Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by kempsey18
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
5.0
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.