The Fun House

by Lynda Barry

Cartoons examine the pains and pleasures of growing up, with satirical looks at school, friendships, family life, and the trials of adolescence

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Art, Comix, Humor, Graphic Novels Comics

124 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1988

About the author

Lynda Barry is an American cartoonist and author, perhaps best known for her weekly comic strip Ernie Pook's Comeek.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

We decided to have a carnival show and we decided to have it on a day when no one's parents would be anywhere except at work. Our main attraction was going to be: "Things Lighted on Fire."

Awesome! Now, THAT'S a childhood well spent!

Just about all the joys and nightmares of anyone's youth can be found in this collection of cartoons.

School pictures, paper plate art projects, square dancing in gym class, talent shows, field trips, plastic army men, moving to a new house, bad haircuts, not being invited to parties...it's all coming back to you, isn't it?

Memories, both good and bad will bowl you over as you enjoy these cartoons.

Lynda Barry did the impossible by making me both miss childhood AND be ever so relieved that it's over!

One good thing about growing up - no one can ever FORCE you to eat circus peanuts again!!!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynda Barry's books are magic!

[Diane Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a prized book on my bookshelf, as are all the Lynda Barry books.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think what I like best about Barry's work is that it's so rooted in childishness. The illustrations help with this - they almost look like child's drawings, sometimes, and I think it must take a lot of work to get them looking so apt for the subject matter. The comics here are bits and scraps of memories from childhood, complete with noxious cousins, schoolyard squabbles, and lots of random things of interest to a kid - growing bean plants, destroying toys, playing with a dog, the excitement of a parade. The thing is, it's all immensely recognisable, and the conceit, throughout the book, that the understanding of the narrator is limited is almost total. We can see, as readers, the undercurrents and implications that the kids are just not aware of, and that gives such an interesting tension - even a sting, at times - at the close of some of these comics.

It's just all very, very clever.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not crazy about the two sisters. Slightly surreal, so that works, but I don't find them funny or elucidating any sort of wisdom the way her other characters do. And I kept getting confused about who was who — they look exactly alike and it seemed at first that the same one was always on the same side, then she started moving them around so you'd have to go back and re-read and look for clues as to which one was which and you couldn't always tell and sometimes you needed to know. I liked the Marlys stuff here. Some funny and great and touching moments, though, for sure.

[Ciara · Rating 3 out of 5]

honestly? i don't remember shit about this. i gave it three stars because it's by lynda barry & i like her stuff. maybe this is the one where her characters move in with their aunt? no idea. if you like lynda barry & marlys, you probably won't regret reading this. sorry, i'm the wrong person to ask about graphic novels & comics, as a general rule. i am just not a visual person.

[Joelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my introduction to Linda Barry. There were parts that I loved, they felt so real. Other parts maybe felt real but were too awkward, but not in a touching-awkward-coming-of-age way, but in a what-did-I-just-read? way. I would look for & read more of her work, but can't wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone, so 3 stars.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my very first experience with a graphic novel, which I found very entertaining. It was a quick read, and the story told itself very well. I found the subject matter to be a huge downer (even shocking) rather than funny, and was very unsatisfied with its resolution.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the finer comic books you'll ever read.

[Cassandra Carico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynda Barry never disappoints me. She is funny in the most "wrong" of ways.

[Simar · Rating 3 out of 5]

a lot sadder and less hopeful than Ernie Pook

[Cecilia Tavira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entrañable historia sobre la relación entre un padre y su hija. Una exploración muy personal sobre las relaciones primarias y como estas afectan nuestras decisiones futuras.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful for being honest about what being a kid is really like. Lots of panels I would like to tape to my desk for 'keeping it real' purposes.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and sadly accurate (judging from my own life) short illustrated stories from the author's childhood.

[Greg Hopkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps I should have known better before adding this to my "Want to Read" list. After all, it was a book that was recommended to me by a cocktail bar staff member. Yes, it was a bit a surprise when I learned it was a series of comics, but it had a 4.4 rating on Goodreads!

While some of the strips were relatable, even humourous, occasionally hinting on serious topics like rape, abuse, bullying, poor parenting, divorce, death, moving, and on and on, I personally found it dull overall and not worthy of such a high rating.

[Phaea Crede · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the best Marlys.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Cindywho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I miss the revelation of Marlys' that I used to get picking up the Village Voice at the library in the late 80s. This brought me back with some funny and sad pieces of Marlys' world and some from Lynda's. I ran across the existence of this collection in Good Reads. Yay!