Jugs & Capes reads "Are You My Mother?"

This month at Jugs & Capes we read Alison Bechdel's latest graphic novel Are You My Mother?

I was super stoked to read it because...

a) Her first book, Fun Home, was the very FIRST graphic novel I ever read. It's what pulled me into comics. So it holds a very special place in my heart!
b) Back in the winter a group of us went and saw her give a talk here in Brooklyn! She really struck a chord with us, and was very awkward/ adorable/ inspiring...

So at our Jugs & Capes meeting I totally forgot to take a group photo this month, oops!
Well, here's our spread of food...

 

And Hannah's kitties!

And then here's Andrea and I hanging out afterwards in Bay Ridge...

 

Finally, here is the discussion guide I wrote out based on our conversation...

1. How would you compare Are You My Mother? to her last graphic novel, Fun Home? Art, tone, and story wise. What metaphors did you find most interesting? Which image/page really struck you when you saw it? Where did you find interesting contrast between the text and the action being illustrated?

2. What aspects of her relationship with her mother could you relate to concerning your own family? What struck a chord with you? And what are the reactions/ ramifications concerning her family and the production of such autobiographical work?

3. The book was definitely academic and meta. Did this make her story more successful/layered in meaning to you? Or...did it get in the way/make it hard to relate to? Can you relate to her compulsive need to document/analyze her life? How did you find the time you spent in Alison’s head, exploring her dreams and slowly building revelations?

4. What did you think about the role of therapy/ therapists in the story? (Especially thoughts from us who have been in therapy ourselves) Did you think her therapist ever crossed the line? And what about the parallels between her therapists, girlfriends, and mother?

***In other news***

 I'm nominated for the HARVEY AWARDS!!!

In FIVE--yes, five--CATEGORIES!

Best Promising New Talent, Original Graphic Novel, Writing, Inking, & Lettering.

 OMG! What an honor! Exclamation Points!!! I am way way way humbled, especially for a debut graphic novel. I feel so lucky I got a chance to make Page by Paige in the first place!

The categories are now voted on by comic professionals (Vote for me!) until August 17th and then the winners will be revealed at a ceremony at Baltimore Comic Con in September. Fingers crossed!

 This really is great motivation for me to keep my nose to the grindstone, since I'm reaching the end of penciling Will & Whit, which is the really difficult part of the whole production process for me.  But more on THAT next week...

Currently Listening: Just finishing up all 7 Harry Potter audiobooks. Yet AGAIN.