nakedly candid fashion, and that honesty is powerful. I don't think I could ever be as open about the extreme parts of my life as she is in this... and then she let other people adapt it to a musical. She's a pretty incredible woman, and her work is definitely worth reading.