I have to say that I disagree with your perception of Fun Home.  As an avaricious reader, not only do I welcome lofty literary references, but I don’t mind, no, enjoy finding out about new writers and books through references made in whatever material I’m digesting.  I’m also an English major, so I fit into your imagined demographic of who would like this book. I don’t think that Bechdel used these references superficially, every reference had a purpose within the story. The Importance of Being Earnest is glaringly symbolic in regards to her father’s secret life. The Albert Camus references are integral to dissecting the anatomy of suicide. I don’t think the author went in circles in her repeated anaylsis. I don’t think that she could concretely say who her father was and what he intended the day that he stepped in front of that Sunbeam truck. I think that her perception probably changes everytime she runs the memories through her head, it’s never the same story twice. She’s examining the fluid quality of her memories, what she recalls versus what she wrote in her diary, her memories of her father and her mother’s revelations. Bechdel won me over with her courageous honesty and sense of humor. She is more “real” to me than the other authors and auto-biographies that we explored in this course. The list as requested:

Favorite: Jimmy Corrigan- This has become one of my favorite books I have ever read. The language is absolute poetry, go back and check out  the segment of his grandfather (as young Jimmy) snuffing out his oil lamp at bedtime, or the part where he askes his mother if she’ll recognize him in Heaven. I LOVE how all the components wrap up together, and the ending is perfect. Yes, I said it. Perfect. (I’m pretty sure I am totally alone on this one.)

2. Maus- the story just doesn’t let you go, and the author’s conflict with his father is relatable to anyone with parents.

3. Fun Home- see above

4. Watchmen- Loved the art, the story, the twist at the end, the alternate history/reality, loved Rorschach. I think this needs to be judged on it’s own merits, completely aside from the movie.

5. Uzumaki- remarkably original, genuinely creepy and I loved the artwork. I had never read manga before reading this and I’m actually checking out horror manga now.

6. The Dark Knight Returns- This got me into superhero comics/graphic novels. I loved the grit and I’m a sucker for anti-heroes, so I loved Frank Miller’s portrayal of Batman (“the goddamn Batman”.) I agree, the artwork is  beautiful.

7. In My Darkest Hour– I liked this because it actually drew me in despite the fact that I loathed the main character. I was fascinated by what a cockroach Omar is and I thought the story was told in an interesting way- hints being dropped through emails, notes, photographs. I like bizarre, original, artwork so I appreciated the grotesque collages. I didn’t find the story non-sensical at all, I think it follows a  linear path.

8. American Born Chinese– this book is totally entertaining and a fun read, but I don’t feel that Yang is making any unique or interesting statements about race and identity. Actually, the book is completely one-dimensional; rejecting your cultural identity is bad, it’s better to just be yourself. Nothing groundbreaking there. As I’ve mentioned before on Twitter, does race= cultural identity? The author seems to think so, which is pretty insulting. And there are only Asian and white kids at this school?? I would like to know how African Americans and Jewish people fit into the statements and assumptions being made in this book. I’m also not huge on Christian imagery, and the author seems to jam it into the readers face at the expense of the storyline.

9. The Complete Persepolis- this book is just a tedious read. Young Marjane is a bratty, entitled, know-it-all who transitions into a self-satisfied adult. I’m not saying the story is without value, I knew virtually nothing about this period in Iran’s history before reading the book. I have since added Waltzing with Bashir to my Netflix list.