Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher
Summary:
When Clay comes home one day, he finds a box of cassette tapes with his name on it. On the tapes, are the reasons why Clay's crush and classmate, Hannah Baker, killed herself - and more accurately the 13 people that started the snowball affect that turned into her suicide. Clay has no idea why he is on this list. If he listens completely to the tapes, he will find out - but if he doesn't, someone will expose the second set of tapes to the world. Clay doesn't want either of these things to happen, but he has no choice. He has to listen to the tapes.
Review:
I have to say, this was a book unlike any other. Yes, some similarities to John Green's work -but much more intense. By the end of the book, I was so passionately PISSED at Hannah for killing herself I think I walked around in a huff for days. This is the perfect book for someone who has thoughts of suicide to read because suicide only hurts more people and you can just feel that emanating from Clay during the whole book. He barely even knew Hannah as a person and he was devastated by her suicide.
There are so many great issues brought up in this book - suicide, teen drinking, sexuality, and more. To narrow it down, the whole reason Hannah kills herself is that she loses her identity in the swarm of rumors and horrible things that happened to her. She feels less like a person and can't keep living as one.
The way the story is told is ingenious - as much as she was a total b*word for setting up something so terrible to send around AFTER she already killed herself. That being said, this is a must-read book. I loved the audio version and it drives you to really become passionate about the characters and what is going on. So, so good.
Short note: I listened to this on audio and I definitely suggest this format for this book! Made it that much better.
5/5 Roses
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I've read quite a few reviews of this, but this is the first one to convince me that I absolutely NEED to read it. It sounds wonderful, and I am sure I will sob! A more intense JOhn Greene - totally for me!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great and emotional book. I think I'll genuinly like it, like you did so I'll give it a try. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI really thought this was a wonderful book as well. I have now read a couple reviews of the audio book and wish, in a way, that I had "heard" it read.
ReplyDeleteI loved this story too. It stuck with me for so long. But I listened to it on audiobook, and that was even creepier because I got to hear Hannah's voice just as if I were Clay. There were two voice actors and they did a brilliant job.
ReplyDeleteI have heard so many good things about this one.
ReplyDeleteI love this book. I listened to it as an audio book first, and I have to say I recommend it completely! As an audio book, it just makes you really feel it I think, since the book is mainly Hannah on tapes. I'm going to buy the book, but I don't think just reading it will beat the experience of hearing it.
ReplyDeleteIt is such an amazing book, no doubt.
This is a book I'm a little afraid to read. I know I'd be furious with Hannah too. After reading your review though, I might just give it a try.
ReplyDeleteThirteen Reasons Why was a really enjoyable read to me also. The themes and ideas brought up in the book really made me look over and think about how I treated the people around me. Thanks for the review! :)
ReplyDeleteI recently got a copy of this book and need to get it read. Thanks for the review - it sounds like a book I will enjoy :)
ReplyDeleteI have a librarian friend who keeps recommending this on audio too. I've never listened to an audio book, but I think I might listen to this one. It sounds so interesting.
ReplyDeleteI read this book last year and loved it! I think it was one of my most memorable books of the year. I bet it is great on audio.
ReplyDeleteThis was one of my first reviews. I loved this book. I think I read it in a day. It was so different from anything I have ever read, or expected it to be. I'd love to listen to it on audio some time. I can only imagine how great that makes it!
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