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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just an utter disappointment all around. The synopsis sounded interesting and that's where the intrigue started and stopped. I am perplexed by the amount of four- and five-star reviews this novel has received. I found Clay lacking and nearly as flat as all the other barely-there characters. For a book about suicide, I wasn't moved in any way.
I don't usually read YA, but the audiobook I wanted to listen to had a waitlist through my library's digital collection, so I checked this out as something I could start on immediately. There were things I liked and things I didn't, but since after it ended I was making a squinched face like I'd just gotten a whiff of the garbage, I can't really give it high accolades. Yes, I understand that this was written for teenagers. And maybe if I had read it when I was 13, I might have had a different opinion of it--but I didn't, so here we are.
To start, I do want to give it credit for openly discussing suicide, and for showing both Hannah's and Clay's side of the story. I appreciated that it didn't try to pin Hannah's death on one isolated incident, and instead showed that it had been a long progression of things getting worse until it overwhelmed her. I also liked that Clay was written to have multifaceted feelings, not just anger and hormones. He was actually more relatable than Hannah was, if you ask me.
That being said, the entire premise of this book is awful. It makes suicide seem like a temper tantrum you dole out to punish people who have failed you despite your unrealistic expectations of them. I'm thinking of her reaction to Mr. Porter, here. Yes, he should have told someone she'd implied she felt suicidal, but his very pragmatic advice that the only real options were to confront the boy who took advantage of her or to work to move past it was TRUE. Nothing in that conversation between them seemed dismissive or unreasonable to me. I cringe to say this, but she really comes off as selfish and vindictive and kind of holier-than-thou. I went into this book expecting to at least sympathize with her, but I ended it feeling uncomfortable at how irritated I was.
It's like the author of this book wanted to talk about teen suicide and explain how it could happen, but had no idea what depression or suicidal ideation is actually like. Even when one of her reasons is that she could have stopped a rape but didn't, she doesn't seem to feel much actual remorse or pain. She blames the rapist--which is fair!--but it's insanely hypocritical to expect me to feel bad for her because people didn't intervene in her normal teenage drama when she couldn't be bothered to stop a girl getting raped. She even blames the guy who let the rapist into the room pretty harshly, but takes only the vaguest responsibility herself. Meanwhile, about a quarter of the book is her complaining about her unearned reputation, which she somehow carried for years despite it all stemming from one guy lying about their relationship.
The message of the book ultimately seems to be that we should all be kinder and reach out to each other more, which I heartily agree with and applaud. But the writing is clumsy, and despite its intentions, I think it actually trivializes suicide, which is why it's only getting two stars.
To start, I do want to give it credit for openly discussing suicide, and for showing both Hannah's and Clay's side of the story. I appreciated that it didn't try to pin Hannah's death on one isolated incident, and instead showed that it had been a long progression of things getting worse until it overwhelmed her. I also liked that Clay was written to have multifaceted feelings, not just anger and hormones. He was actually more relatable than Hannah was, if you ask me.
That being said, the entire premise of this book is awful. It makes suicide seem like a temper tantrum you dole out to punish people who have failed you despite your unrealistic expectations of them. I'm thinking of her reaction to Mr. Porter, here. Yes, he should have told someone she'd implied she felt suicidal, but his very pragmatic advice that the only real options were to confront the boy who took advantage of her or to work to move past it was TRUE. Nothing in that conversation between them seemed dismissive or unreasonable to me. I cringe to say this, but she really comes off as selfish and vindictive and kind of holier-than-thou. I went into this book expecting to at least sympathize with her, but I ended it feeling uncomfortable at how irritated I was.
It's like the author of this book wanted to talk about teen suicide and explain how it could happen, but had no idea what depression or suicidal ideation is actually like. Even when one of her reasons is that she could have stopped a rape but didn't, she doesn't seem to feel much actual remorse or pain. She blames the rapist--which is fair!--but it's insanely hypocritical to expect me to feel bad for her because people didn't intervene in her normal teenage drama when she couldn't be bothered to stop a girl getting raped. She even blames the guy who let the rapist into the room pretty harshly, but takes only the vaguest responsibility herself. Meanwhile, about a quarter of the book is her complaining about her unearned reputation, which she somehow carried for years despite it all stemming from one guy lying about their relationship.
The message of the book ultimately seems to be that we should all be kinder and reach out to each other more, which I heartily agree with and applaud. But the writing is clumsy, and despite its intentions, I think it actually trivializes suicide, which is why it's only getting two stars.
This is a difficult book at times, but one I couldn't put down. I would definitely have it on a classroom shelf.
I read this in one sitting. No complaints; I loved it.
I read this book, and at first I liked it, but looking back, I hate it. This book does good in showing how your actions can affect people, and it's entertaining, but as far as talking about suicide? It promotes and glorifies suicide by making it seem like a way of getting back at people who have hurt you. Let's face it: everyone has gotten hurt by somebody. This book makes it seem like suicide is OK as long as the circumstances are bad enough. Like suicide is some form of revenge. That message is not something that needs to go around.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide
I watched the Netflix series first so there were no surprises here.
A few changes made for the show but I think they were good ones.
I still think this is an important book as a conversation starter - and I know a lot of my friends with teenaged kids feel the same way.
A few changes made for the show but I think they were good ones.
I still think this is an important book as a conversation starter - and I know a lot of my friends with teenaged kids feel the same way.
My friend Susan and I were making a long road trip from Virginia down to New Orleans and decided to take some audio books with us to keep us entertained in the car. She raved about this book and I was hesitant because contemporary really is not my thing. I reluctantly agreed to listen though, and kept fingers crossed that her praise from the book would ring true.
After listening to this book I can without a doubt say that Susan was right. This book was absolutely amazing! I am still digesting the contents of the book five days after listening to it and cannot get it out of my head. Hannah's voice is haunting me and her story chilled me to my core. While it may not be a book I would normally pick up, it has found a way to seep into my brain and will always hold a spot there.
Thirteen Reasons Why is a story about Hannah Baker, but focuses on Clay quite a bit as well. He has just received Hannah's tapes and it is his turn to listen to them. At the beginning Hannah says if you receive the tapes you are a reason why she is dead, so Clay is genuinely baffled as to why he has them. You see, he had a crush on Hannah and did not think he did anything wrong to her, so he does not understand how he works into her story. As the plot unfolded I was not sure either, but I was almost fearful to find out the reason. Why? Well, because I really liked Clay! He is such a likable character and I did not picture him hurting anyone, so I held out hope for him. You have to wait a while before you do get to his story, but it is definitely worth it when you finally discover his role in Hannah's world. It is amazing how one persons life can be interconnected with so many others and how one small incident can snowball into life changing events. Hannah's life is proof of that, and my heart broke for her because of it.
I would also add that the narrators for this were phenomenal. I am sure the book is a great read, but listening to it was an experience all in its own. The book is narrated by both a male and a female voice so Hannah and Clay both come to life fully. Their back and forth individual thoughts flow like a conversation and I would forget at times that Hannah was already dead. You are told she is dead from the start and yet, the optimist in me held out hope that the ending would change. Somehow, someone would be able to save Hannah from herself and she would be happy again.
This is a powerful story that took me completely by surprise and has left me changed. No matter what genre you prefer to read, you have to give Thirteen Reasons Why a try. It is an amazing story of self discovery, loss, friendship and a reminder to help those who seem lost. There are others out there like Hannah Baker who are crying out for help too and hopefully if someone recognizes it, their story can turn out differently. I will never forget this story and I know whatever Jay Asher decides to write in the future, I will be reading it.
After listening to this book I can without a doubt say that Susan was right. This book was absolutely amazing! I am still digesting the contents of the book five days after listening to it and cannot get it out of my head. Hannah's voice is haunting me and her story chilled me to my core. While it may not be a book I would normally pick up, it has found a way to seep into my brain and will always hold a spot there.
Thirteen Reasons Why is a story about Hannah Baker, but focuses on Clay quite a bit as well. He has just received Hannah's tapes and it is his turn to listen to them. At the beginning Hannah says if you receive the tapes you are a reason why she is dead, so Clay is genuinely baffled as to why he has them. You see, he had a crush on Hannah and did not think he did anything wrong to her, so he does not understand how he works into her story. As the plot unfolded I was not sure either, but I was almost fearful to find out the reason. Why? Well, because I really liked Clay! He is such a likable character and I did not picture him hurting anyone, so I held out hope for him. You have to wait a while before you do get to his story, but it is definitely worth it when you finally discover his role in Hannah's world. It is amazing how one persons life can be interconnected with so many others and how one small incident can snowball into life changing events. Hannah's life is proof of that, and my heart broke for her because of it.
I would also add that the narrators for this were phenomenal. I am sure the book is a great read, but listening to it was an experience all in its own. The book is narrated by both a male and a female voice so Hannah and Clay both come to life fully. Their back and forth individual thoughts flow like a conversation and I would forget at times that Hannah was already dead. You are told she is dead from the start and yet, the optimist in me held out hope that the ending would change. Somehow, someone would be able to save Hannah from herself and she would be happy again.
This is a powerful story that took me completely by surprise and has left me changed. No matter what genre you prefer to read, you have to give Thirteen Reasons Why a try. It is an amazing story of self discovery, loss, friendship and a reminder to help those who seem lost. There are others out there like Hannah Baker who are crying out for help too and hopefully if someone recognizes it, their story can turn out differently. I will never forget this story and I know whatever Jay Asher decides to write in the future, I will be reading it.
Wow! What a moving book. Its been a long time since I have read a book that brings me back to how it feels to be a teenager. I think every person going into high school should be required to read this book. It gives a good pictures of how actions affect everyone.