Review: Are You My Mother by Alison Bechdel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOURCE:

Library Book

 

Like many comics fans I heard a lot of buzz about Alison’s prior GN Fun Home. I haven't had the chance to read that story but this new work by her looked interesting so I picked it up. As my first exposure to Alison's work I have to say she is wonderfully brave.  Alison puts a lot of what she feels, remembers  and fears about her life on the page. After sifting through the events of her father’s past, Alison now shines the light on the relationship between Mother and Daughter. It’s not an easy read. A lot of this story centers around Alison’s time in therapy and she references a lot of passages from various masters in the field and includes excerpts from her various therapy sessions. I found it all very heavy and kind of depressing.

 

Its a testament to Alison’s artistic talent and storytelling that I was motivated to finish the book. It is not often a reader gets a chance to sift through some of the most painful and enlightening aspects of a fellow humans life. An engrossing yet difficult read.