Publicado Originalmente: El Extraño Gato del Cuento

Mi nivel de expectación por este libro me sorprendió antes de empezarlo a leer, no solo quería leerlo, necesitaba leerlo. Encontrar libros LGBT es muy complicado y en Young Adult aún más, se “cuida” mucho al adolescente (o jóvenes en general) que no lean este tipo de libro, hasta se vetan, ahora último no mucho, pero si hubo un tiempo dónde libros con protagonistas homosexuales eran un escándalo y eran del diablo. Y como me gusta molestar, decidí leer este libro (?)

Ahora que terminé el libro voy a decirles que no entiendo la portada. En serio, sé que es una cosa que no les interesa en lo más mínimo, pero me he quedado mirando la portada un buen rato, luego de terminar el libro, y sigo sin entenderla. Has ganado esta vez, diseñador de portadas, has ganado esta vez.

La única referencia que tenía del libro era lo LGBT, suficiente para emocionarme y vomitar arcoíris como cualquier gato que se respete, pero antes de empezar a leerlo hojee muy por encima la sinopsis, y la verdad es que me asusté un poco. ¿Por qué? Bueno, el libro trata sobre un campamento de de-gayifying (no puedo ni pronunciarlo en inglés no me pidan que lo traduzca, pero es algo así como “desgayficar”) y las pocas experiencias que he tenido con este tema han sido bastante complicados de llevar, si han visto Criminal Minds hay un capítulo con estos campamentos, entonces me veía un libro quizá no para todo el mundo.


He disfrutado mucho la lectura, los personajes me han encantado, sobre todo Matthew, todos deberíamos tener un Matthew en nuestras vidas, en serio, él se robó mi corazón en todo el libro. La historia de amor es tan bonita, pasan todas las etapas desde el rechazo, la negación y el embelesamiento en el otro de una manera bastante entretenida.

Sé que esperan el pero, y aquí viene. Esta es la cosa, no quiero decir que por tener personajes homosexuales el libro deba darte el ultra mega mensaje, no, es solo que hay temas en el transcurso de la historia que me hicieron pensar el “¿qué haría yo si me pasará esto a mí o alguien que conozco?” Es que es fácil como lector o tercero pensar en lo que supuestamente haríamos, sobre como seríamos héroes en nuestra imaginación. Les digo esto porque hubo muchas veces que Lexi me pareció demasiado pasiva sobre cosas que pasaban a su alrededor, quiero creer que yo sería más de ¿armas tomar? No sé si se dice así, pero no encuentro la frase que quiero. Eso fue lo que no me convenció de la historia, me gustan las protagonistas que son decididas, de las que mueren luchando, completamente diferentes a mí, quiero decir.

En general, disfruté un montón la lectura de The Summer I Wasn’t Me, ligero, un tanto cliché debo agregar, con un bonito mensaje, no entendí la portada (diseñadores que te hacen pensar ¬¬). Y de verdad, de verdad me gustaría que en algún momento lo publiquen en español, no todos los libros LGBT deben ser los mega dramones.

Reseña completa: El Extraño Gato del Cuento ( )

Okay, here's the thing. When you're depicting something like conversion therapy, there are two ways that I'm comfortable with it going. 1. A complete over-the-top satire (a la But I'm a Cheerleader), or 2. A serious look at the torture, abuse, and psychological distress that this so-called therapy causes.

Unfortunately, The Summer I Wasn't Me falls a bit between the two. And the end result is that it doesn't seem to be treating the issues seriously enough. There are issues that are glossed over at the end, there are things that aren't treated with as much gravitas as I feel like they should be. And the end result is that it feels almost... disrespectful of how awful conversion therapy can be.

And obviously, your mileage may vary with this. This book does have a good message about being true to yourself as a person. But if you're sensitive to issues of religious homophobia... I mean, I've read better depictions. ( )

I wasn't expecting this book to be as dark as it was. Of course, I was expecting some darkness. As a queer person myself, I can't imagine what it would be like to go through one of these camps (which still exist) and come out the same. The psychological aftereffects that Verdi shows is in itself terrifying, but the book just gets darker and darker (with some light in Carolyn and Lexi's relationship).

One of my favorite characters is Matthew. Most people seemed to be committed to changing their sexuality, but Matthew was the rebel. Oh, and he liked Broadway. It's a bit stereotypical, but I love Broadway. And I actually liked how Lexi came into it with an open mind, even though she didn't mind being gay in the first place. It just gives even more of a perspective on how horrible these camps were.

Another point that was kind of eh was the fact that it was only monosexuality that was featured. Sure, Matthew mentioned the Kinsey scale, but it wasn't put into practice. Bisexuality exists.

Otherwise, a really good read. I couldn't put it down. ( )

Heartbreaking

Lexi goes (by choice) to a de-gaying camp. She has a variety of reasons: grief over the death of her father, and not having told him she was gay, her mother's depression and unwillingness to accept a gay daughter and heartbroken over a first unrequited love.

She hopes to come out the other end straight, so that her mom will accept her and they can be a family again.

There are several other characters with a variety of reasons, from being forced, to going against the parents wishes. Each teen is unique and has a unique story and reason for coming to camp. These characters are really well written.

The camp itself is absolutely horrifying, despicable, disgusting and so fundamentally wrong. In the name of religion and god, these teens are physically beaten, emotionally blackmailed and just generally abused. I hate to think that these things actually go on in anti-gay camps, but I suspect they happen daily, and too many people are subjected to this abomination.

I liked the book for tackling a topic that is not usually written about, and handling it with style, integrity and sensitivity. This should be read by everyone, teen or adult, straight or gay. It's an important book. ( )

Heartbreaking

Lexi goes (by choice) to a de-gaying camp. She has a variety of reasons: grief over the death of her father, and not having told him she was gay, her mother's depression and unwillingness to accept a gay daughter and heartbroken over a first unrequited love.

She hopes to come out the other end straight, so that her mom will accept her and they can be a family again.

There are several other characters with a variety of reasons, from being forced, to going against the parents wishes. Each teen is unique and has a unique story and reason for coming to camp. These characters are really well written.

The camp itself is absolutely horrifying, despicable, disgusting and so fundamentally wrong. In the name of religion and god, these teens are physically beaten, emotionally blackmailed and just generally abused. I hate to think that these things actually go on in anti-gay camps, but I suspect they happen daily, and too many people are subjected to this abomination.

I liked the book for tackling a topic that is not usually written about, and handling it with style, integrity and sensitivity. This should be read by everyone, teen or adult, straight or gay. It's an important book. ( )