13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher.
Louise Wilkes
09:27:00
4
Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)
You can't stop the future.
You can't rewind the past.
The only way to learn the secret is to press play.
Clay Jensen returns home to find a strange package with his name on it. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker – his classmate and first love – who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice explains there are thirteen reasons why she killed herself. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why.
All through the night, Clay keeps listening – and what he discovers changes his life... forever
When I first picked up this book, I hadn't heard great things. The Goodreads rating was a solid 4 stars which is okay but people either loved the book or hated it. Its like the Marmite of YA. I'm afraid I fall in with the side who love it (the book not Marmite).
The whole format is very interesting and I didn't particularly like Clay that much. Hes a typical nice guy and reading about nice guys can be well...boring. Luckily Hannah's narration through the tapes was beautiful, the words were realistic and yet I could still see everything that was happening and with each tape the plot thickened and escalated.
I did become worried around halfway through where the events hadn't seemed to escalated to a point when suicide could be considered and I became concerned it cold glorify or over exaggerate something in order to make it plausible. That didn't happen though, the escalation felt natural but also horrifying. I could finally feel Hannah losing the will to live. Of course the tapes were a cry for help, she wanted help even up until and maybe especially on that final tape.
The story unfolded beautifully (poor choice of words) it was devastating and I cried and gasped at all the places I was supposed to. I didn't feel much for Hannah and Clay as people together. I felt Clay was too distant from everything that had happened. The night at the party was just horrific and I could understand why Clay was a reason but it did seem like she was condemning a lot of people for things they didn't realise they were doing. Until that party. When Hannah had to listen to the rape of the unconscious girl and didn't stop it, everything fell into place I felt the guilt and horror. So many small events had led to a much bigger issue. And the book really got me thinking.
I didn't expect much from this book but I am so glad I read it. It really left me with something. I can't name what but I can feel it.
A fun little thing that's been created (and I use fun in the loosest sense here) you can actually listen to all of Hannah's tapes which are surprising well voice acted at http://hannahsreasons.blogspot.co.uk/ I just love it when fictional stories are really brought to life.
You can't stop the future.
You can't rewind the past.
The only way to learn the secret is to press play.
Clay Jensen returns home to find a strange package with his name on it. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker – his classmate and first love – who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice explains there are thirteen reasons why she killed herself. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why.
All through the night, Clay keeps listening – and what he discovers changes his life... forever
The whole format is very interesting and I didn't particularly like Clay that much. Hes a typical nice guy and reading about nice guys can be well...boring. Luckily Hannah's narration through the tapes was beautiful, the words were realistic and yet I could still see everything that was happening and with each tape the plot thickened and escalated.
I did become worried around halfway through where the events hadn't seemed to escalated to a point when suicide could be considered and I became concerned it cold glorify or over exaggerate something in order to make it plausible. That didn't happen though, the escalation felt natural but also horrifying. I could finally feel Hannah losing the will to live. Of course the tapes were a cry for help, she wanted help even up until and maybe especially on that final tape.
The story unfolded beautifully (poor choice of words) it was devastating and I cried and gasped at all the places I was supposed to. I didn't feel much for Hannah and Clay as people together. I felt Clay was too distant from everything that had happened. The night at the party was just horrific and I could understand why Clay was a reason but it did seem like she was condemning a lot of people for things they didn't realise they were doing. Until that party. When Hannah had to listen to the rape of the unconscious girl and didn't stop it, everything fell into place I felt the guilt and horror. So many small events had led to a much bigger issue. And the book really got me thinking.
I didn't expect much from this book but I am so glad I read it. It really left me with something. I can't name what but I can feel it.
A fun little thing that's been created (and I use fun in the loosest sense here) you can actually listen to all of Hannah's tapes which are surprising well voice acted at http://hannahsreasons.blogspot.co.uk/ I just love it when fictional stories are really brought to life.
.JPG)
