También en: El Extraño Gato del Cuento

Con un nombre tan largo y curioso, algo así como “Yo siendo yo es igual de loco que tú siendo tú”, era imposible no notar este libro. Solo que no me esperaba lo que leí.

¿Cómo diablos le haces para escribir una historia como ésta? Todo el bendito libro está narrado en… ¡Listas! Primero pensé que era una especie de introducción, solo que las páginas avanzaban y las listas continuaban y continuaban. Listas como “3 Palabras que dije antes de la noticia” o “10 Cosas que probablemente estaría pensando” o “2 Escenarios en los que me imagino”, cosas así, algunas bastante graciosas la verdad. Definitivamente Me Being Me Is Exactly as Insane as You Being You se lleva un montón de puntos por su estilo narrativo, Todd Hasak-Lowy ha abierto un nuevo mundo para mí, ya nada será lo mismo.

La historia es bastante buena también, cada vez hay más y más libros LGTB publicados, lo cual se agradece muchísimo, nos ayuda a entender y aceptar al mundo. Pero ¿qué pasa si en el desayuno tu padre te dice que es gay? Por muy maduro que seas, por más que estés de acuerdo que ser homosexual es la cosa más natural de la vida, de qué es shock, es shock. Darren Jacobs, mientras intenta digerir la dona que se acaba de comer, intenta digerir también la pequeña noticia que su, hasta entonces, bastante heterosexual y recién divorciado padre, le suelta. Más las otras bombas que su familia le va soltando durante el año.

Darren Jacobs es un chico de 15 años con la mente bastante curiosa y un poquito subido de peso, idolatra a su hermano mayor, tiene el mismo problema que yo cuando estaba en el colegio, es un año mejor que todos en su clase por lo que se siente en desbalance de vez cuando, preguntándose que quizá estaría mejor con la clase que sí tiene su edad. Y encima de todo, no es la persona más sociable exactamente. Tuve dejavus hasta por la puras, kitten.

Me Being Me Is Exactly as Insane as You Being You es el ejemplo extendido de la frase “Estoy bien”, ese momento en el que quisieras gritar, patear, golpear, reclamar, llorar un poco pero sabes sería injusto y egoísta para la persona que te lo pregunta, por lo que pones buena cara, sonríes, dices estar bien y que sigan contando sus problemas, mientras vas acumulando poco a poco toda la presión, porque de verdad quieres ser una buena persona, quieres estar ahí para apoyar y aconsejar a las personas que quieres y te necesitan. El problema viene cuando explotas.

Otro de los detalles que me gustó de Me Being Me Is Exactly as Insane as You Being You es que no idealiza los problemas mentales, algo que pudo ser bastante fácil, pero Todd Hasak-Lowy nos trae el lado duro, la decisión drástica que a veces se deben tomar para cuidar de las personas que queremos.

Lo único negativo que le encontré al libro es que tienen una cantidad importante de marihuana, no es ningún tipo de apología a este planta pero sí es mencionado más de un par de veces.

Entonces, kitten, ¿Qué tan loco es que nosotros seamos nosotros?

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If there were a book that were to make me not got feelzie but actually sad, this would be it ( )

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my review in any way.

I am not sure I have ever read such a tedious 600 + pages. This book is told entirely in lists. LISTS! And it is more than 600 pages. I am not sure why anyone ever thought this was a good idea. There is a story here – but what is it? Darren is fifteen and going through some major life changes as his parents reveal the real reason for their divorce, the girl of his dreams disappears from his life without a trace, and his brother has left him for college. You could call this a coming-of-age novel. I normally love those. Not this time.

The concept of the entire book told in lists seems interesting and novel to start with. You’re excited, this is new and different. I got through about fifty pages of this (because to start with, it’s super easy to read) and then I realised – I have to read another six hundred pages of this to get through. Suddenly it became a chore. Because some of the lists are completely useless and add nothing to the story at all. For example:

“7 Days Since Saturday, April 26, That Darren Hasn’t Thought about Zoey within the First Four Minutes of Waking Up, Not That He Understands What Was So Special about Those Days, When He Was Definitely Thinking About Her Before Breakfast Was Over Anyway
1. Thursday, May 22
2. Tuesday, June 17
3. Thursday, July 3
4. Monday, July 21
5. Sunday, July 27
6. Friday, August 8
7. Monday, August 25”

A completely unnecessary list, taking up a whole page, and what did it add to the story? Absolutely nothing! What a waste of paper. Waste of a tree! There were many more pages like this so, yeah I’ll admit, I started skimming.

Writing style aside, I felt even the story was bland. I didn’t even like or dislike any of the characters – all I felt was indifference. This story could not stir up any emotion for me – which is rare for me! But I couldn’t get invested, didn’t feel involved the way I do in a good story. For a coming-of-age story, I didn’t notice any change in Darren over the course of the novel. I did not understand his obsession with Zoey, with whom he had hardly exchanged any words with before she randomly follows his to … where did his brother live again? I can’t even remember. That is the impression this book left on me and if it had been written in regular prose as opposed to lists I don’t think I would remember it at all.
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For older readers as it contains drug use, a lot of swearing and sex in various forms. Probably a year 11 to 12 book. Darren's parents have divorced six months earlier, his elder brother Nate is away at his first year in college, his best friend has moved away and then comes the bombshell....his father is gay. Confused and upset, Darien travels by bus to see Nate, accompanied by a very strange girl called Zoey. Zoey is covered in piercings and drawings ( not tattoos but Sharpie marker drawings ) and Darren is captured by her unique way of looking at the world. When they arrive at Nates' college they discover he is basically high on pot the whole time, failing every subject and sleeping with any girl he can. Darren and Zoey indulge in a similar pursuit of the above before his mother drags him home and Zoey is sent to a farm in the middle of the desert. Fast forward to Nate being kicked out of college, his dad's new boyfriend Ray, meeting with his dad's shrink, hooking up with a girl called Rachel at camp and his mother telling him she is going to move to California....oh and the worst birthday ever!
Phew! Enough about the plot; firstly the entire book is written in lists which works really well once you get used to the style. I liked how ALL the characters were deeply flawed as this made the book more realistic. I did not like Nate's constant dragging of his younger brother into his debauched life...it really grated on me. I understood the part about Rachel which added more pathos to the story but my major criticism was that the book was too long!! Ok we get that everyone around Darren is an idiot...you didn't have to keep going over and over and over it! That being said, kids will probably not care, so I would include it in my library for older readers. ( )

A novel in lists is an exactly appropriate subtitle for this book. There's a note of cleverness and clarity to writing this way but it doesn't seem like a gimmick once you get the feel for it. ( )