Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

I have never read a graphic memoir before and upon starting "Fun Home" by Alison Bechdel I was a bit intimidated. I was not sure if the way the novel was presented would encourage me to continue reading or distract me from the actual story line. After the first chapter I was definitely enthralled with how the story was written. The images not only added meaning to what was being described but they give away hints of what the story is based on. The expressions on the characters' faces adds another dimension to classic novel reading that I have never before experienced. Also, the way the characters are depicted gives clues as to what will come next in the story such as not only Alison's sexuality but also her father's. For example, although it may sound stereotypical, the way Alison and her father were depicted through out the books: what they were wearing, doing...etc., lead me to believe they had a different sexuality, which is then proven in chapter three.

The images that accompany the writing add a bit more to the story line that could not be told in description. Instead of leaving the imaging up to the reader, Bechdel displays the situations for us with just enough detail to make the story remain relatable. The images are in black and white, which allows the reader to fill in the blanks, or create more to the story instead of reading it flatly and passively. Although I have not yet finished reading the memoir I have found myself captured within the quirky remarks and sarcastic facial expressions depicted on the pages.

All in all I think without the images the story would just be another novel to sit on a shelf. As the story unfolds so do the characters' personalities and we do not only get to imagine the progression of life for these people but we get see it in front of us.