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"…because truly “Are You My Mother?” isn’t just about this narrative, or about the particular self of Bechdel or her mother; it’s about how hard it was for Bechdel’s mother to have this book written and why, despite how much she wanted to avoid hurting her mother, Bechdel was so driven to do it anyways. It’s about why we circle back and obsess endlessly about our parents, both in therapy and in our lives. It’s about the part of growing up that is giving up on getting exactly what you wanted out of a person you love so that you can move on with your life. It’s a book about why we write books like this; more specifically, about why women tell these stories and ask these kinds of questions out loud despite the legitimate personal and professional risks it may entail. Which seems, inarguably, a story worth telling."

~ via Autostraddle — Read A F*cking Book: Alison Bechdel’s “Are You My Mother?”

28 May 2012 ·