day 3053

Day 3053
we watched the changes
in ecosystems, weather
and we drove upwards

Day 3052

Day 3052
it’s always that way:
you get it planned out, but then
everything changes

day 3051

Day 3051

beneath the skylight,

we discussed comics, movies,

marriage, and Buddha

day 3049/day 3050

Day 3049
stacks cover her desk
on three sides, of forms, reports –
patiently waiting

– – – – – –

Day 3050

follow-up email,

thanking her for the good times –

“you made my knees weak”

Troy’s Book Club: Fun Home

Time for another graphic novel in the book club, or as author Alison Bechdel calls it, “a family tragicomic.” “Fun Home” is an autobiographical graphic novel; Bechdel tells about her growing up, and her family’s history. She deals with her parents’ marriage and the difficult dynamics in it. She deals with her own sexuality, and her coming to terms with it. The book is really well-written, nicely illustrated, and easily kept my interest.

The graphic novel has received some flack for dealing with homosexuality, becoming the target of some attempts at censorship by small-minded individuals (I’m looking at Garry Smith of South Carolina here).  I am very confident that most of these individuals have never actually read the book. Yes, it deals with homosexuality. And really, that almost seems secondary. The book is intelligently written, and that is reason alone to read it. A larger theme, to me, is about how we grow up, see our parents differently, see the world differently, and try to find our own place in it.

This book should sit on the shelf beside any other important autobiographical works. And those who would try to remove this book from reading lists, syllabuses, libraries should read the dang book.

As always, if you’re interested in this book, pick it up at Boswell Books or check it out from Milwaukee Public Library

day 3048

Day 3048

photographer thoughts:

what equipment do I need?

how might it go wrong?

day 3047

Day 3047

early morning sun

flitting through the small window

alighting the pipes

day 3046

Day 3046

I checked the address,

inspected two dif’rent maps –

turned around, went home

day 3045

Day 3045

in the warming temps

curbside rivulets, full of

gravel, dirt, trash, leaves

 

day 3044

Day 3044
the morning sunbeam
highlighting the fragile form
of the spider’s web