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Thirteen Reasons Why
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 from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah’s voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out why.
Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah’s pain, and as he follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his town, what he discovers changes his life forever.
You can’t rewind the past.
The only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play.
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah’s voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out why.
Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah’s pain, and as he follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his town, what he discovers changes his life forever.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2007
About the author
Jay Asher
17 books10.6k followersJay Asher was born in Arcadia, California on September 30, 1975. He grew up in a family that encouraged all of his interests, from playing the guitar to his writing. He attended Cuesta College right after graduating from high school. It was here where he wrote his first two children’s books for a class called Children’s Literature Appreciation. At this point in his life, he had decided he wanted to become an elementary school teacher. He then transferred to California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo where he left his senior year in order to pursue his career as a serious writer. Throughout his life he worked in various establishments, including as a salesman in a shoe store and in libraries and bookstores. Many of his work experiences had an impact on some aspect of his writing.
He has published only one book to date, Thirteen Reasons Why, which was published in October 2007. He is currently working on his second Young Adult novel, and has written several picture books and screenplays. Thirteen Reasons Why has won several awards and has received five stars from Teen Book Review. It also has received high reviews from fellow authors such as Ellen Hopkins, Chris Crutcher, and Gordon Kormon.
He has published only one book to date, Thirteen Reasons Why, which was published in October 2007. He is currently working on his second Young Adult novel, and has written several picture books and screenplays. Thirteen Reasons Why has won several awards and has received five stars from Teen Book Review. It also has received high reviews from fellow authors such as Ellen Hopkins, Chris Crutcher, and Gordon Kormon.
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May 6, 2012
I'm one of the very few people who strongly disliked Thirteen Reasons Why, so maybe I should explain to you why.
I hate Thirteen Reasons Why. And here’s why.
Most of all, it glamorises suicide.
I'm putting this at the top because I can't believe I missed it in my original review. And this is a controversial point, because most of my Goodreads friends, whose opinions I would hold up as gospel, loved this book for its realistic and harrowing portrayal of teen suicide.
This book is one big glamorous monument to Hannah's suicide.
To me, it feeds the myths that a lot of teens hold about suicide, rather than debunk them.
Let me start off by saying that all pain is, eventually, temporary. When I think about the worst pain I've ever gone through - depression, painful and invasive surgery, grief - I thoughtn it would never end. But it did. And it always does. Yes, it will hurt like hell. Yes, it will feel as though it's never going to. But, yes, it ends. Eventually. And you have to be strong and extremely brave and honest, but there will be a day when you will look back on your worst pain and it will be a memory.
That is why suicide is never the answer.
So, what's the reason behind this bizarre, obvious, late-night PSA from the brilliant mind of a bat-shit crazy reader from the minority? [hahahaha].
I think this book encourages suicide.
There, I said it. I know it's a strong and sweeping and dramatic statement to make. I don't think that Asher wanted it to be that way. I'm not trying to accuse Asher of actively encouraging suicide or anything.
But.
I have felt suicidal before. Briefly, never seriously. And yet, the thought that I don't think is that uncommon went something like this:
"When I'm dead, they'll all be sorry."
Am I projecting my own experiences onto this book? Maybe. But, when you write about something as sensitive as suicide, I think that possibility is always out there.
This book encourages that line of thinking.
Let me tell you, emotionally wrecked teenagers: when you are dead, you are freaking gone. You will never grow up. You will never see your parents again. You will never have another moment that makes you feel happy or special in the here and now. You are gone forever.
But life will go on for those around you. They won't be sorry when you're dead. Or maybe they will be, but you know what? They'll still be alive. They'll still have life. You won't. They'll get to move on. You never will.
But Hannah Baker kills herself. And it's a dramatic, redemptive, cataclysmic act. Hannah Baker sends the tapes, and she becomes the still point of the turning world. She is Clay's Lost Lenore, the beautiful and romantic and unknowable girl who will live on forever in his memory. Hannah Baker kills herself, and she makes all those people who ever hurt her sorry.
You can tell me that 13RW is all about learning to help the people around us and think about the consequences of our actions. I'm sorry, readers, I love that you guys could get something wonderful and life-affirming and heartbreaking out of this book, but I just couldn't get past the fact that it's Hannah who teaches these lessons. Hannah dies, and she becomes every romanticised suicide cliché: the omniscient, omnipresent avenging angel, the tragic heroine. And I'm sorry, but that's not how suicide works. As much as Asher pays lip service to the fact that Hannah Baker Didn't Have To Die, well, she kinda did. Because didn't her suicide work out just great for everybody? Skye might finally get some of Clay's, um, 'help.' The rapist was exposed, the peeping tom was exposed, every person who'd been mean or unfair to Hannah was exposed and made to feel so, so sorry. Everyone learns an Important Lesson, and it's all thanks to Hannah and her decision to kill herself. Hannah shows everybody.
And, I'm sorry, but you never do. That's just not how it works. In many ways, Hannah is the evil twin of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, but instead of living to breathe life into the dull main character, Hannah dies so that she can breathe life into the dull main character and, for all Asher's suicide-helpline advice, I couldn't help but see this as one great propeller of romantic and dangerous teenage myths.
It’s a clever concept, but it’s fundamentally illogical. Each of the characters have to send it from one ‘reason’ to another; at the end of the book, Clay passes Hannah’s tapes along to the next ‘reason’ on her list. Hannah herself raises the fact that she’s sending it between some people who are guilty of a lesser role – e.g. That sounds pretty logical, no? But there’s a couple of huge things ‘wrong’ in the context of the story, although some of them probably reflect more badly on me than they do on the story:
1) Not all of the tape-receivers are guilty of ‘crimes’ of the same magnitude. In fact, sometimes, there is quite a divide between some of them, e.g. we have against a guy who once grabbed Hannah’s ass and one (I think?) who was a friend that she grew away from. Hannah’s logic is that the listeners will keep passing along because of their guilt, and they will not reveal the others’ secrets because they’re culpable, too. But honestly? If I were in the position of one of the guys who grabbed Hannah’s ass, I’d risk people finding out about that in order to spill on the . There was a large, large gulf between the minor and the horrible.
2) Despite the fact that Hannah said she picked on the lesser offenders so they’d pass the tape along, I still don’t understand why some of them would. Guilt? Maybe. But, for the love of GOD, Justin Not only is that a crime, it’s also – if I have my society-sense right – one of the worst you can commit. It’s entirely possible that could bring charges against him after that, since I understand why it wouldn’t get so far, but…really? Mud sticks. There are probably still people in the world who would think ‘I’m not convinced’ if there was watertight evidence showing that a man was . A lot of the characters - would be taking one hell of a chance if they chose to send it along.
Hannah is a horrible character. I mean this in two ways. One is that she’s an evil little bitch who I’d really like to punch in the face if she wasn’t dead. Second is that, the way Asher writes her, she’s NOT AT ALL plausible. (At least, not to me.)
First, let me explain why she’s a horrible little bitch.
She’s hiding in a closet when She does absolutely nothing to intervene. She sees it all and does nothing. Fair enough, she’s too drunk/scared to intervene while it’s actually happening. I can see that. That makes perfect sense to me. It doesn’t necessarily make her a vile person. Would it have been better if she had intervened? Well, sure, but we’re all human. I think we can all understand, to a greater or lesser degree, while she would fear for herself or just not be a fit state to stop it. (Still, she could have called the cops when it was over or something. That’s not really my issue here, though. I have no issue with protagonists who do bad things. I find them really fascinating. I just have an issue with how this was handled.)
However, Asher does not make ANYTHING of Hannah’s guilt. To me, the last thing you should feel when you’re reading about a suicide is “my God, why is this book so WAH WAH POOR LITTLE ME?” I can’t imagine anything worse than feeling suicidal. But Hannah never gives any indication of guilt or even SYMPATHY towards poor Jessica. All she does is whine on and on about HERSELF, how it affected HER, and yet nothing about how it affected Jessica or even how bad she feels for what she let happen to Jessica.
Furthermore, Hannah then proceeds to SEND THE TAPE TO JESSICA. And denounces her throughout as one of her ‘thirteen reasons why’: thirteen people who caused her suicide. So, let’s recap.
How does Hannah handle this? Well, obviously, she tops herself. (Because, you really must understand, HANNAH has been hit hardest by all of this.) Except that, before her death, Hannah makes a tape which she sends around fourteen people On this tape, Hannah repeatedly calls Jessica out as one of the reasons why she killed herself and blames Jessica for bad things that happened to her – except that what happened between Jessica and Hannah to end their friendship was so pathetic that I don’t even remember what it was.
If Jessica hasn’t switched off the tape – and, frankly, I’m surprised she didn’t smash it – by that point, Hannah then went to great pains to So, even if Jessica could remember and it wasn’t all horrifying news to her, she then had to deal with the fact that her ex-best friend and crush And that said ex-best friend killed herself. And views Jessica as being responsible.
And, oh yeah, chose to tell thirteen other people about the horrible things that happened.
As if it was really Hannah’s business.
So, yes, I hated Hannah. But I hated her most of all because of her unending slamming of Jessica.
But, worst of all? We’re obviously supposed to see Hannah as the victim in all of this.
Granted, Clay makes a passing reference to ‘and then Hannah hit [Jessica] with the tapes.’ Brief moral condemnation, check! But, really, at the end of the novel, Hannah is supposed to be the book’s victim. She’s its resounding tragedy. Not Jessica – y’know, the poor and now fourteen other people know every detail and she knows they know and they know she knows they know. And she might not have been able to remember any of it in the first place!
Excuse me while I go throw up.
Sorry for all my outraged repetition up there. Just didn’t feel that I’d quite hammered the point home.
Unlike some people, though, I didn’t inherently mind the fact that Hannah hadn’t been tormented to her suicide in some terrible way. It felt more true to life that way. This is the glorious teenage world, where one stupid comment can make you want to curl up in a ball and cry. Granted, it’s not quite glamorous, but it’s very true.
It’s Asher’s handling of this fact that butchered it for me. This brings me on to my second blanket definition of why Hannah Baker is utterly unbearable.
As I’ve mentioned several times before, Hannah’s reasons are a mixture of the severe and mundane – I suppose, realistically. But Hannah’s tone is so angry that there is virtually no variation. She seemed equally as angry at the guy who’d once pronounced that she had a ‘nice ass’ as the . Maybe that’s plausible for a suicidal girl – that she should feel so bitter and twisted towards everyone. Still, Hannah also has a very didactic narrative voice. I felt as though I was supposed to be Learning A Very Important Lesson, but equally important lessons from the I mean, really? They’re both in the same sport, perhaps – sexual judgment/harassment – but, really, completely different leagues.
Of course, women should not be objectified. They should not be treated like meat. But what happened to Hannah was hardly bullying – it was a brief pain, something to shake off, not something that should blight her in the way it did. It doesn’t push her down further; it starts her downward spiral. That seemed all backwards to me. Plus, I know that teenagers are hardly known for their perspective, but I’d rather my ‘nice ass’ be acknowledged than be ridiculed on acne or bad hair or any kind of weight problem. Also, female students can be just as mean and judgmental – if not so more – about their peers’ appearances/bodies than men. So, please, my comment above is not a comment on a misogynistic society. P.S., it felt like Asher’s was. But really, ‘nice ass’? I’m not saying that Hannah should have taken it as a compliment – but perhaps taken it on the chin a little more?
She expresses outrage at one point because she expressed one of the signs of suicidal thoughts: she had a haircut.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am not exaggerating. Hannah Baker honest-to-God spews vitriol all over these tapes because people saw that she’d had a haircut and their reaction was, “hey, nice haircut!” instead of “ARE YOU HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS?!?!”
Insulting.
I hate Thirteen Reasons Why. And here’s why.
Most of all, it glamorises suicide.
I'm putting this at the top because I can't believe I missed it in my original review. And this is a controversial point, because most of my Goodreads friends, whose opinions I would hold up as gospel, loved this book for its realistic and harrowing portrayal of teen suicide.
This book is one big glamorous monument to Hannah's suicide.
To me, it feeds the myths that a lot of teens hold about suicide, rather than debunk them.
Let me start off by saying that all pain is, eventually, temporary. When I think about the worst pain I've ever gone through - depression, painful and invasive surgery, grief - I thoughtn it would never end. But it did. And it always does. Yes, it will hurt like hell. Yes, it will feel as though it's never going to. But, yes, it ends. Eventually. And you have to be strong and extremely brave and honest, but there will be a day when you will look back on your worst pain and it will be a memory.
That is why suicide is never the answer.
So, what's the reason behind this bizarre, obvious, late-night PSA from the brilliant mind of a bat-shit crazy reader from the minority? [hahahaha].
I think this book encourages suicide.
There, I said it. I know it's a strong and sweeping and dramatic statement to make. I don't think that Asher wanted it to be that way. I'm not trying to accuse Asher of actively encouraging suicide or anything.
But.
I have felt suicidal before. Briefly, never seriously. And yet, the thought that I don't think is that uncommon went something like this:
"When I'm dead, they'll all be sorry."
Am I projecting my own experiences onto this book? Maybe. But, when you write about something as sensitive as suicide, I think that possibility is always out there.
This book encourages that line of thinking.
Let me tell you, emotionally wrecked teenagers: when you are dead, you are freaking gone. You will never grow up. You will never see your parents again. You will never have another moment that makes you feel happy or special in the here and now. You are gone forever.
But life will go on for those around you. They won't be sorry when you're dead. Or maybe they will be, but you know what? They'll still be alive. They'll still have life. You won't. They'll get to move on. You never will.
But Hannah Baker kills herself. And it's a dramatic, redemptive, cataclysmic act. Hannah Baker sends the tapes, and she becomes the still point of the turning world. She is Clay's Lost Lenore, the beautiful and romantic and unknowable girl who will live on forever in his memory. Hannah Baker kills herself, and she makes all those people who ever hurt her sorry.
You can tell me that 13RW is all about learning to help the people around us and think about the consequences of our actions. I'm sorry, readers, I love that you guys could get something wonderful and life-affirming and heartbreaking out of this book, but I just couldn't get past the fact that it's Hannah who teaches these lessons. Hannah dies, and she becomes every romanticised suicide cliché: the omniscient, omnipresent avenging angel, the tragic heroine. And I'm sorry, but that's not how suicide works. As much as Asher pays lip service to the fact that Hannah Baker Didn't Have To Die, well, she kinda did. Because didn't her suicide work out just great for everybody? Skye might finally get some of Clay's, um, 'help.' The rapist was exposed, the peeping tom was exposed, every person who'd been mean or unfair to Hannah was exposed and made to feel so, so sorry. Everyone learns an Important Lesson, and it's all thanks to Hannah and her decision to kill herself. Hannah shows everybody.
And, I'm sorry, but you never do. That's just not how it works. In many ways, Hannah is the evil twin of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, but instead of living to breathe life into the dull main character, Hannah dies so that she can breathe life into the dull main character and, for all Asher's suicide-helpline advice, I couldn't help but see this as one great propeller of romantic and dangerous teenage myths.
It’s a clever concept, but it’s fundamentally illogical. Each of the characters have to send it from one ‘reason’ to another; at the end of the book, Clay passes Hannah’s tapes along to the next ‘reason’ on her list. Hannah herself raises the fact that she’s sending it between some people who are guilty of a lesser role – e.g. That sounds pretty logical, no? But there’s a couple of huge things ‘wrong’ in the context of the story, although some of them probably reflect more badly on me than they do on the story:
1) Not all of the tape-receivers are guilty of ‘crimes’ of the same magnitude. In fact, sometimes, there is quite a divide between some of them, e.g. we have against a guy who once grabbed Hannah’s ass and one (I think?) who was a friend that she grew away from. Hannah’s logic is that the listeners will keep passing along because of their guilt, and they will not reveal the others’ secrets because they’re culpable, too. But honestly? If I were in the position of one of the guys who grabbed Hannah’s ass, I’d risk people finding out about that in order to spill on the . There was a large, large gulf between the minor and the horrible.
2) Despite the fact that Hannah said she picked on the lesser offenders so they’d pass the tape along, I still don’t understand why some of them would. Guilt? Maybe. But, for the love of GOD, Justin Not only is that a crime, it’s also – if I have my society-sense right – one of the worst you can commit. It’s entirely possible that could bring charges against him after that, since I understand why it wouldn’t get so far, but…really? Mud sticks. There are probably still people in the world who would think ‘I’m not convinced’ if there was watertight evidence showing that a man was . A lot of the characters - would be taking one hell of a chance if they chose to send it along.
Hannah is a horrible character. I mean this in two ways. One is that she’s an evil little bitch who I’d really like to punch in the face if she wasn’t dead. Second is that, the way Asher writes her, she’s NOT AT ALL plausible. (At least, not to me.)
First, let me explain why she’s a horrible little bitch.
She’s hiding in a closet when She does absolutely nothing to intervene. She sees it all and does nothing. Fair enough, she’s too drunk/scared to intervene while it’s actually happening. I can see that. That makes perfect sense to me. It doesn’t necessarily make her a vile person. Would it have been better if she had intervened? Well, sure, but we’re all human. I think we can all understand, to a greater or lesser degree, while she would fear for herself or just not be a fit state to stop it. (Still, she could have called the cops when it was over or something. That’s not really my issue here, though. I have no issue with protagonists who do bad things. I find them really fascinating. I just have an issue with how this was handled.)
However, Asher does not make ANYTHING of Hannah’s guilt. To me, the last thing you should feel when you’re reading about a suicide is “my God, why is this book so WAH WAH POOR LITTLE ME?” I can’t imagine anything worse than feeling suicidal. But Hannah never gives any indication of guilt or even SYMPATHY towards poor Jessica. All she does is whine on and on about HERSELF, how it affected HER, and yet nothing about how it affected Jessica or even how bad she feels for what she let happen to Jessica.
Furthermore, Hannah then proceeds to SEND THE TAPE TO JESSICA. And denounces her throughout as one of her ‘thirteen reasons why’: thirteen people who caused her suicide. So, let’s recap.
How does Hannah handle this? Well, obviously, she tops herself. (Because, you really must understand, HANNAH has been hit hardest by all of this.) Except that, before her death, Hannah makes a tape which she sends around fourteen people On this tape, Hannah repeatedly calls Jessica out as one of the reasons why she killed herself and blames Jessica for bad things that happened to her – except that what happened between Jessica and Hannah to end their friendship was so pathetic that I don’t even remember what it was.
If Jessica hasn’t switched off the tape – and, frankly, I’m surprised she didn’t smash it – by that point, Hannah then went to great pains to So, even if Jessica could remember and it wasn’t all horrifying news to her, she then had to deal with the fact that her ex-best friend and crush And that said ex-best friend killed herself. And views Jessica as being responsible.
And, oh yeah, chose to tell thirteen other people about the horrible things that happened.
As if it was really Hannah’s business.
So, yes, I hated Hannah. But I hated her most of all because of her unending slamming of Jessica.
But, worst of all? We’re obviously supposed to see Hannah as the victim in all of this.
Granted, Clay makes a passing reference to ‘and then Hannah hit [Jessica] with the tapes.’ Brief moral condemnation, check! But, really, at the end of the novel, Hannah is supposed to be the book’s victim. She’s its resounding tragedy. Not Jessica – y’know, the poor and now fourteen other people know every detail and she knows they know and they know she knows they know. And she might not have been able to remember any of it in the first place!
Excuse me while I go throw up.
Sorry for all my outraged repetition up there. Just didn’t feel that I’d quite hammered the point home.
Unlike some people, though, I didn’t inherently mind the fact that Hannah hadn’t been tormented to her suicide in some terrible way. It felt more true to life that way. This is the glorious teenage world, where one stupid comment can make you want to curl up in a ball and cry. Granted, it’s not quite glamorous, but it’s very true.
It’s Asher’s handling of this fact that butchered it for me. This brings me on to my second blanket definition of why Hannah Baker is utterly unbearable.
As I’ve mentioned several times before, Hannah’s reasons are a mixture of the severe and mundane – I suppose, realistically. But Hannah’s tone is so angry that there is virtually no variation. She seemed equally as angry at the guy who’d once pronounced that she had a ‘nice ass’ as the . Maybe that’s plausible for a suicidal girl – that she should feel so bitter and twisted towards everyone. Still, Hannah also has a very didactic narrative voice. I felt as though I was supposed to be Learning A Very Important Lesson, but equally important lessons from the I mean, really? They’re both in the same sport, perhaps – sexual judgment/harassment – but, really, completely different leagues.
Of course, women should not be objectified. They should not be treated like meat. But what happened to Hannah was hardly bullying – it was a brief pain, something to shake off, not something that should blight her in the way it did. It doesn’t push her down further; it starts her downward spiral. That seemed all backwards to me. Plus, I know that teenagers are hardly known for their perspective, but I’d rather my ‘nice ass’ be acknowledged than be ridiculed on acne or bad hair or any kind of weight problem. Also, female students can be just as mean and judgmental – if not so more – about their peers’ appearances/bodies than men. So, please, my comment above is not a comment on a misogynistic society. P.S., it felt like Asher’s was. But really, ‘nice ass’? I’m not saying that Hannah should have taken it as a compliment – but perhaps taken it on the chin a little more?
She expresses outrage at one point because she expressed one of the signs of suicidal thoughts: she had a haircut.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am not exaggerating. Hannah Baker honest-to-God spews vitriol all over these tapes because people saw that she’d had a haircut and their reaction was, “hey, nice haircut!” instead of “ARE YOU HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS?!?!”
Insulting.
June 10, 2017
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY I HATE THIS BOOK.
Note, 6/10/17: Tape #11 has been updated.
https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co...
Alright. I really thought I wasn't going to review this book. But a status sharing certain anti-anti 13 Reasons Why sentiments (did that make sense?) just came up onto my timeline, and I, to put it cordially, fucking snapped.
Let me preface this by saying: If this book or television show helped you in any way, this review is not for you. We all have our coping mechanisms, we all have our favorite books - I am absolutely not here to shit on anyone's fave. If you liked this book, that's good. Please don't read this. I reserve the right not to be nice to you if you comment on this saying I'm being unfair.
So. There are two sides to this debate. One side thinks this book and theson of Satan television show it spawned is inspiring, important, other positive i-words. The other side - the side of my brethren, which is, unsurprisingly to anyone who follows me on here, staggeringly outnumbered - DISAGREES. I'm going to try to outline for you why I feel that way.
Disclaimer: If this at any point seems like I'm telling you you're not allowed to be a fan of this shit, I'm not. But I passionately hate it, so don't expect objectivity. Also, this contains spoilers for both the book and the show, of course.
Let's get started. I'll organize this by my very own thirteen reasons.
TAPE #1: The book and the show DON’T bring attention to mental illness.
That’s one of the biggest defenses I’ve seen of this story. That yes, it’s triggering and yes, it’s intense and yes, it’s hard to talk about. But it’s important.
Here’s the thing: Hannah Baker is not a mentally ill character.
My friend, who I will talk more about later, informed me that the show never says the word “depression.”
Hannah doesn’t get help. The show doesn’t depict the benefits of getting help. (More on that in a later tape.) I don’t think she gets diagnosed with anything, or is medicated, or shows symptoms of depression that are identifiable.
So how the fucking fuck is this an improved discussion of mental illness if it’s never goddamn talked about?
TAPE #2: Suicide glorification.
Everyone’s thought about suicide. Especially in those tender, self-centered years in middle and high school. If I died, then they would know. The mean girls would regret their choices, the guy who never noticed you would wish he had, your friends would worship your memory, your school would make you a martyr.
But that’s not how it works.
As you mature, you recognize that. When you die, it’s over for you. You don’t get to grow up. But everyone you ever knew does. And here’s the bitter truth: They’re not going to analyze their choices and regret them. They might not even remember you. They, after all, like you, are only teenagers.
But not in the world of Thirteen Reasons Why. No, if you’re Hannah Baker, it’s quite the opposite.
You are talked about beyond life. You act as a hero, distributing punishments and harsh words as you see fit, with no repercussions for your actions. You’re a perfect saint, your death preventing anyone from speaking negatively about you. Your old friends will miss you, the bullies will be humiliated and that humiliation wills them into realizations, the boy you liked desperately wishes that he had just told you he liked you too.
And for some reason, it’s okay for you to blame your fellow high schoolers - just as vulnerable and worried and uncertain as you ever were - for your death. No one will criticize you for placing that unfair burden on them. For telling the friend you grew apart from that it’s her fault. For telling the people you wronged it’s on them.
God, you guys. This isn’t what happens if a teenager commits suicide. This isn’t what we should be portraying as a realistic image of what could ever, ever happen.
TAPE #3: Think about who is WATCHING this.
Remember earlier, how I posited that most everybody has thought about suicide - at least in the abstract? And how that most often happens in middle and high school?
Well, guess who this show’s target demographic is. That’s right. The same vulnerable, depressed, self-hating group that already has the tendency to think of suicide as an appropriate option.
I have three younger siblings. My sisters are seventeen and fifteen; my brother is twelve. My sisters and each and every one of their friends have watched this fucking show. I begged my brother not to watch it, even though all of his friends have seen it.
Do you understand that? My twelve year old brother is being left out of conversations, jokes, references, group chats and budding friendships because he hasn’t watched a show that centers on suicide and sexual assault. Do you see what the stakes of this are? I’m not just some melodramatic reviewer without a life, trying to ruin a show that people like.
Every student in every middle and high school in America will be told to watch this show. And the author, the producers, the directors and adapters, couldn’t even be bothered to consider the repercussions of their actions.
TAPE #4: Having problems? Just kill yourself.
This show doesn’t depict the benefits of therapy, of antidepressive medication (hard when your protagonist doesn’t have a diagnosis), of confiding in your loved ones. The only potential solution offered within the narrative is suicide. And, as I talked about earlier, it works out pretty fucking well for Hannah Baker.
TAPE #5: Why is this being treated like fucking Bring It On?
I swear to God I’m going to open Facebook tonight and someone will have shared a Buzzfeed quiz called “How Would You Kill Yourself If You Were On Thirteen Reasons Why?” Y’all can’t fucking have this both ways. Pick a lane: is this show intense and important, bringing attention to under-discussed issues in a serious and mature way, or do you want to know which character you are based on your cupcake preferences? This either is or isn’t a joke. It’s up to you.
TAPE #6: There’s a difference between triggering content and this.
The show gives trigger warnings. Cool. That’s not even sarcastic - I think that’s great.
But if you’ve seen the show, you know some of the graphic imagery goes so fucking beyond what any viewer would expect.
My friend, who has struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts, and is triggered by sexual assault, had a series of panic attacks due to this show. But she finished it - against my urging - because she thought it would give some important message or theme to the audience watching it. But it doesn't. And she put herself through that for nothing.
TAPE #7: This isn’t how suicidal thoughts work.
Hannah has reasons for committing suicide. It’s like there was a straw that broke the camel’s back. Suicidal thoughts aren’t like that.
If you’re thinking seriously about committing suicide, it’s not because of a baker’s dozen carefully delineated causes. It’s because everything feels impenetrably, incurably, never-endingly awful. It feels like there are no bright spots and no way out.
The difference? Everybody feels like Hannah Baker does. Everybody has the humiliating moments and regrets that, like, haunt them before they sleep every night. But not everybody has severe depression. Trying to equate the two is HORRIFIC. It both reduces the trauma of having depression and indicates suicide as an option for people who may have never considered it otherwise.
TAPE #8: Don’t tell teenagers not to go to authority figures.
Making the guidance counselor a villain is maybe one of the most irresponsible attempts at drama in this stupid fucking narrative. The absolute last thing you should be doing is giving any indication to a vulnerable group that going to a trusted adult won’t work out well.
Teenagers everywhere: This book and show are total fucking bullshit. Your guidance counselors know exactly what to do. If you’re feeling like something is wrong, or experiencing suicidal thoughts, tell someone. If you feel safe to confide in a guidance counselor, do it. If you don’t, find another trusted adult: A teacher, a parent, a school administrator. Anything. Just don’t take this bullshit for an example.
TAPE #9: The experts say fuck this.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/a...
http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/featur...
There’s a bajillion more articles on this, but I’m already shaking with anger.
TAPE #10: Say the word depression.
How goddamn hard is it? Fuck your quasi-advocacy.
TAPE #11: This is an instruction manual.
One morning, I’ll wake up to my phone alarm. Check my notifications, see one from The Washington Post. Normal, when we haven’t had a slow news day in a year. But the headline won’t be political. It’ll be something like, “Teen Suicide Appears Inspired By Netflix Show.” And I’ll know, instantly. Feel awful for that poor vulnerable kid, but also think, Of course. Think, Why didn’t anybody see this coming?
At least the book didn’t tell the reader how to slit their wrists.
Update, 6/10/17: It happened. @cyborgcinderella brought this to my attention in the comments, because this isn't even getting the press coverage I expected. A 23-year-old in Peru committed suicide and left tapes. And no one is under the impression that this will be the only one - one headline reads, "The ‘13 Reasons Why’ Copycat Suicides May Have Started." Why, why, why, why would this show be given a second season?
TAPE #12: Look at all these beautiful teens.
I’m just saying, it probably doesn’t make your depressed audience of teenagers feel better if they spend the bajillion hours this show lasts staring at impossibly gorgeous adults. It’s a cast of classically good looking twenty-somethings wearing natural makeup, with idealized bodies and perfect hair.
That’s not different from any other teen show. It just feels especially significant when you think about how smugly this show pats itself on the back.
TAPE #13: That goddamn ending.
It’s laughable. This show just makes no fucking sense.
Bottom line: I HATE this book and show like I’ve never hated anything. I’m worried about everyone I know who has seen it. I’m worried about every teenager who has heard about it. And I’m worried about the precedent this sets for irresponsibly using suicide as a plot point, without care for who it hurts.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck this book, this show, Jay Asher, and anyone who had any part in bringing it into existence.
Note, 6/10/17: Tape #11 has been updated.
https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co...
Alright. I really thought I wasn't going to review this book. But a status sharing certain anti-anti 13 Reasons Why sentiments (did that make sense?) just came up onto my timeline, and I, to put it cordially, fucking snapped.
Let me preface this by saying: If this book or television show helped you in any way, this review is not for you. We all have our coping mechanisms, we all have our favorite books - I am absolutely not here to shit on anyone's fave. If you liked this book, that's good. Please don't read this. I reserve the right not to be nice to you if you comment on this saying I'm being unfair.
So. There are two sides to this debate. One side thinks this book and the
Disclaimer: If this at any point seems like I'm telling you you're not allowed to be a fan of this shit, I'm not. But I passionately hate it, so don't expect objectivity. Also, this contains spoilers for both the book and the show, of course.
Let's get started. I'll organize this by my very own thirteen reasons.
TAPE #1: The book and the show DON’T bring attention to mental illness.
That’s one of the biggest defenses I’ve seen of this story. That yes, it’s triggering and yes, it’s intense and yes, it’s hard to talk about. But it’s important.
Here’s the thing: Hannah Baker is not a mentally ill character.
My friend, who I will talk more about later, informed me that the show never says the word “depression.”
Hannah doesn’t get help. The show doesn’t depict the benefits of getting help. (More on that in a later tape.) I don’t think she gets diagnosed with anything, or is medicated, or shows symptoms of depression that are identifiable.
So how the fucking fuck is this an improved discussion of mental illness if it’s never goddamn talked about?
TAPE #2: Suicide glorification.
Everyone’s thought about suicide. Especially in those tender, self-centered years in middle and high school. If I died, then they would know. The mean girls would regret their choices, the guy who never noticed you would wish he had, your friends would worship your memory, your school would make you a martyr.
But that’s not how it works.
As you mature, you recognize that. When you die, it’s over for you. You don’t get to grow up. But everyone you ever knew does. And here’s the bitter truth: They’re not going to analyze their choices and regret them. They might not even remember you. They, after all, like you, are only teenagers.
But not in the world of Thirteen Reasons Why. No, if you’re Hannah Baker, it’s quite the opposite.
You are talked about beyond life. You act as a hero, distributing punishments and harsh words as you see fit, with no repercussions for your actions. You’re a perfect saint, your death preventing anyone from speaking negatively about you. Your old friends will miss you, the bullies will be humiliated and that humiliation wills them into realizations, the boy you liked desperately wishes that he had just told you he liked you too.
And for some reason, it’s okay for you to blame your fellow high schoolers - just as vulnerable and worried and uncertain as you ever were - for your death. No one will criticize you for placing that unfair burden on them. For telling the friend you grew apart from that it’s her fault. For telling the people you wronged it’s on them.
God, you guys. This isn’t what happens if a teenager commits suicide. This isn’t what we should be portraying as a realistic image of what could ever, ever happen.
TAPE #3: Think about who is WATCHING this.
Remember earlier, how I posited that most everybody has thought about suicide - at least in the abstract? And how that most often happens in middle and high school?
Well, guess who this show’s target demographic is. That’s right. The same vulnerable, depressed, self-hating group that already has the tendency to think of suicide as an appropriate option.
I have three younger siblings. My sisters are seventeen and fifteen; my brother is twelve. My sisters and each and every one of their friends have watched this fucking show. I begged my brother not to watch it, even though all of his friends have seen it.
Do you understand that? My twelve year old brother is being left out of conversations, jokes, references, group chats and budding friendships because he hasn’t watched a show that centers on suicide and sexual assault. Do you see what the stakes of this are? I’m not just some melodramatic reviewer without a life, trying to ruin a show that people like.
Every student in every middle and high school in America will be told to watch this show. And the author, the producers, the directors and adapters, couldn’t even be bothered to consider the repercussions of their actions.
TAPE #4: Having problems? Just kill yourself.
This show doesn’t depict the benefits of therapy, of antidepressive medication (hard when your protagonist doesn’t have a diagnosis), of confiding in your loved ones. The only potential solution offered within the narrative is suicide. And, as I talked about earlier, it works out pretty fucking well for Hannah Baker.
TAPE #5: Why is this being treated like fucking Bring It On?
I swear to God I’m going to open Facebook tonight and someone will have shared a Buzzfeed quiz called “How Would You Kill Yourself If You Were On Thirteen Reasons Why?” Y’all can’t fucking have this both ways. Pick a lane: is this show intense and important, bringing attention to under-discussed issues in a serious and mature way, or do you want to know which character you are based on your cupcake preferences? This either is or isn’t a joke. It’s up to you.
TAPE #6: There’s a difference between triggering content and this.
The show gives trigger warnings. Cool. That’s not even sarcastic - I think that’s great.
But if you’ve seen the show, you know some of the graphic imagery goes so fucking beyond what any viewer would expect.
My friend, who has struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts, and is triggered by sexual assault, had a series of panic attacks due to this show. But she finished it - against my urging - because she thought it would give some important message or theme to the audience watching it. But it doesn't. And she put herself through that for nothing.
TAPE #7: This isn’t how suicidal thoughts work.
Hannah has reasons for committing suicide. It’s like there was a straw that broke the camel’s back. Suicidal thoughts aren’t like that.
If you’re thinking seriously about committing suicide, it’s not because of a baker’s dozen carefully delineated causes. It’s because everything feels impenetrably, incurably, never-endingly awful. It feels like there are no bright spots and no way out.
The difference? Everybody feels like Hannah Baker does. Everybody has the humiliating moments and regrets that, like, haunt them before they sleep every night. But not everybody has severe depression. Trying to equate the two is HORRIFIC. It both reduces the trauma of having depression and indicates suicide as an option for people who may have never considered it otherwise.
TAPE #8: Don’t tell teenagers not to go to authority figures.
Making the guidance counselor a villain is maybe one of the most irresponsible attempts at drama in this stupid fucking narrative. The absolute last thing you should be doing is giving any indication to a vulnerable group that going to a trusted adult won’t work out well.
Teenagers everywhere: This book and show are total fucking bullshit. Your guidance counselors know exactly what to do. If you’re feeling like something is wrong, or experiencing suicidal thoughts, tell someone. If you feel safe to confide in a guidance counselor, do it. If you don’t, find another trusted adult: A teacher, a parent, a school administrator. Anything. Just don’t take this bullshit for an example.
TAPE #9: The experts say fuck this.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/a...
http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/featur...
There’s a bajillion more articles on this, but I’m already shaking with anger.
TAPE #10: Say the word depression.
How goddamn hard is it? Fuck your quasi-advocacy.
TAPE #11: This is an instruction manual.
One morning, I’ll wake up to my phone alarm. Check my notifications, see one from The Washington Post. Normal, when we haven’t had a slow news day in a year. But the headline won’t be political. It’ll be something like, “Teen Suicide Appears Inspired By Netflix Show.” And I’ll know, instantly. Feel awful for that poor vulnerable kid, but also think, Of course. Think, Why didn’t anybody see this coming?
At least the book didn’t tell the reader how to slit their wrists.
Update, 6/10/17: It happened. @cyborgcinderella brought this to my attention in the comments, because this isn't even getting the press coverage I expected. A 23-year-old in Peru committed suicide and left tapes. And no one is under the impression that this will be the only one - one headline reads, "The ‘13 Reasons Why’ Copycat Suicides May Have Started." Why, why, why, why would this show be given a second season?
TAPE #12: Look at all these beautiful teens.
I’m just saying, it probably doesn’t make your depressed audience of teenagers feel better if they spend the bajillion hours this show lasts staring at impossibly gorgeous adults. It’s a cast of classically good looking twenty-somethings wearing natural makeup, with idealized bodies and perfect hair.
That’s not different from any other teen show. It just feels especially significant when you think about how smugly this show pats itself on the back.
TAPE #13: That goddamn ending.
It’s laughable. This show just makes no fucking sense.
Bottom line: I HATE this book and show like I’ve never hated anything. I’m worried about everyone I know who has seen it. I’m worried about every teenager who has heard about it. And I’m worried about the precedent this sets for irresponsibly using suicide as a plot point, without care for who it hurts.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck this book, this show, Jay Asher, and anyone who had any part in bringing it into existence.
December 9, 2020
Wow. What a b*tch.
But...But...Miranda...how can you not love, cherish and worship a suicide book? Hannah was so brave, she dealt with life the best way she could...Blah, blah, blah.
Are you sitting down?
Good, cause things are about to get ranty.
HUGE MOTHER-EFFING DISCLAIMER:My hatred can be split into four parts: The Message to the Target Audience, Glamorous Suicide, The Absolutely Terrible Excuse for A Main Character and Were you Raped? Sorry, it's Me Time Now.
If you absolutely loved this book or if you think it really helped you through a tough time - I have absolutely no problem with that.
You are completely (and utterly) entitled to your opinion on this novel - just like I'm entitled to hate it with every fiber of my being.
The Message to the Target Audience - aka just kill yourself.
As an 25-year-old adult, I am able to read this book and take a step back to truly appreciate the full wrath of Hannah.
She's able to absolutely crumble the lives of the bullies, extract sweet revenge on her ex-friends and even get the boy she likes to admit that he really, really likes her.
And how does she do that? By killing herself.
Let me repeat that - she's able to accomplish all her wildest dreams By. Killing. Herself.
And the target audience? Preteens/teens. Kids who are already thinking of suicide and are curious to see what happens after.
And how does the author (a grown adult) advise them? Just kill yourself and everything will be better after you die.
I cannot begin to express how furious that made me.
Okay, okay. I will admit that there is another message - one of accepting, embracing and truly caring for your peers before something tragic happens...but, I'd like to remind you, how do we reach this conclusion?
Well, Hannah only had to off herself for this to happen. Kill yourself and the world becomes a better place.
Glamorous Suicide - aka suicide is a wondrous method to bring about change.
This is in a somewhat similar vein to the previous - but did anyone else notice how beautiful and poetical her suicide was?
How all the bullies were cowed. How all her friends regretted not appreciating her when she was alive. How everyone felt bad about not being nicer.
Even her suicide was a graceful fade-to-black.
The book doesn't show any negative repercussions for her actions - just that everything is better after she's gone.
And while (maybe) some kids may react the same as the ones portrayed in this book, I'd wager that most teens out there won't fall perfectly into the, "Oh-poor-Hannah-such-a-tragic-little-victim" category.
Most teens won't have the self-reflection and emotional awareness shown in this novel. She'll become a footnote, a blip on their radar, and they'll move on.
Absolutely Terrible Excuse for a Main Character - aka what a b*tch
I am of the firm belief that if something tragic, or some self-inflicted tragedy, befalls the main character, does not erase their sins.
Just because they did some grand, meaningful gesture, does not mean everything they did is given the rose-tinted glasses.
And what Hannah did was absolutely inexcusable.
Most suicides (according to google) are due to mental illness (90%) (i.e. clinical depression, bipolar, etc) or due to an impulse decision (triggered by a great tragedy/overwhelming circumstances).
From my (admittingly untrained) eye, Hannah experiences neither of these. And I believe that if the author wanted us to see either one of those cases, he would have made that abundantly clear.
Which makes Hannah's premeditated revenge odd, to say the least.
She picks out thirteen people who she's perceived wronged her and sets about to find the most hurtful and vengeful way to ruin their lives.
She wants to make her suicide count by destroying these other teen's lives so thoroughly that they become traumatized and absolutely terrified for the rest of their days.
So, who are these life-ruiners you ask?
Who are these absolute monsters who made Hannah's life a living hell? Pushing her every day closer to oblivion?
--Her first kiss -- now, the guy did brag that he got a bit further than a first kiss with her, but to pin her suicide on him? On a kid who likely felt inadequate and just wanted to seem older/experienced among his friend group?
--A friend who drifted apart from her -- sure this girl wasn't Hannah's bestie for life, but isn't she allowed to choose who her friends were? She and Hannah drifted apart, just like millions of girls throughout high school...but no Hannah has to make sure this girl KNOWS that stopping friendships with ANYONE is a direct cause for suicide.
-- A guy who said she has a nice ass -- I'm all for not objectifying women, but really? She's trying to pin her suicide on a teenage guy who said she has a nice ass.
--A nice girl who ended up not being super nice -- this girl was polite to Hannah, hung out a couple of times, but ultimately did not want to become best friends. Well, now she knows that if she is not ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY NICE AND FRIENDLY with everyone she meets, then they may kill themselves in revenge.
--A guidance counselor who didn't stop her suicide -- In Hannah's version, he was the last straw between her and oblivion. And he failed. He failed her, her parents and the school.
To expect one man to completely turn around a suicidal girl (especially one who premeditates her suicide to such an extent that she uses it as a weapon against other kids) is (in my opinion) horribly unrealistic.
And that's the thing that everyone seems to forget - these people who "caused" her suicide are kids.
Teenagers with their own troubles, trials and tribulations.
They're wading through the murky waters of high school with as much direction as Hannah.
And in her anger, fury and spite, she puts them all on the same playing field.
The peeping Tom and rapist somehow contributed equally to the guy who stole the compliments from her compliment box.
Apparently, no one commenting about your haircut is just as likely to send you into a suicidal spiral as privacy violations.
Were you Raped? Sorry, it's Me Time Now - aka My God Hannah, What's Wrong With You?
I will admit there were some of the kids that had it coming (i.e. the rapist and the peeping Tom) - they should have been called out on their actions.
But, instead of going to the authorities and actually doing something about this, Hannah just outs them in one of her tapes.
And, it gets better, she never sends a tape to the rapist.
Instead, she sends it to her ex-friend, the girl who was drunk and barely conscious throughout the rape, and Hannah blames her suicide on her.
That's right, the RAPE victim learns that she's RAPED on Hannah's suicide tape, that Hannah (and the boy the rape victim liked) did nothing about it.
AND what's Hannah's interpretation? You, ex-friend, caused my suicide cause you didn't want to be friends for life.
And to that I say:
A) GOOD RIDDANCE. Dropping Hannah like a hot tamale was obviously the right choice.
B) Can you even begin to imagine learning that happened to you while your so-called friend was hanging out in the closet of the same room?
And what was Hannah doing?
What was SO CRAZY IMPORTANT that she just couldn't stop her friend from being raped?
Having a tipsy mental breakdown because A) the boy she liked her tried to kiss her and B) when she said no, he stopped.
Excuse me, but how was THAT more important that preventing an ex-friend from getting RAPED?
Literally all Hannah had to do was step out of the closet and he'd be scared off.
But noooooo, Hannah decides to make the suicide tapes (LONG after all the evidence has been washed away) to let everyone know that she's the victim.
That SHE deserves the pity and sympathy.
I'm sorry, I'm sure there are many (MANY) ways to interpret this book, but I just can't see feeling sympathy for the girl who killed herself over "nice ass" and "friends not staying friends" vs the one who was raped while her best friend/guy-she-liked watched and then was blamed for a suicide.
This is the sort of revenge Hannah decides to extract on these teens.
It's unforgivable.
I can't believe I wasted my time with this. .
ANOTHER BIG MOTHER-EFFING DISCLAIMER (cause apparently my first one was not enough)Audiobook Comments
Yes, this is my opinion. This is my interpretation of this novel. Is it the right one? Maybe and maybe not.
If this book is perfect in your eyes, if it really saved you, I am not discounting that experience.
This book has a LOT of potential to bring about difficult discussions but I feel that the way it is written is problematic (to say the least). But again, this is one take on the novel.
The one thing I couldn't fault this book on was the choice of narrators. Joel Johnstone and Debra Wiseman were absolutely perfect throughout this book. The way they played off of each other, the way they conveyed emotions - amazing through and through.
The 2018 Finer Books Club Reading Challenge - A book with a number in the title
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June 14, 2018
oh god, somebody buy this girl some perspective! oh wait, you can't because she's dead. and i, for one, am glad of it because this character would have grown up to be a rotten judgmental schoolmarmy horrorshow of an adult. just horrible.
and people love this book like cookies!
backtrack. plot: a girl kills herself. but before she goes, she makes a series of audio cassettes and mails them to an individual, with instructions to pass them along to the next person mentioned on the tapes, which are a chronicle of all the things that were done to her that made her kill herself. it was because of you. and you. and you. the blame game, afterlife edition. what a dick, right?
and i understand the idea of cause and effect, and that teenagers of all people, need to be more conscious of the effects their actions have on the feeeeelings of others, and this book is meant to highlight that even the smallest things can have a profound effect on a person's life, but ugh - this character is appalling. and does she not realize the effect her accusations are going to have on the recipients of the tapes?? because it is a shitty thing to do when people can't defend themselves, particularly since the awful tragic things that happened to her are pretty standard stuff we have all been through. mostly. nothing suicide-worthy, frankly. and nothing to make other people feel shitty about for the rest of their lives.
when you are sitting on the same side of a booth at a diner with a boy on valentines day and you are laughing and you put your head on his shoulder and he puts his hand on your leg, that is not a problem, it is called flirtation. and if you don't like it, use your words, and if that doesn't work, get physical. which she does. and succeeds. so what's with all the boo-hoos?? that no one came to your rescue?? princess, no one is ever going to come to your rescue. you did what you were supposed to do - feel proud and call it a day. a somewhat shitty day, but no reason to kill yourself.
she basically uses her suicide to scold boys who have flirted with her or tried to hook up with her.or said she had a nice ass. these are teenagers! they are going to try to hook up with anything that is still breathing! i have dodged many an unwanted advance in my early years, and i have exhaustedly given in to others as the path of least resistance, but that's youth, right? chalk everything up to a learning experience and laugh about it in your adulthood.
are we supposed to feel that she is empowered for taking her life? because i don't. i fel like she had a normal sized problem that she willingly made a little bigger in a hot tub, but honestly, suburban new hampshire white girl, here is a book called push. go read that and tell me you have problems.
i know i gave this three stars, and it is because i did like the way the story was told, as a split-narrative between the transcripts of the tapes, and the voice of a boy who is one of the accused, as we wait for his part in it to unfold, as he wonders what she thinks he did to her (anticlimax, btw). but so as a plot-driven quasi-mystery book, it definitely held my interest, but the whole time, i couldn't help thinking what a brat she was and how unfair some of her accusations were, particularly to the narrator and the last recipient of the tapes. sheesh. brat.
(if she heard me say that, she would try really hard to come back to life so she could make me a tape telling me how i wounded her soul and then she would kill herself again to make me feel guilty. but i would not.)
come to my blog!
and people love this book like cookies!
backtrack. plot: a girl kills herself. but before she goes, she makes a series of audio cassettes and mails them to an individual, with instructions to pass them along to the next person mentioned on the tapes, which are a chronicle of all the things that were done to her that made her kill herself. it was because of you. and you. and you. the blame game, afterlife edition. what a dick, right?
and i understand the idea of cause and effect, and that teenagers of all people, need to be more conscious of the effects their actions have on the feeeeelings of others, and this book is meant to highlight that even the smallest things can have a profound effect on a person's life, but ugh - this character is appalling. and does she not realize the effect her accusations are going to have on the recipients of the tapes?? because it is a shitty thing to do when people can't defend themselves, particularly since the awful tragic things that happened to her are pretty standard stuff we have all been through. mostly. nothing suicide-worthy, frankly. and nothing to make other people feel shitty about for the rest of their lives.
when you are sitting on the same side of a booth at a diner with a boy on valentines day and you are laughing and you put your head on his shoulder and he puts his hand on your leg, that is not a problem, it is called flirtation. and if you don't like it, use your words, and if that doesn't work, get physical. which she does. and succeeds. so what's with all the boo-hoos?? that no one came to your rescue?? princess, no one is ever going to come to your rescue. you did what you were supposed to do - feel proud and call it a day. a somewhat shitty day, but no reason to kill yourself.
she basically uses her suicide to scold boys who have flirted with her or tried to hook up with her.or said she had a nice ass. these are teenagers! they are going to try to hook up with anything that is still breathing! i have dodged many an unwanted advance in my early years, and i have exhaustedly given in to others as the path of least resistance, but that's youth, right? chalk everything up to a learning experience and laugh about it in your adulthood.
are we supposed to feel that she is empowered for taking her life? because i don't. i fel like she had a normal sized problem that she willingly made a little bigger in a hot tub, but honestly, suburban new hampshire white girl, here is a book called push. go read that and tell me you have problems.
i know i gave this three stars, and it is because i did like the way the story was told, as a split-narrative between the transcripts of the tapes, and the voice of a boy who is one of the accused, as we wait for his part in it to unfold, as he wonders what she thinks he did to her (anticlimax, btw). but so as a plot-driven quasi-mystery book, it definitely held my interest, but the whole time, i couldn't help thinking what a brat she was and how unfair some of her accusations were, particularly to the narrator and the last recipient of the tapes. sheesh. brat.
(if she heard me say that, she would try really hard to come back to life so she could make me a tape telling me how i wounded her soul and then she would kill herself again to make me feel guilty. but i would not.)
come to my blog!
August 16, 2015
“When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life. Everything. . . affects everything.”
Sometimes it's hard to see why other people might dislike a book you enjoy, but with Thirteen Reasons Why, I can understand it perfectly.
It is told from the perspective of Clay, but is mostly about the life of Hannah - a girl who recently killed herself. After her death, Clay receives a set of cassette tapes on which Hannah explains the thirteen reasons why she decided to kill herself. And he is one of them.
It is extremely compelling - unputdownable almost - but a problem many readers have is that the book relies on your sympathy for Hannah to effectively relay its message, and yet Hannah comes off as bratty, selfish and ofttimes over-sensitive. Many of her "reasons" are things that everyone has experienced at some point and people generally file those under "bad days" and definitely don't kill themselves because of it.
But actually, I completely understood and sympathized with Hannah. As a suicide survivor, I even related to her at times. And, though I don't attempt to speak for everyone, I feel in a position to attest that there can be something bratty and selfish about suicide.
I think this book captured a certain feeling very well and I disagree with those who thought Hannah wasn't realistically suicidal. It's true that nobody kills themselves because they get stood up, and nobody kills themselves because some douche groped their ass, and nobody kills themselves because of a mean rumour... but each of these is a little bit more added to the weight that is crushing down on someone.
People like to look for clear-cut reasons that make sense. They want Hannah to give a good reason why she killed herself. But, in reality, it so rarely is one big reason you can point to. Most of the time, the little things all build up, day after day, one small thing after another, until the little reasons all blend into a single feeling of hopelessness.
That is what this book is about. And it's also about taking responsibility for your actions and understanding how your small selfish acts can affect someone else.
I did not have an issue believing in or finding sympathy for Hannah. My only real issue with this book was Clay, the revelation about him, and the way he viewed the truth about Hannah. Clay changes his mind about Hannah based on what he hears and decides she did not deserve to be slut-shamed because the rumours weren't true. But - would she have deserved the treatment any more if she had done what the rumours said? "No" is the answer. And I wish the book had taken the opportunity to address that.
But otherwise, this is a creative pageturner, even if it seems a bit strange that cassette tapes were being used in 2007. I liked it a lot and it really made me think.
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November 13, 2012
WARNING: I did not like this book. If you did, and would hate it if someone (me) ranted and bitched about it, then DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW.
REVIEW: I don't know why this book is so popular. And I honestly don't know what all the rave is about. I heard so many great things about this novel, that's why I read it. While this was a good book, well written and all…the plot was just not good enough—no, the reasons leading to Hannah Baker killing herself were not believable enough for me. I mean sure, they did some horrible things to her in high school, that doesn't mean you should just go off and commit suicide. As far as I'm concerned, those kinds of situations happen to everyone. And I don't believe for one second that no one noticed that she wanted to commit suicide. What about her haircut? Didn't the author mention that the teacher passed out a flyer called "The Warning Signs of a Suicidal Individual?" And wasn't there "A sudden change in appearance" on top of the list? What about "Giving away possessions?" Didn't they discuss suicide in the same class? Didn't Hannah leave an anonymous note telling the teacher that? After she told Mr. Porter? And he didn't stop her? Come on, they couldn't have been that dumb! Hannah, above all, just sounded whiny. And I just couldn't sympathize with her character. And committing suicide and then blaming people for it is just a stupid excuse for killing herself. She was the one that decided to kill herself, not them—not anyone. She just needed someone to blame. And poor Clay! If Clay wasn't one of the reasons Hannah killed herself, then why put him through the agony? Why give him the tapes? She could've just written him a letter. And Tony! Hannah put even the ones that had nothing to do with her in pain. For example: what did Tony do to her? Because I know he was hurting, too. He felt helpless because he couldn't have saved her.
It was also very difficult and confusing to keep up with what Clay and Hannah said/thought. One second I'm reading in Clay's point of view, the next Hannah's. And sometimes I had to reread a whole paragraph because I got the POV wrong in my head.
Also, I think suicide is a very serious issue so I didn't really buy Jay Asher's portrayal of Hannah's feelings. If someone wanted to commit suicide, their emotion had to be deeper, stronger than just hatred and petty resentment for having a bad reputation in High School. Therefore, I thought Hannah's emotions weren't very serious, even childish and overly dramatic at times. And after finishing the books I was like, "seriously?! That's why she killed herself?!" I honestly felt like Asher was making fun of the teens who have been through terrible things in their life and are still trying to stay strong after everything they've been through. This was like telling them, "what the heck, end your life if you're so miserable."
UPDATE: Just found out this is going to be a movie. Starring Selena Gomez.
Also, if you want to know more about Hannah's reasons, read message 6.
REVIEW: I don't know why this book is so popular. And I honestly don't know what all the rave is about. I heard so many great things about this novel, that's why I read it. While this was a good book, well written and all…the plot was just not good enough—no, the reasons leading to Hannah Baker killing herself were not believable enough for me. I mean sure, they did some horrible things to her in high school, that doesn't mean you should just go off and commit suicide. As far as I'm concerned, those kinds of situations happen to everyone. And I don't believe for one second that no one noticed that she wanted to commit suicide. What about her haircut? Didn't the author mention that the teacher passed out a flyer called "The Warning Signs of a Suicidal Individual?" And wasn't there "A sudden change in appearance" on top of the list? What about "Giving away possessions?" Didn't they discuss suicide in the same class? Didn't Hannah leave an anonymous note telling the teacher that? After she told Mr. Porter? And he didn't stop her? Come on, they couldn't have been that dumb! Hannah, above all, just sounded whiny. And I just couldn't sympathize with her character. And committing suicide and then blaming people for it is just a stupid excuse for killing herself. She was the one that decided to kill herself, not them—not anyone. She just needed someone to blame. And poor Clay! If Clay wasn't one of the reasons Hannah killed herself, then why put him through the agony? Why give him the tapes? She could've just written him a letter. And Tony! Hannah put even the ones that had nothing to do with her in pain. For example: what did Tony do to her? Because I know he was hurting, too. He felt helpless because he couldn't have saved her.
It was also very difficult and confusing to keep up with what Clay and Hannah said/thought. One second I'm reading in Clay's point of view, the next Hannah's. And sometimes I had to reread a whole paragraph because I got the POV wrong in my head.
Also, I think suicide is a very serious issue so I didn't really buy Jay Asher's portrayal of Hannah's feelings. If someone wanted to commit suicide, their emotion had to be deeper, stronger than just hatred and petty resentment for having a bad reputation in High School. Therefore, I thought Hannah's emotions weren't very serious, even childish and overly dramatic at times. And after finishing the books I was like, "seriously?! That's why she killed herself?!" I honestly felt like Asher was making fun of the teens who have been through terrible things in their life and are still trying to stay strong after everything they've been through. This was like telling them, "what the heck, end your life if you're so miserable."
UPDATE: Just found out this is going to be a movie. Starring Selena Gomez.
Also, if you want to know more about Hannah's reasons, read message 6.
February 13, 2018
I REALLY REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK. I had heard very mixed things for some time and it seemed a lot of readers were very divided on this book, but I personally really loved it.
I do want to say I don't think this is 100% the best book in the world for depression/suicide, but I do believe it is an intersting narrative on how suicide impacts those affected, considering suicide is never a singular action. I also don't necessarily *agree* with the content of the book as guilting and blaming those who's actions drove Hannah to her death is not an appropriate response that we should approve of, but I also don't feel this book condoned that idea. Maybe the author did not go about things in the best way (in my personal opinion) but I do think the message that your actions influence others in ways you may not realize came across well. The path to get there was not perfect, but the execution was.
I also despise the reviews on here saying that "Hannah had no excuse to kill herself, she was not depressed enough and it wasn't believable for her to commit suicide because of these reasons." Excuse me? Work on your stigma regarding people with mental illness. I am SO SO SORRY that you feel someone who is a victim of bullying, sexual harassment,t sexual assault, who reaches out for help and is told to "move on" is not a "good enough excuse to kill themselves" but I am NOT HERE for delegitimizing one's personal suffering because it wasn't something you have experienced. God forbid my reason for being depressed was a chemical imbalance in my brain, can't imagine what you'd think of MY excuse for attempting suicide *rolls eyes*.
Depression manifests in a multitude of ways. People commit suicide for a variety of reasons. I've been diagnosed with clinical depressed and spent most of my adolescence in a cycle of self harm and suicidal ideation. Can I related to Hannah Baker? No, I cannot. Our stories are very different. But that does not mean it is impossible for her experience to exist, or that others will be unable to relate to what this poor girl went through. If you view life through a singular lens, I promise, you will continually be let down by those who's lives do not perfectly mirror your own.
I also want to note that I DO see why this book has upset so many people. I really do see the perspective of others who disagree with this book and don't feel it achieved what it was trying to, I just personally feel differently.
Overall, I really really enjoying the mere HOURS it took me to devour this book. It was a great experience and I'm glad I read it!
I do want to say I don't think this is 100% the best book in the world for depression/suicide, but I do believe it is an intersting narrative on how suicide impacts those affected, considering suicide is never a singular action. I also don't necessarily *agree* with the content of the book as guilting and blaming those who's actions drove Hannah to her death is not an appropriate response that we should approve of, but I also don't feel this book condoned that idea. Maybe the author did not go about things in the best way (in my personal opinion) but I do think the message that your actions influence others in ways you may not realize came across well. The path to get there was not perfect, but the execution was.
I also despise the reviews on here saying that "Hannah had no excuse to kill herself, she was not depressed enough and it wasn't believable for her to commit suicide because of these reasons." Excuse me? Work on your stigma regarding people with mental illness. I am SO SO SORRY that you feel someone who is a victim of bullying, sexual harassment,t sexual assault, who reaches out for help and is told to "move on" is not a "good enough excuse to kill themselves" but I am NOT HERE for delegitimizing one's personal suffering because it wasn't something you have experienced. God forbid my reason for being depressed was a chemical imbalance in my brain, can't imagine what you'd think of MY excuse for attempting suicide *rolls eyes*.
Depression manifests in a multitude of ways. People commit suicide for a variety of reasons. I've been diagnosed with clinical depressed and spent most of my adolescence in a cycle of self harm and suicidal ideation. Can I related to Hannah Baker? No, I cannot. Our stories are very different. But that does not mean it is impossible for her experience to exist, or that others will be unable to relate to what this poor girl went through. If you view life through a singular lens, I promise, you will continually be let down by those who's lives do not perfectly mirror your own.
I also want to note that I DO see why this book has upset so many people. I really do see the perspective of others who disagree with this book and don't feel it achieved what it was trying to, I just personally feel differently.
Overall, I really really enjoying the mere HOURS it took me to devour this book. It was a great experience and I'm glad I read it!
July 27, 2011
I figured this deserved a real review.
I'm a bipolar chick. I'm a girl who has struggled with suicidal thoughts since she was nine years old at the very latest. And I just do not buy 13RW's representation of a suicidal girl. The very premise of the book is flawed to me; you don't kill yourself for REASONS, you kill yourself because there is a bug in your brain gnawing at you and sucking out any valuable thought you've ever had, and I never saw that kind of bug in Hannah. I saw a girl who killed herself because boys were mean to her, and I think that if you reversed the sexes and made it a boy who killed himself for Hannah's reasons, no one would have bought it.
It's a symptom of a larger epidemic you see all the times in discussions of girls with mental illness. Boys are legitimately fucked up and have genuine struggles with mental health, but girls are hysterical. Hannah's depression is entirely circumstantial, as is her suicide, and I just do not buy it.
Not to mention I think it's a complete cop-out to have Clay be the only guy on the list who didn't fuck her up. Of COURSE the narrator didn't screw up, right?
It was compelling, I'll give it that. I read it in one night about five years ago.
I'm a bipolar chick. I'm a girl who has struggled with suicidal thoughts since she was nine years old at the very latest. And I just do not buy 13RW's representation of a suicidal girl. The very premise of the book is flawed to me; you don't kill yourself for REASONS, you kill yourself because there is a bug in your brain gnawing at you and sucking out any valuable thought you've ever had, and I never saw that kind of bug in Hannah. I saw a girl who killed herself because boys were mean to her, and I think that if you reversed the sexes and made it a boy who killed himself for Hannah's reasons, no one would have bought it.
It's a symptom of a larger epidemic you see all the times in discussions of girls with mental illness. Boys are legitimately fucked up and have genuine struggles with mental health, but girls are hysterical. Hannah's depression is entirely circumstantial, as is her suicide, and I just do not buy it.
Not to mention I think it's a complete cop-out to have Clay be the only guy on the list who didn't fuck her up. Of COURSE the narrator didn't screw up, right?
It was compelling, I'll give it that. I read it in one night about five years ago.
July 1, 2017
Update 7/10/15: A Conversation From Yesterday...
Co-Worker: "My kid just read this book and loved it. You are a reader, right? If you haven't read it, you should read it."
Me: "What's it called."
CW: "'Thirteen Reasons' or something. It's about suicide."
Me: Hmmmm, yeah I think that sounds familiar. Hold on lemme check.
*checking GR and finding review*
CW: "You find it?"
Me: "Um, yeah."
CW: "So you like it?"
Me: "Um...sure..."
LMAO
Original (pre-gif discovery)Review:
I see that this book is pretty well-loved and highly reviewed, but I quite frankly don't see the same beauty as everyone else.
So if you are someone who loved this book and loved Hannah, you should probably pass on my review because it might piss you off.
***Mega Spoilers***
I know some read this book and see Hannah as a "victim."
But I don't.
I see a hypocritical, self-absorbed teenager who basically refused to take responsibility for herself and/or her OWN actions because she was too busy analyzing OTHER people's actions and how those actions--directly or indirectly--affected Hannah.
Hannah's ridiculous 13 tape manifesto is all about laying people out for not seeing or simply failing to care how their actions affected Hannah.
But even through Hannah's own dialogue we see how she herself is guilty of using / treating others just as thoughtlessly. She plainly says that she asked Courtney over to her home--not to befriend her--but to help her catch Tyler peeping in her window with his camera. Also, later she describes how she engages a random girl (with whom she's never spoken to before) in conversation in order to look beyond the girl's shoulder and catch Zach stealing notes out of her "Encouragement bag."
How do you think THAT girl felt being used, Hannah? How do you think Courtney felt being asked over to your house simply to playact for a peeping Tom?
On and on Hannah rants at everyone about how dare they do this and how dare they do that to her - but seriously - watching her hypocritically commit similar actions of insensitivity and constantly put herself in asinine situations completely undermined any sympathy I had for her.
Do I think it's fucked up that Tyler peeped into her window (a situation that felt totally contrived)?
Yes.
Is it fucked up she witnessed a rape and felt guilt for not acting to stop it?
Yes. Same with the stop sign situation.
But by the time most of those things happen, she has already dug her own grave in her mind. AND she did nothing to try and solve her own problems.
Being a teenager SUCKS. Being a female teenager especially sucks. But what Hannah failed to realize is that almost every other character in her story was just trying to do the same thing as her: get by and get through.
I'm all for being mindful of your words and trying to be aware of how your actions affect others; however, you can only do your best--but to think constantly about how your every word and action might affect someone else can result in complete paralyzation.
I'm not anti-suicide and I'm not railing against Hannah for choosing that course. I'm just not down with the 13 tapes vilifying other people for not thinking about how every move they made affected Hannah.
At some point, you have to take responsibility for YOURSELF and your own actions. You can't control what other people do and how they act, but you can control how you respond.
Hannah responded by CHOOSING to be a victim and blaming everyone else.
Co-Worker: "My kid just read this book and loved it. You are a reader, right? If you haven't read it, you should read it."
Me: "What's it called."
CW: "'Thirteen Reasons' or something. It's about suicide."
Me: Hmmmm, yeah I think that sounds familiar. Hold on lemme check.
*checking GR and finding review*
CW: "You find it?"
Me: "Um, yeah."
CW: "So you like it?"
Me: "Um...sure..."
LMAO
Original (pre-gif discovery)Review:
I see that this book is pretty well-loved and highly reviewed, but I quite frankly don't see the same beauty as everyone else.
So if you are someone who loved this book and loved Hannah, you should probably pass on my review because it might piss you off.
***Mega Spoilers***
I know some read this book and see Hannah as a "victim."
But I don't.
I see a hypocritical, self-absorbed teenager who basically refused to take responsibility for herself and/or her OWN actions because she was too busy analyzing OTHER people's actions and how those actions--directly or indirectly--affected Hannah.
Hannah's ridiculous 13 tape manifesto is all about laying people out for not seeing or simply failing to care how their actions affected Hannah.
But even through Hannah's own dialogue we see how she herself is guilty of using / treating others just as thoughtlessly. She plainly says that she asked Courtney over to her home--not to befriend her--but to help her catch Tyler peeping in her window with his camera. Also, later she describes how she engages a random girl (with whom she's never spoken to before) in conversation in order to look beyond the girl's shoulder and catch Zach stealing notes out of her "Encouragement bag."
How do you think THAT girl felt being used, Hannah? How do you think Courtney felt being asked over to your house simply to playact for a peeping Tom?
On and on Hannah rants at everyone about how dare they do this and how dare they do that to her - but seriously - watching her hypocritically commit similar actions of insensitivity and constantly put herself in asinine situations completely undermined any sympathy I had for her.
Do I think it's fucked up that Tyler peeped into her window (a situation that felt totally contrived)?
Yes.
Is it fucked up she witnessed a rape and felt guilt for not acting to stop it?
Yes. Same with the stop sign situation.
But by the time most of those things happen, she has already dug her own grave in her mind. AND she did nothing to try and solve her own problems.
Being a teenager SUCKS. Being a female teenager especially sucks. But what Hannah failed to realize is that almost every other character in her story was just trying to do the same thing as her: get by and get through.
I'm all for being mindful of your words and trying to be aware of how your actions affect others; however, you can only do your best--but to think constantly about how your every word and action might affect someone else can result in complete paralyzation.
I'm not anti-suicide and I'm not railing against Hannah for choosing that course. I'm just not down with the 13 tapes vilifying other people for not thinking about how every move they made affected Hannah.
At some point, you have to take responsibility for YOURSELF and your own actions. You can't control what other people do and how they act, but you can control how you respond.
Hannah responded by CHOOSING to be a victim and blaming everyone else.
December 16, 2011
eta 2: this is also the perfect book to listen to on audiotape. usually i am annoyed with audiobooks, but i enjoyed listening to this one almost as much as reading it, because i was hearing hannah while driving in my car, much the same way clay was. still love this book and it's boldness.
*
eta: for everyone that thinks hannah's suicide was unbelievable, or that the reasons were just stupid and petty, take a moment and think about how what happened could have been the impetus for suicide. it's not the whole story, of course. hannah tells us that herself. but people who commit suicide aren't just people that have been raped, abused, are poverty stricken, gang members, or sufferers of PTSD. too many adolescents kill themselves out of a depression that spirals in the SAME WAY hannah's does. too many adults do. and look at the suicide statistics if you don't think this is an important book.
*
yep, i broke down and bought it.
and i am SO GLAD that i did.
you guys, ALL OF YOU, read this now. i'm so not joking. this is one of the best books about adolescents and real life and how things can snowball that i have ever read.
not to mention this is the best, best, portrayal of true suicidality that i have come across - in all genres.
here's clay jensen, with a stack of tapes that arrive on his door. seven tapes, with a number painted in nail-polish on each corner. seven tapes from the dead hannah baker, who was clay's total crush. hannah baker, who killed herself with pills.
the genius is that the act of suicide itself is not glorified. at all. it's not an impulsive suicide, despite what people may have thought, and that's part of why i think i appreciate this book so much. for people that are truly, and deeply, and clinically depressed, it's not really impulsive. it's a series of things that lead one to believe that it's just not going to get better.
and that's exactly what happens to hannah. things that seem small and petty or not even memorable build in the head of someone who is already fragile. she isn't melodramatic about it, she's to the point. sometimes she's angry, sometimes she's sad, and sometimes she's brutally honest with herself - she knows that her actions are selfish, she knows that there were places she could have made things different and didn't. she knows where she closed the doors that might have been opening, and where she opened the ones she should have left shut.
i love hannah baker. i love clay jensen. i love these characters for their emotional vulnerability and honesty, for the way the story is told in pieces that all weave together in the end, for the fact there is no pandering to the reader, or condescension. that even in the end, even after hannah decided, there was one last chance. that this was thought out and thoughtful and not just a look at how people deal with the aftermath of a suicide, but how a suicide might be the end point.
i really cannot say enough about this book. i want to quote whole passages, i want to make so many people read it. it is SUCH an accurate portrayal it breaks my heart.
when hannah wants to disappear into the mist, and the decision for the way she wants to kill herself - her difficulty in even saying the word "suicide" in the beginning - it's just. not wanting her parents to find her hanging. thinking about making it look like an accident by crashing a car.
people may think what hannah did, by leaving the tapes, was super vindictive and mean. i do think there was an element of that to her recording everything - it's true to her character. but more than that, i think hannah wanted people to know how things spiral so far out of control, and how seemingly small interpersonal interactions can have such amazing consequences.
more than anything, i think hannah wanted to leave her own answer to "why do people commit suicide" and "signs to watch out for".
and i think she did a pretty damn good job. this is amazingly brilliant. Jay Asher just completely blew me away. so go read it. now.
*
eta: for everyone that thinks hannah's suicide was unbelievable, or that the reasons were just stupid and petty, take a moment and think about how what happened could have been the impetus for suicide. it's not the whole story, of course. hannah tells us that herself. but people who commit suicide aren't just people that have been raped, abused, are poverty stricken, gang members, or sufferers of PTSD. too many adolescents kill themselves out of a depression that spirals in the SAME WAY hannah's does. too many adults do. and look at the suicide statistics if you don't think this is an important book.
*
yep, i broke down and bought it.
and i am SO GLAD that i did.
you guys, ALL OF YOU, read this now. i'm so not joking. this is one of the best books about adolescents and real life and how things can snowball that i have ever read.
not to mention this is the best, best, portrayal of true suicidality that i have come across - in all genres.
here's clay jensen, with a stack of tapes that arrive on his door. seven tapes, with a number painted in nail-polish on each corner. seven tapes from the dead hannah baker, who was clay's total crush. hannah baker, who killed herself with pills.
the genius is that the act of suicide itself is not glorified. at all. it's not an impulsive suicide, despite what people may have thought, and that's part of why i think i appreciate this book so much. for people that are truly, and deeply, and clinically depressed, it's not really impulsive. it's a series of things that lead one to believe that it's just not going to get better.
and that's exactly what happens to hannah. things that seem small and petty or not even memorable build in the head of someone who is already fragile. she isn't melodramatic about it, she's to the point. sometimes she's angry, sometimes she's sad, and sometimes she's brutally honest with herself - she knows that her actions are selfish, she knows that there were places she could have made things different and didn't. she knows where she closed the doors that might have been opening, and where she opened the ones she should have left shut.
i love hannah baker. i love clay jensen. i love these characters for their emotional vulnerability and honesty, for the way the story is told in pieces that all weave together in the end, for the fact there is no pandering to the reader, or condescension. that even in the end, even after hannah decided, there was one last chance. that this was thought out and thoughtful and not just a look at how people deal with the aftermath of a suicide, but how a suicide might be the end point.
i really cannot say enough about this book. i want to quote whole passages, i want to make so many people read it. it is SUCH an accurate portrayal it breaks my heart.
when hannah wants to disappear into the mist, and the decision for the way she wants to kill herself - her difficulty in even saying the word "suicide" in the beginning - it's just. not wanting her parents to find her hanging. thinking about making it look like an accident by crashing a car.
people may think what hannah did, by leaving the tapes, was super vindictive and mean. i do think there was an element of that to her recording everything - it's true to her character. but more than that, i think hannah wanted people to know how things spiral so far out of control, and how seemingly small interpersonal interactions can have such amazing consequences.
more than anything, i think hannah wanted to leave her own answer to "why do people commit suicide" and "signs to watch out for".
and i think she did a pretty damn good job. this is amazingly brilliant. Jay Asher just completely blew me away. so go read it. now.
May 1, 2020
Things that happened to make Hannah Baker kill herself:
1.) Someone made up a rumour that she let a boy put his hands under her shirt in a park. REPUTATION RUINED.
2.) Someone was taking pictures of her through her bedroom window and she reacted by posing with a friend as though they were giving each other sensual massages... with oils? PERFECTLY LOGICAL AND INTELLIGENT RESPONSE.
3.) Someone asked her to drive them to and from a party. HOW DARE THEY.
4.) Someone stole the compliments out of her compliment box. SUCH A SENSELESS CRIME.
5.) NOBODY NOTICED HER HAIR CUT. AUGHHHHH THE CRUELTY.
All these and other teenage angst happen which Hannah deems unforgivable. And then she witnesses a rape that she could easily have stopped but didn't. And suddenly she's like "oh God the room is spinning my emotions I'm like so drunk and can't see through my tears... wahh, there's no way I could step in right now."
Literally all she had to do was step out of the CLOSET SHE WAS HIDING IN and say "Um, sorry can you not do that?" And the rapist would have FLED. But no, she stayed in the fetal position on the floor à la Bella Swan. So basically when she allows a classmate to be raped in front of her it's fine because, like, her head wasn't in the right place or something, but when other people don't acknowledge her new haircut it's because they are purposely attacking her and they deserve to be punished.
This book makes a mockery of suicide. We don't ever get a sense that Hannah is depressed. It's more like she's doing it as some messed up experiment. I found her to be way too amused by her own vicious stunt to feel even a shred of empathy for her. It's a book about a pathetic, selfish witch with a severe lack of moral fibre who kills herself and then sends out sick and twisted recordings to thirteen people telling them it was their fault so that what? They can feel guilty for the rest of their lives because they weren't the nicest person ever to Hannah one time back when they were a teenager? THIS IS BULLYING AT A VERY SEVERE LEVEL. I would argue it is much more severe then any bullying Hannah was on the receiving end of.
Ultimately, Thirteen Reasons Why waters down suicide to make it look like an awesome revenge tactic rather than an incredibly serious and sensitive issue that many teens are dealing with every day. It is not a game! WHEN YOU DIE, IT IS OVER FOR YOU. Nobody makes a TV show about you. Your classmates will only think of you ten years later when their memory is triggered and they go "ah, yes, a girl at my school killed herself once... terribly sad. Pass the salt please."
That being said, bye Hannah, have fun in hell.
1.) Someone made up a rumour that she let a boy put his hands under her shirt in a park. REPUTATION RUINED.
2.) Someone was taking pictures of her through her bedroom window and she reacted by posing with a friend as though they were giving each other sensual massages... with oils? PERFECTLY LOGICAL AND INTELLIGENT RESPONSE.
3.) Someone asked her to drive them to and from a party. HOW DARE THEY.
4.) Someone stole the compliments out of her compliment box. SUCH A SENSELESS CRIME.
5.) NOBODY NOTICED HER HAIR CUT. AUGHHHHH THE CRUELTY.
All these and other teenage angst happen which Hannah deems unforgivable. And then she witnesses a rape that she could easily have stopped but didn't. And suddenly she's like "oh God the room is spinning my emotions I'm like so drunk and can't see through my tears... wahh, there's no way I could step in right now."
Literally all she had to do was step out of the CLOSET SHE WAS HIDING IN and say "Um, sorry can you not do that?" And the rapist would have FLED. But no, she stayed in the fetal position on the floor à la Bella Swan. So basically when she allows a classmate to be raped in front of her it's fine because, like, her head wasn't in the right place or something, but when other people don't acknowledge her new haircut it's because they are purposely attacking her and they deserve to be punished.
This book makes a mockery of suicide. We don't ever get a sense that Hannah is depressed. It's more like she's doing it as some messed up experiment. I found her to be way too amused by her own vicious stunt to feel even a shred of empathy for her. It's a book about a pathetic, selfish witch with a severe lack of moral fibre who kills herself and then sends out sick and twisted recordings to thirteen people telling them it was their fault so that what? They can feel guilty for the rest of their lives because they weren't the nicest person ever to Hannah one time back when they were a teenager? THIS IS BULLYING AT A VERY SEVERE LEVEL. I would argue it is much more severe then any bullying Hannah was on the receiving end of.
Ultimately, Thirteen Reasons Why waters down suicide to make it look like an awesome revenge tactic rather than an incredibly serious and sensitive issue that many teens are dealing with every day. It is not a game! WHEN YOU DIE, IT IS OVER FOR YOU. Nobody makes a TV show about you. Your classmates will only think of you ten years later when their memory is triggered and they go "ah, yes, a girl at my school killed herself once... terribly sad. Pass the salt please."
That being said, bye Hannah, have fun in hell.
August 13, 2011
I absolutely loved this book. What an eye opener. In Thirteen Reasons Why we listen to audio tapes that was sent to 13 people by Hannah who committed suicide, to explain her reasons why.
First I want to mention that to all the reviewers who say that her reasons weren't "good enough" for her to kill herself, you're wrong. Everyone doesn't cope with situations the same way, and problems that may seem minimalistic to you, can send the next person into depression. We all have our own ways of working through our issues, and some have a much harder time than others. These were her reasons to commit suicide, which were enough for her, who are we to judge?
Personally I thought it was amazingly done and very realistic. There weren't any embellishments or glorifications, it was true portrayal of teen suicide. We go through the story with Clay while he is listening to Hannah's tapes. The narration goes back and forth between the tapes and what Clay is doing/thinking. I really though this was a great way to pace the story and build up the suspense. And every single page is full of suspense. I really could have stayed up all night reading it.
The story contains a lot of emotions; Intense and raw emotions. We go through them with Hannah as well as Clay, simultaneously. Hearing her tapes makes us realize that our actions, however small, can have a whirlwind of an effect on others. Yes, sending those tapes may have been a little mean. But obviously there was a lot going on with Hannah and she needed to get this out. I don't condone her for it, but I can understand why she thought it necessary.
It's not an easy subject to talk about, and suicide is not something to take lightly. Asher did an amazing job of taking a sensitive subject and writing a very touching, mesmerizing novel.
First I want to mention that to all the reviewers who say that her reasons weren't "good enough" for her to kill herself, you're wrong. Everyone doesn't cope with situations the same way, and problems that may seem minimalistic to you, can send the next person into depression. We all have our own ways of working through our issues, and some have a much harder time than others. These were her reasons to commit suicide, which were enough for her, who are we to judge?
Personally I thought it was amazingly done and very realistic. There weren't any embellishments or glorifications, it was true portrayal of teen suicide. We go through the story with Clay while he is listening to Hannah's tapes. The narration goes back and forth between the tapes and what Clay is doing/thinking. I really though this was a great way to pace the story and build up the suspense. And every single page is full of suspense. I really could have stayed up all night reading it.
The story contains a lot of emotions; Intense and raw emotions. We go through them with Hannah as well as Clay, simultaneously. Hearing her tapes makes us realize that our actions, however small, can have a whirlwind of an effect on others. Yes, sending those tapes may have been a little mean. But obviously there was a lot going on with Hannah and she needed to get this out. I don't condone her for it, but I can understand why she thought it necessary.
It's not an easy subject to talk about, and suicide is not something to take lightly. Asher did an amazing job of taking a sensitive subject and writing a very touching, mesmerizing novel.
February 5, 2011
When I tried to structure my thoughts to write this review, I discovered that it’s actually very hard to write something about a book I liked but didn’t love. I definitely have no hard feelings towards Thirteen Reasons Why but I also don’t really have anything to rave about. Which makes me feel a little conflicted about the rating. This book will stay with me for a while, it made me think, but it also had its flaws.
I thought the novel was based on an original and great concept. We have a simultaneous narration: We get to hear Hannah’s thoughts through the tapes she recorded, and mixed with that, we see how Clay reacts to the things she says. While that is without doubt the perfect way to tell this story (that can probably be enjoyed even more in an audiobook format), I sometimes found it hard to distinguish their voices. I read a sentence, and when I went over it too quickly, I sometimes had to check back if it was in bold or italic to find out who actually said what. While Clay certainly was a sweet guy, I found him to be almost too nice to be true and compared with Hannah, his character and voice felt rather flat.
Also, I expected this story to make me sad and touch me deeply because, after all, it is a story about missed opportunities, about a life ending much too soon, about guilt and grief. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
But, all in all, despite the fact that I wasn’t really emotionally invested, I simply HAD to know exactly what drove Hannah over the edge. I wanted to know her story, to get an idea what made her feel so depressed and alone. I read in quite some reviews that people thought her reasons to commit suicide were shallow. I don’t agree with that at all. They were her reasons and nobody else’s, and I think that she shouldn’t be judged by them. People don’t always have this big reason behind their decisions. Sometimes small things add up to each other, and when you suffer from depression, as Hannah clearly did, even everyday life can be too much for you to take. It can make everything feel like a chore.
Yet, I also found it difficult to understand why Hannah went to such lengths to record her tapes and make sure everybody received them. It seemed to be more about getting back at the people who hurt her than about closure and explanation. Those people did her wrong, no question, but do they deserve what they got? Do they deserve to live with the guilt of being responsible for Hannah’s death? I’m not sure. But this book definitely showed me that even small things we do (or don’t do) can have a huge impact on somebody else’s life, and that sometimes we should take more time to try to understand the people we deal with everyday – be it at school or somewhere else.
But all things considered, I’m glad that Jay Asher didn’t portray Hannah as a victim. She also had her faults, made wrong decisions and – in the end – gave up.
Now I’m still pondering over one question: What is actually worse? Knowing exactly why somebody killed himself and what role you yourself played in his decision? Or living with the fact that you will never find out what caused his suicide and that your questions will never be answered?
#4 TBR Pile Reduction Challenge (Brooke)
I thought the novel was based on an original and great concept. We have a simultaneous narration: We get to hear Hannah’s thoughts through the tapes she recorded, and mixed with that, we see how Clay reacts to the things she says. While that is without doubt the perfect way to tell this story (that can probably be enjoyed even more in an audiobook format), I sometimes found it hard to distinguish their voices. I read a sentence, and when I went over it too quickly, I sometimes had to check back if it was in bold or italic to find out who actually said what. While Clay certainly was a sweet guy, I found him to be almost too nice to be true and compared with Hannah, his character and voice felt rather flat.
Also, I expected this story to make me sad and touch me deeply because, after all, it is a story about missed opportunities, about a life ending much too soon, about guilt and grief. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
But, all in all, despite the fact that I wasn’t really emotionally invested, I simply HAD to know exactly what drove Hannah over the edge. I wanted to know her story, to get an idea what made her feel so depressed and alone. I read in quite some reviews that people thought her reasons to commit suicide were shallow. I don’t agree with that at all. They were her reasons and nobody else’s, and I think that she shouldn’t be judged by them. People don’t always have this big reason behind their decisions. Sometimes small things add up to each other, and when you suffer from depression, as Hannah clearly did, even everyday life can be too much for you to take. It can make everything feel like a chore.
Yet, I also found it difficult to understand why Hannah went to such lengths to record her tapes and make sure everybody received them. It seemed to be more about getting back at the people who hurt her than about closure and explanation. Those people did her wrong, no question, but do they deserve what they got? Do they deserve to live with the guilt of being responsible for Hannah’s death? I’m not sure. But this book definitely showed me that even small things we do (or don’t do) can have a huge impact on somebody else’s life, and that sometimes we should take more time to try to understand the people we deal with everyday – be it at school or somewhere else.
But all things considered, I’m glad that Jay Asher didn’t portray Hannah as a victim. She also had her faults, made wrong decisions and – in the end – gave up.
Now I’m still pondering over one question: What is actually worse? Knowing exactly why somebody killed himself and what role you yourself played in his decision? Or living with the fact that you will never find out what caused his suicide and that your questions will never be answered?
#4 TBR Pile Reduction Challenge (Brooke)
August 15, 2017
*******
(edited on 8/15/17 to add:)
My face, when everyone keeps coming on my review to tell me that my feelings about this book are "wrong."
A review is simply my opinion. I'm entitled to mine and you're entitled to yours and they don't affect one another in any way.
*******
(Original review from 10/20/14)
Hated it, hated it, hated it. DNFed at 30%.
Do you know people who are suicidal? Has anyone close to you tried to kill themselves or had someone close to them kill themselves?
My best friend growing up, her father committed suicide. I hope she never reads this book.
People who are clinically depressed, people who feel like they have no other option but to kill themselves, don't do it because of a tiny, trivial reason. They do it because there is an imbalance in their brain, or something so horrific happened to them that they feel like they can't live in their own skin anymore.
If we hadn't had a glimpse inside of Hannah's head, I would have thought that maybe she was in a such a dark place that she felt like she had no other option but to kill herself. However, we hear Hannah voice throughout the story through her tapes. She doesn't sound depressed. She sounds vindictive and petty. Why doesn't she think about how her tapes could make someone else kill themselves, huh?
To make it seem like a friend or loved one, doing something minor or mundane, could cause a suicide is a horrible seed to plant. It takes years for loved ones of suicide victims to stop blaming themselves. Does my childhood friend deserve to question, "If I just cleaned my room or didn't yell at my dad that one last time, would he have not killed himself?" NO.
Sure, teenagers could be a lot nicer to each other. I'm all for anything that reduces bullying and objectifying of women. If readers take away that message from this book, than I guess I'm okay with that on some level.
But for the reader who struggles with bipolar disorder or clinical depression, the teen with the mom who won't get out of bed, the husband whose wife ODs on pills... please don't read this book. Don't dissect your life and think about what you could have done differently.
Maybe this book greatly improved after 30%. Maybe we find out more about Hannah after that point. I wasn't interested enough to find out.
(edited on 8/15/17 to add:)
My face, when everyone keeps coming on my review to tell me that my feelings about this book are "wrong."
A review is simply my opinion. I'm entitled to mine and you're entitled to yours and they don't affect one another in any way.
*******
(Original review from 10/20/14)
Hated it, hated it, hated it. DNFed at 30%.
Do you know people who are suicidal? Has anyone close to you tried to kill themselves or had someone close to them kill themselves?
My best friend growing up, her father committed suicide. I hope she never reads this book.
People who are clinically depressed, people who feel like they have no other option but to kill themselves, don't do it because of a tiny, trivial reason. They do it because there is an imbalance in their brain, or something so horrific happened to them that they feel like they can't live in their own skin anymore.
If we hadn't had a glimpse inside of Hannah's head, I would have thought that maybe she was in a such a dark place that she felt like she had no other option but to kill herself. However, we hear Hannah voice throughout the story through her tapes. She doesn't sound depressed. She sounds vindictive and petty. Why doesn't she think about how her tapes could make someone else kill themselves, huh?
To make it seem like a friend or loved one, doing something minor or mundane, could cause a suicide is a horrible seed to plant. It takes years for loved ones of suicide victims to stop blaming themselves. Does my childhood friend deserve to question, "If I just cleaned my room or didn't yell at my dad that one last time, would he have not killed himself?" NO.
Sure, teenagers could be a lot nicer to each other. I'm all for anything that reduces bullying and objectifying of women. If readers take away that message from this book, than I guess I'm okay with that on some level.
But for the reader who struggles with bipolar disorder or clinical depression, the teen with the mom who won't get out of bed, the husband whose wife ODs on pills... please don't read this book. Don't dissect your life and think about what you could have done differently.
Maybe this book greatly improved after 30%. Maybe we find out more about Hannah after that point. I wasn't interested enough to find out.
July 21, 2017
I bought "Thirteen Reasons Why" after hearing so much about it on the internet - and from my 3 sons - and I just knew I had to find out what the hype was all about for myself.
Actually I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found it very compelling so I'm a little apprehensive about leaving a positive review after reading so many negative comments about it, but I suppose it is only everyone's opinion.
I started reading this book at bedtime and whenever I woke up during the night and throughout the next day when I wasn't reading it, I was constantly thinking about the characters - it had such a pull to it.
I didn't have a problem with the writing style at all, the unique way in which the author, Jay Asher, created a dual narrative between Hannah on the tapes and Clay listening to them and commenting was very unusual and new to me, and I really took to it - it played out perfectly in my mind.
I imagine everyone knows the blurb to this book so I won't go into that other than it is aimed at a young adult audience.
Some people believe that Hannah was selfish and petty with a 'I've been badly done to' attitude but who knows when the straw will break the camel's back? We've probably all experienced bad times at senior school at some point or another and know it can have a very profound effect on your emotions at such a vulnerable age.
Does the book glorify suicide? Does it make someone want to go out and take their own life? I have my opinions but you'll have to read the book and decide for yourself. What I do know is - it's a work of fiction and I read it as that, but I'm much older and wiser than most of the average readers of this book and I think that does make a big difference.
I don't think I'll be watching the TV show should it make mainstream English TV as it is primarily aimed at a much younger audience and I think I'd rather remember the book is it was originally written.
I would say don't be put off by any of the negative reviews you may come across, I dithered for a while over reading it, but I have to say it's a book that I did enjoy reading and I know will stay with me a long time.
5 stars!!
Actually I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found it very compelling so I'm a little apprehensive about leaving a positive review after reading so many negative comments about it, but I suppose it is only everyone's opinion.
I started reading this book at bedtime and whenever I woke up during the night and throughout the next day when I wasn't reading it, I was constantly thinking about the characters - it had such a pull to it.
I didn't have a problem with the writing style at all, the unique way in which the author, Jay Asher, created a dual narrative between Hannah on the tapes and Clay listening to them and commenting was very unusual and new to me, and I really took to it - it played out perfectly in my mind.
I imagine everyone knows the blurb to this book so I won't go into that other than it is aimed at a young adult audience.
Some people believe that Hannah was selfish and petty with a 'I've been badly done to' attitude but who knows when the straw will break the camel's back? We've probably all experienced bad times at senior school at some point or another and know it can have a very profound effect on your emotions at such a vulnerable age.
Does the book glorify suicide? Does it make someone want to go out and take their own life? I have my opinions but you'll have to read the book and decide for yourself. What I do know is - it's a work of fiction and I read it as that, but I'm much older and wiser than most of the average readers of this book and I think that does make a big difference.
I don't think I'll be watching the TV show should it make mainstream English TV as it is primarily aimed at a much younger audience and I think I'd rather remember the book is it was originally written.
I would say don't be put off by any of the negative reviews you may come across, I dithered for a while over reading it, but I have to say it's a book that I did enjoy reading and I know will stay with me a long time.
5 stars!!
September 21, 2018
I hope no one suicidal or anyone that has seen the effects of suicide ever reads this.
Hated this.
Hated this.
November 14, 2018
growing up, my parents taught me that no one but myself is responsible for my decisions. they are mine and mine alone. and that is a belief i still hold today.
which is why i found it so difficult to empathise with hannah and her ‘thirteen reasons why’ she committed suicide - each reason/tape entirely placed the blame on someone else and she took none of the responsibility for her own actions.
thats not to say people dont suck. yes, people can be mean and cruel and hurtful. but hannah took no action to fix those problems or right those wrongs.
so if you ask me, hannah deserved her own tape.
and thats the tea.
↠ 2 stars
which is why i found it so difficult to empathise with hannah and her ‘thirteen reasons why’ she committed suicide - each reason/tape entirely placed the blame on someone else and she took none of the responsibility for her own actions.
thats not to say people dont suck. yes, people can be mean and cruel and hurtful. but hannah took no action to fix those problems or right those wrongs.
so if you ask me, hannah deserved her own tape.
and thats the tea.
↠ 2 stars
December 1, 2008
This book was very engrossing and suspenseful, but in the end it just pissed me off. I don't know how to put this in more delicate terms, so if I make my case rather bluntly or insensitively, I do so only because I don't want to tiptoe around what I really feel.
Basically, I understand why some people turn to suicide as the only option out. I understand the feeling of helplessness and misery that could make a person decide that taking herself out is the only way to stop the pain. But after experiencing the aftermath of suicides in my extended family and, more pointedly, in my graduating class in high school, I have erased it as any option I would ever consider for myself. And even though I understand why people would kill themselves, that does not mean I agree that they are making the right choice.
When the suicides happened my senior year, the school was loathe to talk about it except on a student-by-student basis. They believed that making too much out of the suicide glorified it and encouraged other kids to commit suicide in order to get the same attention. I don't know that I disagree, but I do know that not providing teenagers with information means they create their own answers, which can be worse. But I also remember that everyone wondered about their personal relationships with the people who died, if seemingly inconsequential statements contributed to the final act of despair. This book is basically saying, "Yes, in fact, your actions are one of the 13 reasons why I killed myself."
I find this horribly unfair. Don't get me wrong, the people who Hannah blames for her downward spiral were all jerks to her. But she wasn't the only person in the school tormented by these people. The tapes portray Hannah as the number one target at school, but didn't we all feel that way (except for those handful of people who claim to have loved high school and who I will never understand)? What makes it worse for Hannah than for anyone else? Why do some of us survive it and she couldn't? Or better yet, what actions of Hannah's, inspired by her own unhappiness, contributed to the despair of another person who may later consider suicide?
I think that the author was trying to say that there is never one single reason for a person to commit suicide, and that we should be aware of how we treat other people because we don't know the power of our own seemingly inconsequential actions. He was telling us to reach out to people who seem alone and vulnerable even if they try to push us away. I agree with all of this.
However, the author failed to make the point that different people deal with life in different ways and have different capacities for dealing with it. He needed to make the point that Hannah wasn't strong to begin with, that she was already emotionally vulnerable or unstable. Because otherwise, everyone who survives high school gossip and cruelty would be a triumph, when really I've found that it's quite commonplace. Most people did not kill themselves in high school despite 13 or more reasons to do so.
I've never been the kind of person who is comforted by thoughts like, "Think how much worse someone else has it." That's not what I'm saying here. Your own problems will always seem bigger that anyone else's because they are your own. But the author never explained why these experiences crushed Hannah while others somehow got by. I'm not saying it couldn't happen that way. But why couldn't she - specifically Hannah - handle it?
In the end, this book just made me mad because we are led through this narrative in which we succumb to Hannah's interpretation of events and her justification for her death. If the author's point was to show that the average cruelties of high school, when taken together, can lead someone to suicide, then he also needs to show why it doesn't. I don't believe in sugar-coating life for teenagers, and I don't believe in censoring books because they may "encourage undesirable behavior." But this book seems like the perfect way to push a suicidal teenager closer to the edge. And it pisses me off that a book would give me a reaction opposite of what I claim to believe.
Basically, I understand why some people turn to suicide as the only option out. I understand the feeling of helplessness and misery that could make a person decide that taking herself out is the only way to stop the pain. But after experiencing the aftermath of suicides in my extended family and, more pointedly, in my graduating class in high school, I have erased it as any option I would ever consider for myself. And even though I understand why people would kill themselves, that does not mean I agree that they are making the right choice.
When the suicides happened my senior year, the school was loathe to talk about it except on a student-by-student basis. They believed that making too much out of the suicide glorified it and encouraged other kids to commit suicide in order to get the same attention. I don't know that I disagree, but I do know that not providing teenagers with information means they create their own answers, which can be worse. But I also remember that everyone wondered about their personal relationships with the people who died, if seemingly inconsequential statements contributed to the final act of despair. This book is basically saying, "Yes, in fact, your actions are one of the 13 reasons why I killed myself."
I find this horribly unfair. Don't get me wrong, the people who Hannah blames for her downward spiral were all jerks to her. But she wasn't the only person in the school tormented by these people. The tapes portray Hannah as the number one target at school, but didn't we all feel that way (except for those handful of people who claim to have loved high school and who I will never understand)? What makes it worse for Hannah than for anyone else? Why do some of us survive it and she couldn't? Or better yet, what actions of Hannah's, inspired by her own unhappiness, contributed to the despair of another person who may later consider suicide?
I think that the author was trying to say that there is never one single reason for a person to commit suicide, and that we should be aware of how we treat other people because we don't know the power of our own seemingly inconsequential actions. He was telling us to reach out to people who seem alone and vulnerable even if they try to push us away. I agree with all of this.
However, the author failed to make the point that different people deal with life in different ways and have different capacities for dealing with it. He needed to make the point that Hannah wasn't strong to begin with, that she was already emotionally vulnerable or unstable. Because otherwise, everyone who survives high school gossip and cruelty would be a triumph, when really I've found that it's quite commonplace. Most people did not kill themselves in high school despite 13 or more reasons to do so.
I've never been the kind of person who is comforted by thoughts like, "Think how much worse someone else has it." That's not what I'm saying here. Your own problems will always seem bigger that anyone else's because they are your own. But the author never explained why these experiences crushed Hannah while others somehow got by. I'm not saying it couldn't happen that way. But why couldn't she - specifically Hannah - handle it?
In the end, this book just made me mad because we are led through this narrative in which we succumb to Hannah's interpretation of events and her justification for her death. If the author's point was to show that the average cruelties of high school, when taken together, can lead someone to suicide, then he also needs to show why it doesn't. I don't believe in sugar-coating life for teenagers, and I don't believe in censoring books because they may "encourage undesirable behavior." But this book seems like the perfect way to push a suicidal teenager closer to the edge. And it pisses me off that a book would give me a reaction opposite of what I claim to believe.
February 7, 2017
“You can't stop the futureThirteen Reasons Why is a book I’ve been meaning to read for about 5 years. My sister read it and told me I’d love it. I do love books that make me cry and since the book is being made into a Netflix series next month, I thought why not give it a go. As depressing as this one was, though- I didn’t shed one tear. I’m not sure what that says about me or the story. Honestly, I have conflicting feelings about the story itself. However, it was story that I feel will stay with me. It had profound moments and it was a mesmerizing read.
You can't rewind the past
The only way to learn the secret
...is to press play.”
I guess my biggest issue was that as much as I liked Clay, I didn’t connect with Hannah. I understood her, but I didn’t really ever get that understanding I desired. I loved how part of the story was told through Hannah’s tapes, and the rest from Clay’s POV. As I was listening, I was dying to see who was going to be next, how everything would go down, and waiting for the big WHY to be answered. I didn’t want to stop listening. This was an engaging read that did make me think, made me feel, and even though it frustrated me at times, I’m glad I made time to read it.
June 25, 2017
Lord. This was even worse than I thought it would be.
Hannah, I know you've been treated unfairly and you wanted to get back at the people who wronged you. But I was totally dumbfounded by this roundabout way of doing so which actually includes you losing your own life in the process.
All those preparations and time and planning.
Such a waste.
And Asher's writing didn't help the matter either: not suspenseful enough.
Hannah, I know you've been treated unfairly and you wanted to get back at the people who wronged you. But I was totally dumbfounded by this roundabout way of doing so which actually includes you losing your own life in the process.
All those preparations and time and planning.
Such a waste.
And Asher's writing didn't help the matter either: not suspenseful enough.
May 6, 2009
High school junior (?) Hannah downs a bottle of pills shocking her classmates. Post-mordem a box of cassette tapes is sent around to 13 of peers, all of whom played a part in her ultimate suicide. The summary of this story is just as shitty and ridiculous as the book. There is no discussion of feelings of depression outside of how she was hurt by classmates, which, may represent the surface feelings of a depressed person, but the execution is not believable. Also, the fact that this young girl commit suicide because of alienation at school is not portrayed in a believable sense either. Also, the narrator (one of the thirteen) does not take away a very deep message from the experience. When he should be realizing that Hannah gave up, instead he goes on blaming himself ( he, himself did not belong on the tapes) and ultimately decides to talk to a girl who is an outsider. Gives people who commit suicide a bad name. the topic of this book was poorly researched and the message is wrong. the reader is left with little insight to suicide and mostly just feelings of superficial guilt. ALA Best Books for Young Adults committe: did you even read this book?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2018
I have seen a lot of mixed reviews on this book. The subject matter - suicide - is controversial. The show they made of this book is controversial. Because of that, I am going to avoid too much commentary on the subject matter and just say that the content of this book is serious and does affect teenagers in different ways. I didn't have the easiest if teenage years, but I made it through okay, so it would be easy for me to say that this story is an overreaction. But, I would be a fool to not understand the we we all different and a cautionary tale like this one could result from the same events that another person might just brush off. It is important to keep that in mind.
As to the book itself, I give it bonus points for creativity of delivery. Learning what happened along with the narrator and hearing his emotions since he was directly affected is pretty powerful. I did find myself a bit on the edge of my seat ready to find out what happens next. Also, this book is a quick read. I think this is important to help make it feel like we are along with the narrator in real time.
Remember going in that the subject is suicide and if that bothers you, do not read this. However, if you are open to exploring the mind of someone going through this sort of pain, I think it could be a moving and enlightening experience.
As to the book itself, I give it bonus points for creativity of delivery. Learning what happened along with the narrator and hearing his emotions since he was directly affected is pretty powerful. I did find myself a bit on the edge of my seat ready to find out what happens next. Also, this book is a quick read. I think this is important to help make it feel like we are along with the narrator in real time.
Remember going in that the subject is suicide and if that bothers you, do not read this. However, if you are open to exploring the mind of someone going through this sort of pain, I think it could be a moving and enlightening experience.
April 13, 2018
TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY ثلاث عشر سببا
لقراءة الرواية
بتلك النسخة ذات مشاهد محذوفة ونهاية مغايرة للاصلية، وحوار مع المؤلف بعد 10 سنين من كتابته الرواية
وهذا ما كان سببا أقوي حتي من الحلقة الاولي من المسلسل المبني عليها بشكل مكمل، وبسبب القصة وأسلوب سردها
والأهم؛ لأن هذا قد يحدث لك
** الســـبب الأول **
لأنها ليست قصة تشجع عن الانتحار
لكن الدرس اللي بيقدمه الكتاب مش انهاء الحياة
لكن المواجهة....وقفة لوضع حدود
الانتقام ممن أساء إليك بمواجهته
** الســـبب الثاني **
الفكرة
قبل ان تبلع أقراص مخدرة، قامت "هانا بيكر" بتسجيل 7 شرائط كاسيت بصوتها، وضعتهم في علبة أحذية وأرسلتهم بالبريد لجاستين، اول فتي قبلته ، ثم عادت لتنتحر
وبعد أسبوعين، يصل ل"كلاي بيسون" علبة بها 7 شرائط كاسيت، علي كل وجه رقم عدا الاخير، لا يعلم ما بها ولا يعلم مرسلها...وعندما يشغل الاول، يجد صوت "هانا بيكر" تحكي حكاية عشوائية عن اول فتي قبلها ثم شعرت بالخيانة عندما حكي لاصحابه
ليسمع "كلاي" في خلال يوم كامل بليلته ما سجلته "هانا" قبل انتحارها .. 13 وجه، 13 قصة عن 13 شخص في حياتها كان السبب في دافعها الاحمق هذا
ولكن يسمع ليعرف ما دوره في هذا...ليكتشف القصة الحزينة التي دفعت "هانا" للانتحار...ثم من عليه ان يرسل تلك العلبة بعد ان يسمعها
وألا كل الحكايات بالاشرطة ستنتشر لانها قامت بعمل نسخة إضافية سيسمعها الجميع أذا كسر احدهم قاعدة ولم يرسل الشرائط للتالي من ال13 شخصا
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
حسنا ، الفكرة شدتني ، هي قصة عن الانتقام إذن نوعا ما
أرسلت هانا اتهاما واضحا لهؤلاء الشخصيات ؛ هل تعرف ما فعلته فيي؟ كيف أثرت علي قرار انهاء حياتي؟
ولكن هذا غباء .. هل حقا الامر بدا بقبلة؟
ما الذي يجبرك لاستكمال ثرثرة فتاة اختارت قرار بهذا الغباء
ما الذي يجعلك تستكمل القراءة أذن؟
** الســـبب الثالث **
أسلوب السرد
لانك تسمع الشرائط بصوت هانا....وفي نفس الوقت تقرأ أفكار والاحداث من وجهة نظر كلاي
السرد مشترك ، فتاة وصبي
ليس مقسما فصل وفصل، ولا صفحة وصفحة ، ولا تعليق كلاي يأتي بعد كل شريط مثلا
بل سطر وسطر
- لذا يفضل قراءة النسخة الورقية او علي الاقل نسخة الكترونية اصلية لان اغلب النسخ الإلكترونية المسروقة لن تجد مايبين لك هل السطر من شريط بصوت هانا ام هو من افكار كلاي
والجميل في الامر ان أغلب الوقت ستجد كلاي يعبر بالضبط علي ما تفكر به
فهو يغضب من تصرفات هانا..ويتعاطف معها..ويكره مافعلته..بل ويتذكر قصته معها
سطر بسطر، يتفاعل مع كل ماتقول وقت سماعه لها
الاسلوب جميل وظريف فعلا واعجبني... غير مربك اذا ماتوافرت لك نسخة جيدة لاني جربت الكترونيا ولم يفلح الامر
ولكن ما الذي يجعلني أتأثر بهذه القصة؟ فالفكرة وحدها لا تكفي وحتي اسلوب السرد..وهنا السبب الرابع
** الســـبب الرابع **
لأن القصة ككل مستني كثيرا، وكما قالت ان لكل قصة 13 وجه...فقد مررت ببعضهم في حياتي وبالتأكيد قد تكون مررت بسبب من الاسباب الثلاث عشر
دعني أقول لك كيف تأثرت بها
إن كان لديك مشاعر سلبية من المتنمرين من الماضي، أو حتي هؤلاء الذين يتدخلون في حياتك بشكل سلبي محبط فهذه الرواية قد تجعلك تدمع وتكره حياتك أكثر
1-لا انكر انني أشعر بغضب شديد من كل من خان الثقة يوما ما ، هذا الذي قد تحكي له سرا تجد كل زملاءك يتلامزون عليه اليوم التالي
2-من يسخر من شئ بجسمك او طريقة كلامك او لازمة ما ليضحك هو ومن حوله...ثم لا يتذكرك أحد سوي بذلك الشئ
3-ذلك الصديق الذي يبتعد لمجرد رفقة اخري، بل وقد يشك فيك ويتهمك بعد ذلك بالخيانة
4-ذلك الفضولي الذي يعبث في خصوصياتك...ويقتحمها
5-الصديق الذي يعرفك في وقت مصلحته الخاصة ، عشان توصله ، تعزمه ، تروح معاه مشوار لمصلحته فحسب -للأسف التقيت بكثير
6-ذلك الصديق ايضا الذي يعتبرك أقل اهمية ولا يعرفك سوي وقت فراغه فقط لاستغلالك
7-والاخر الذي قد يتجاهلك ، يستغل شعورك بالضعف ويقطع ايضا محاولة تواصل الاخرين معك
8-وهذا الذي يسخر من مشاعرك او افكارك او ما تكتبه بعد ان يسرقه ويشرحه ويمسخه
9-وهذا الذي لا يحاول التواصل معك بحوار حقيقي ايجابي "فضفضة" رغم انك في حاجة لذلك لكنك لا تستطيع طلبها بشكل مهين
10-هل تكره ضعفك انك تري الخطأ، تري بشاعة من حولك في ارتكابهم الشنائع علي بعضهم البعض ولا تستطيع ايقافهم
11-هل تكره ضعفك أنك لا تستطيع ايقاف الاخرين عن سلبيتهم التي قد تؤدي لامور كارثية
12-هل تكره ضعفك لانك لا تستطيع ايقاف الاخرين عن ارتكابهم تلك الشنائ�� بك؟...لان الدور سيأتي حتما عليك إن لم تضع وقفة
13-ألم تشعر بكثرة "زيف" مفهوم الصداقة الحقيقية ، ذلك الذي تلجأ له لتتكلم ، لتفضفض عن مشاكلك...وعندما تلجأ للكبار، للسلطة، للمسؤولين ستجدهم ايضا لا يفهمونك
لا يقدمون حلولا حقيقية...بل كلها حلول "معتادة ، روتينية، مؤقتة لمدي قصير"، حلول غبية
هل فكرت ان تقول لاحدهم اني متضايق ومحبط ...ماهو الرد.؟
ولا فكرت تقول لحد انك زهقت من حياتك؟
اول كلمة حيقولهالك ده كفر
بس هو فعلا كفر
وده بيدخلنا للسبب الخامس
** الســـبب الخامس **
القصة من وجهة نظر هانا فقط... بعكس المسلسل الذي اتسع ليضم باقي الشخصيات
وبالتالي، نعم انت لا تقرا سوي من وجهة نظر من يشعر ان الدنيا كلها اضطهدته
من وجهة نظر من خاب ظنه في أصدقائه ومن شعر بميل او مشاعر تجاههم
من وجهة نظر احد صار بالنهاية متخبطا....من صدمة الاضطهاد والجرح النفسي
كل هذه الصدمات ادت لهذا القرار المتخبط ايضا
لكن بمتابعتك للقصة ستجد كم الغضب الشديد من كلاي، من يستمع للقصة، من ذلك القرار الغبي
القصة لم تتبني الانتحار كحل....بل القصة عن الاسباب التي قد تسبب جرحا بل ومقتل لشخص حتي لو نفسيا
** الســـبب السادس **
كما قلت ، هي شخصية هانا فقط التي تحكي هي اهم من بالرواية ،
باقي الشخصيات جائت أحادية، فلا تنس انها من وجهة نظر الراوي فحسب
ولكن الشخصية المهمة الاخري هي كلاي الذي دوره فقط الاستماع
وهو مثلنا تماما.. مثله مثل القارئ، فقط هو لديه دافع للتعاطف لانه كان يعرف هانا
ولكن اذا قرأت ووضعت نفسك مكانها، ستتعاطف معها حقا
** الســـبب السابع **
لان المسلسل قدم وجبة درامية متكاملة ، استفاض في تقديم جوانب كل شخصيات الرواية، كل الشخصيات التي ضايقت هانا واسباب وصول شخصيتهم لهذه المرحلة
المسلسل جيد جدا ومؤثر...قد أتفق مع من قرأها ويري أن المسلسل أفضل...لكن فعلا تأثرت بالكتاب لأنه رمز علي الرسالة نفسها
حسنا ، لا تكتفي برأي من شاهد المسلسل فقط ، فالرواية مختلفة
رغم ان المسلسل فعلا يستحق المشاهدة جدا...ولكن اقرأ الرواية اولا او علي الاقل بعد مشاهدة حلقة او اثنان لتتخيل اجواء الرواية
بالمناسبة، هناك جزء ثان للمسلسل، لأنه كما قلت ركز علي كل الشخصيات بالتالي هناك استكمال للاحداث بعد انتحار هانا.
** الســـبب الثامن **
كم اعشق احداث الروايات التي تدور كلها في يوم واحد..بل والاجمل هنا انها تقريبا في ليلة واحدة طويلة
الفكرة جميلة، وجو الرواية نفسه ستشعر كأنك تضع سماعة الووكمان القديم في اذنك تستمع لتلك الحكاية الحزينة
** الســـبب التاسع **
ربما اجمل ما في الرواية فكرة ان الحياة تمر...كل شىء يمضي
المهم ان نتعلم من الماضي
كما قلت في تلك النسخة نهاية بديلة، ربما كانت نهاية سعيدة زيادة عن اللزوم، ففكرة النهاية ال
Bittersweet
افضل، او علي الاقل لانها هي المتوقعة -10 سنوات والرواية معروف انها قصة انتحار، لا يمكن ان تغير هذا
ولكن يظل المبدأ واحد، كلنا نمر بمصاعب، بجروح نفسية وتنمر... ولكن الحياة تمضي وعلينا التعلم من أخطائنا
** الســـبب العاشر **
او كما قلت في السبب الرابع
1-هناك هذا من خان الثقة يوما ما ، هذا الذي قد تحكي له سرا تجد كل زملاءك يتلامزون عليه اليوم التالي
2-من يسخر من شيء بجسمك او طريقة كلامك او لازمة ما ليضحك هو ومن حوله...ثم لا يتذكرك أحد سوي بذلك الشيء
3-ذلك الصديق الذي يبتعد لمجرد رفقة اخري، بل وقد يتهمك انت نفسك بعد ذلك بالخيانة او انك انت من ابتعد
4-ذلك الفضولي الذي يعبث في خصوصياتك...ويقتحمها
5-الصديق الذي يعرفك في وقت مصلحته الخاصة ، عشان توصيلة ، عزومة ، تروح معاه مشوار لمصلحته فحسب، تساعده او تعلمه شيئا ما ثم لا يعبأ بك -للأسف التقيت بكثير
6-ذلك الصديق ايضا الذي يعتبرك أقل اهمية ولا يعرفك سوي وقت فراغه فقط لاستغلالك
7-والاخر الذي قد يتجاهلك ، يستغل شعورك بالضعف ويقطع ايضا محاولة تواصل الاخرين معك
8-وهذا الذي يسخر من مشاعرك او افكارك او ما تكتبه بعد ان يسرقه ويشرحه ويمسخه
9-وهذا الذي لا يحاول التواصل معك بحوار حقيقي ايجابي "فضفضة" رغم انك في حاجة لذلك لكنك لا تستطيع طلبها بشكل مهين
10-هل تكره ضعفك انك تري الخطأ، تري بشاعة من حولك في ارتكابهم الشنائع علي بعضهم البعض ولا تستطيع ايقافهم
11-هل تكره ضعفك أنك لا تستطيع ايقاف الاخرين عن سلبيتهم التي قد تؤدي لامور كارثية
12-هل تكره ضعفك لانك لا تستطيع ايقاف الاخرين عن ارتكابهم تلك الشنائع بك؟...لان الدور سيأتي حتما عليك إن لم تضع وقفة
13-ألم تشعر بكثرة "زيف" مفهوم الصداقة الحقيقية ، ذلك الذي تلجأ له لتتكلم ، لتفضفض عن مشاكلك...وعندما تلجأ للكبار، للسلطة، للمسؤولين ستجدهم ايضا لا يفهمونك
لا يقدمون حلولا حقيقية...بل كلها حلول "معتادة ، روتينية، مؤقتة لمدي قصير"، حلول غبية
كانت هذه الأسباب الثلاث عشر لهانا لتنهي حياتها
الم تمر ابدا بواحد منهم؟
حسنا، تلك عشر اسباب....اتمني ان اقرأ من أصدقائي والمتابعين 3 اسباب اخري لقراءة الرواية، او حتي عدم قراءتها
سواء في التعليقات او مراجعات خاصة
محمد العربي
من 22 مايو 2017
الي 27 مايو 2917
لقراءة الرواية
بتلك النسخة ذات مشاهد محذوفة ونهاية مغايرة للاصلية، وحوار مع المؤلف بعد 10 سنين من كتابته الرواية
وهذا ما كان سببا أقوي حتي من الحلقة الاولي من المسلسل المبني عليها بشكل مكمل، وبسبب القصة وأسلوب سردها
والأهم؛ لأن هذا قد يحدث لك
** الســـبب الأول **
لأنها ليست قصة تشجع عن الانتحار
“أنت لا تعرف ما بحياة أي أحد سوي حياتك. وعندما تعبث بجزء واحد من حياة أحدهم، فأنت لم تعبث بهذا ”الجزء فقط. للأسف لا يمكنك أن تكون بهذه الدقة ولا أن تختار. عندما تعبث بجزء من حياة شخص، أنت تعبث بحياته كلها...كل شئ يؤثر بكل شئلكن اختيار هانا لإنهاء حياتها لم يكن هدف القصة.... طوال القصة ستتفهم الاسباب..وبرغم ان الاسباب قد تبدو تافهة كما ستري في المراجعة لاحقا ستجد انك قد تكون مررت بها وأثرت في حياتك في وقت ما
لكن الدرس اللي بيقدمه الكتاب مش انهاء الحياة
لكن المواجهة....وقفة لوضع حدود
الانتقام ممن أساء إليك بمواجهته
** الســـبب الثاني **
الفكرة
قبل ان تبلع أقراص مخدرة، قامت "هانا بيكر" بتسجيل 7 شرائط كاسيت بصوتها، وضعتهم في علبة أحذية وأرسلتهم بالبريد لجاستين، اول فتي قبلته ، ثم عادت لتنتحر
وبعد أسبوعين، يصل ل"كلاي بيسون" علبة بها 7 شرائط كاسيت، علي كل وجه رقم عدا الاخير، لا يعلم ما بها ولا يعلم مرسلها...وعندما يشغل الاول، يجد صوت "هانا بيكر" تحكي حكاية عشوائية عن اول فتي قبلها ثم شعرت بالخيانة عندما حكي لاصحابه
ليسمع "كلاي" في خلال يوم كامل بليلته ما سجلته "هانا" قبل انتحارها .. 13 وجه، 13 قصة عن 13 شخص في حياتها كان السبب في دافعها الاحمق هذا
ولكن يسمع ليعرف ما دوره في هذا...ليكتشف القصة الحزينة التي دفعت "هانا" للانتحار...ثم من عليه ان يرسل تلك العلبة بعد ان يسمعها
وألا كل الحكايات بالاشرطة ستنتشر لانها قامت بعمل نسخة إضافية سيسمعها الجميع أذا كسر احدهم قاعدة ولم يرسل الشرائط للتالي من ال13 شخصا
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
حسنا ، الفكرة شدتني ، هي قصة عن الانتقام إذن نوعا ما
أرسلت هانا اتهاما واضحا لهؤلاء الشخصيات ؛ هل تعرف ما فعلته فيي؟ كيف أثرت علي قرار انهاء حياتي؟
ولكن هذا غباء .. هل حقا الامر بدا بقبلة؟
ما الذي يجبرك لاستكمال ثرثرة فتاة اختارت قرار بهذا الغباء
ما الذي يجعلك تستكمل القراءة أذن؟
** الســـبب الثالث **
أسلوب السرد
لانك تسمع الشرائط بصوت هانا....وفي نفس الوقت تقرأ أفكار والاحداث من وجهة نظر كلاي
السرد مشترك ، فتاة وصبي
ليس مقسما فصل وفصل، ولا صفحة وصفحة ، ولا تعليق كلاي يأتي بعد كل شريط مثلا
بل سطر وسطر
- لذا يفضل قراءة النسخة الورقية او علي الاقل نسخة الكترونية اصلية لان اغلب النسخ الإلكترونية المسروقة لن تجد مايبين لك هل السطر من شريط بصوت هانا ام هو من افكار كلاي
والجميل في الامر ان أغلب الوقت ستجد كلاي يعبر بالضبط علي ما تفكر به
“ما كان يجب عليكي أن تفعلي هذا..وأكره حقيقة أنك فعلتيه"
فهو يغضب من تصرفات هانا..ويتعاطف معها..ويكره مافعلته..بل ويتذكر قصته معها
سطر بسطر، يتفاعل مع كل ماتقول وقت سماعه لها
الاسلوب جميل وظريف فعلا واعجبني... غير مربك اذا ماتوافرت لك نسخة جيدة لاني جربت الكترونيا ولم يفلح الامر
ولكن ما الذي يجعلني أتأثر بهذه القصة؟ فالفكرة وحدها لا تكفي وحتي اسلوب السرد..وهنا السبب الرابع
** الســـبب الرابع **
"هناك 13 وجه لكل قصة"
لأن القصة ككل مستني كثيرا، وكما قالت ان لكل قصة 13 وجه...فقد مررت ببعضهم في حياتي وبالتأكيد قد تكون مررت بسبب من الاسباب الثلاث عشر
دعني أقول لك كيف تأثرت بها
إن كان لديك مشاعر سلبية من المتنمرين من الماضي، أو حتي هؤلاء الذين يتدخلون في حياتك بشكل سلبي محبط فهذه الرواية قد تجعلك تدمع وتكره حياتك أكثر
1-لا انكر انني أشعر بغضب شديد من كل من خان الثقة يوما ما ، هذا الذي قد تحكي له سرا تجد كل زملاءك يتلامزون عليه اليوم التالي
2-من يسخر من شئ بجسمك او طريقة كلامك او لازمة ما ليضحك هو ومن حوله...ثم لا يتذكرك أحد سوي بذلك الشئ
3-ذلك الصديق الذي يبتعد لمجرد رفقة اخري، بل وقد يشك فيك ويتهمك بعد ذلك بالخيانة
4-ذلك الفضولي الذي يعبث في خصوصياتك...ويقتحمها
5-الصديق الذي يعرفك في وقت مصلحته الخاصة ، عشان توصله ، تعزمه ، تروح معاه مشوار لمصلحته فحسب -للأسف التقيت بكثير
6-ذلك الصديق ايضا الذي يعتبرك أقل اهمية ولا يعرفك سوي وقت فراغه فقط لاستغلالك
7-والاخر الذي قد يتجاهلك ، يستغل شعورك بالضعف ويقطع ايضا محاولة تواصل الاخرين معك
8-وهذا الذي يسخر من مشاعرك او افكارك او ما تكتبه بعد ان يسرقه ويشرحه ويمسخه
9-وهذا الذي لا يحاول التواصل معك بحوار حقيقي ايجابي "فضفضة" رغم انك في حاجة لذلك لكنك لا تستطيع طلبها بشكل مهين
10-هل تكره ضعفك انك تري الخطأ، تري بشاعة من حولك في ارتكابهم الشنائع علي بعضهم البعض ولا تستطيع ايقافهم
11-هل تكره ضعفك أنك لا تستطيع ايقاف الاخرين عن سلبيتهم التي قد تؤدي لامور كارثية
12-هل تكره ضعفك لانك لا تستطيع ايقاف الاخرين عن ارتكابهم تلك الشنائ�� بك؟...لان الدور سيأتي حتما عليك إن لم تضع وقفة
13-ألم تشعر بكثرة "زيف" مفهوم الصداقة الحقيقية ، ذلك الذي تلجأ له لتتكلم ، لتفضفض عن مشاكلك...وعندما تلجأ للكبار، للسلطة، للمسؤولين ستجدهم ايضا لا يفهمونك
لا يقدمون حلولا حقيقية...بل كلها حلول "معتادة ، روتينية، مؤقتة لمدي قصير"، حلول غبية
هل فكرت ان تقول لاحدهم اني متضايق ومحبط ...ماهو الرد.؟
ولا فكرت تقول لحد انك زهقت من حياتك؟
اول كلمة حيقولهالك ده كفر
بس هو فعلا كفر
وده بيدخلنا للسبب الخامس
** الســـبب الخامس **
القصة
القصة من وجهة نظر هانا فقط... بعكس المسلسل الذي اتسع ليضم باقي الشخصيات
وبالتالي، نعم انت لا تقرا سوي من وجهة نظر من يشعر ان الدنيا كلها اضطهدته
من وجهة نظر من خاب ظنه في أصدقائه ومن شعر بميل او مشاعر تجاههم
من وجهة نظر احد صار بالنهاية متخبطا....من صدمة الاضطهاد والجرح النفسي
كل هذه الصدمات ادت لهذا القرار المتخبط ايضا
لكن بمتابعتك للقصة ستجد كم الغضب الشديد من كلاي، من يستمع للقصة، من ذلك القرار الغبي
القصة لم تتبني الانتحار كحل....بل القصة عن الاسباب التي قد تسبب جرحا بل ومقتل لشخص حتي لو نفسيا
** الســـبب السادس **
الشخصيات
كما قلت ، هي شخصية هانا فقط التي تحكي هي اهم من بالرواية ،
باقي الشخصيات جائت أحادية، فلا تنس انها من وجهة نظر الراوي فحسب
ولكن الشخصية المهمة الاخري هي كلاي الذي دوره فقط الاستماع
وهو مثلنا تماما.. مثله مثل القارئ، فقط هو لديه دافع للتعاطف لانه كان يعرف هانا
ولكن اذا قرأت ووضعت نفسك مكانها، ستتعاطف معها حقا
** الســـبب السابع **
المسلسل
لان المسلسل قدم وجبة درامية متكاملة ، استفاض في تقديم جوانب كل شخصيات الرواية، كل الشخصيات التي ضايقت هانا واسباب وصول شخصيتهم لهذه المرحلة
المسلسل جيد جدا ومؤثر...قد أتفق مع من قرأها ويري أن المسلسل أفضل...لكن فعلا تأثرت بالكتاب لأنه رمز علي الرسالة نفسها
حسنا ، لا تكتفي برأي من شاهد المسلسل فقط ، فالرواية مختلفة
رغم ان المسلسل فعلا يستحق المشاهدة جدا...ولكن اقرأ الرواية اولا او علي الاقل بعد مشاهدة حلقة او اثنان لتتخيل اجواء الرواية
بالمناسبة، هناك جزء ثان للمسلسل، لأنه كما قلت ركز علي كل الشخصيات بالتالي هناك استكمال للاحداث بعد انتحار هانا.
** الســـبب الثامن **
بناء الرواية نفسها
كم اعشق احداث الروايات التي تدور كلها في يوم واحد..بل والاجمل هنا انها تقريبا في ليلة واحدة طويلة
الفكرة جميلة، وجو الرواية نفسه ستشعر كأنك تضع سماعة الووكمان القديم في اذنك تستمع لتلك الحكاية الحزينة
** الســـبب التاسع **
النهاية والنهاية البديلة
ربما اجمل ما في الرواية فكرة ان الحياة تمر...كل شىء يمضي
المهم ان نتعلم من الماضي
كما قلت في تلك النسخة نهاية بديلة، ربما كانت نهاية سعيدة زيادة عن اللزوم، ففكرة النهاية ال
Bittersweet
افضل، او علي الاقل لانها هي المتوقعة -10 سنوات والرواية معروف انها قصة انتحار، لا يمكن ان تغير هذا
ولكن يظل المبدأ واحد، كلنا نمر بمصاعب، بجروح نفسية وتنمر... ولكن الحياة تمضي وعلينا التعلم من أخطائنا
** الســـبب العاشر **
هذا قد يحدث لك
او كما قلت في السبب الرابع
1-هناك هذا من خان الثقة يوما ما ، هذا الذي قد تحكي له سرا تجد كل زملاءك يتلامزون عليه اليوم التالي
2-من يسخر من شيء بجسمك او طريقة كلامك او لازمة ما ليضحك هو ومن حوله...ثم لا يتذكرك أحد سوي بذلك الشيء
3-ذلك الصديق الذي يبتعد لمجرد رفقة اخري، بل وقد يتهمك انت نفسك بعد ذلك بالخيانة او انك انت من ابتعد
4-ذلك الفضولي الذي يعبث في خصوصياتك...ويقتحمها
5-الصديق الذي يعرفك في وقت مصلحته الخاصة ، عشان توصيلة ، عزومة ، تروح معاه مشوار لمصلحته فحسب، تساعده او تعلمه شيئا ما ثم لا يعبأ بك -للأسف التقيت بكثير
6-ذلك الصديق ايضا الذي يعتبرك أقل اهمية ولا يعرفك سوي وقت فراغه فقط لاستغلالك
7-والاخر الذي قد يتجاهلك ، يستغل شعورك بالضعف ويقطع ايضا محاولة تواصل الاخرين معك
8-وهذا الذي يسخر من مشاعرك او افكارك او ما تكتبه بعد ان يسرقه ويشرحه ويمسخه
9-وهذا الذي لا يحاول التواصل معك بحوار حقيقي ايجابي "فضفضة" رغم انك في حاجة لذلك لكنك لا تستطيع طلبها بشكل مهين
10-هل تكره ضعفك انك تري الخطأ، تري بشاعة من حولك في ارتكابهم الشنائع علي بعضهم البعض ولا تستطيع ايقافهم
11-هل تكره ضعفك أنك لا تستطيع ايقاف الاخرين عن سلبيتهم التي قد تؤدي لامور كارثية
12-هل تكره ضعفك لانك لا تستطيع ايقاف الاخرين عن ارتكابهم تلك الشنائع بك؟...لان الدور سيأتي حتما عليك إن لم تضع وقفة
13-ألم تشعر بكثرة "زيف" مفهوم الصداقة الحقيقية ، ذلك الذي تلجأ له لتتكلم ، لتفضفض عن مشاكلك...وعندما تلجأ للكبار، للسلطة، للمسؤولين ستجدهم ايضا لا يفهمونك
لا يقدمون حلولا حقيقية...بل كلها حلول "معتادة ، روتينية، مؤقتة لمدي قصير"، حلول غبية
كانت هذه الأسباب الثلاث عشر لهانا لتنهي حياتها
الم تمر ابدا بواحد منهم؟
حسنا، تلك عشر اسباب....اتمني ان اقرأ من أصدقائي والمتابعين 3 اسباب اخري لقراءة الرواية، او حتي عدم قراءتها
سواء في التعليقات او مراجعات خاصة
محمد العربي
من 22 مايو 2017
الي 27 مايو 2917
June 12, 2017
Nothing justifies suicide. Nothing.
This is the tenth anniversary edition of the novel which includes a new foreword by the author, along with some comments about the process of the original publication and even the original ending not used in the finished novel.
NOVEL V. NETFLIX: DAWN OF ADAPTATIONS
It’s not rare that if you haven’t read this novel before and now you’ll do it, it’s because the Netflix TV series, and that’s nothing wrong with that. Certainly films and TV series are great promoters when the stories are based or inspired on a previously published work.
I won’t tell you which is best, since I don’t believe in that ol’ saying of “the book is always better” since, trust me, I have my share of readings where the book was an awful experience in comparison with the great adaptation in film or TV series, and I won’t tell you neither that “why bother to read the book if I already watch the movie?”, since it’s true that sometimes you miss key elements in the adaptation that only in the original book are available. I enjoy the same, reading books (including comic books), watching films and TV series and hearing music (which is also another format to tell a story), and I don’t believe in limiting myself, each format (book, movie, TV series, music) have their own advantages and restrictions to tell a story, so if you truly want to enjoy the most about knowing stories, the best road isn’t just one, but traveling all.
Returning to the topic in hands, the Netflix TV adaptation certainly is quite accurate with the book, but it’s understandable that due the format, they opted to add more intensity in the rhythm of the storytelling, along with expanding in logical developments beyond of the cofines of the main story.
So, not matter which format, book or TV series, in this case, you met before, please, don’t discard the other one. Enjoy both. Life is too short to limit yourself…
…and also, life is too short for you making it even shorter than it was supposed to be.
WHY ALL THE FUZZ ABOUT THIS?
Maybe you have heard something about this Thirteen Reasons Why (which original intended title would be “Baker’s Dozen”, which I’d like better), since while Netflix generates a new hype about this story, the original book has been around since 10 years ago.
Hannah Baker is a teenager girl who commits suicide but not without leaving her reasons why behind in the form of cassette tapes where she tells in her own voice which people around her, she considered responsables for her own decision of terminating her life.
Clay Jensen knows Hannah when she was alive and the book begins when he gets those tapes explaining that he must hear them AND pass them to the next named person (thirteen people in total) in the cassettes since somebody else has a set of copies of those cassettes, watching the progress of this unusual testament, and if the “chain” gets broken, the copies will be made public and everybody will know what those tapes are revealing.
Maybe you won’t be able to consider that Hannah’s path was the right one, not because her suicide per se, but due her “reasons”, considering that some were too irrelevant, some were pushed by her irresponsible decisions, and even some fell under not expressing in a clear way to the right people, but Hannah wasn’t perfect, while obviously a literary character, she acted like a real person...
...and real people are imperfect and doing mistakes.
That's one of the beauties of this book, it wasn't written as a guideline to follow, it was intended to show what someone did and then you have to ponder about it.
She was a teenager. Do you remember what was like to be a teenager? When any trouble was a gigantic drama for you? When your social life in school was everything? When you do dumb mistakes? Hannah was a teenager, still with so much life ahead of her, and only she wasn’t able to realize that.
Even leaving behind those cassette tapes could be yet another mistake without pondering the consequences for those still alive.
But...
Don’t be so harsh against Hannah.
Don’t judge Hannah.
Help those in her same situation before it’s too late.
To judge is easy, to help is hard…
…choose the hard path and live.
And if you can't give a word of encouragement, better don't say anything.
NOT THIRTEEN NOR THIRTEEN THOUSAND ARE ENOUGH…
Why thirteen reasons in this book? Well, I guess that less than that would make a really short book, right? Never forget that this is a book after all and the more pages, more it will be considered worthy to be read.
However, suicide can’t be justified with thirteen or even thirteen thousand reasons, since life is sacred and in life there are a lot of possibilities. You may consider that your present life isn’t relevant and your absence won’t matter, and being brutally blunt…
…maybe you’re right…
…BUT…
…you can’t predict the future of your lineage. Who can tell if your daughter or your grandson, or your great-granddaughter, will be the one to find the solution of a world problem? But if you terminate your own life now, no one will solve that trouble, since don’t get mistaken with that of “somebody else will do it”, nope, no siree, each of us is unique not only in this little blue world, but we are unique in the universe, and universe doesn’t provide redundant fates. If you or someone in your future lineage has a role to play, that role is the same of unique as you and your legacy.
So? If you don’t have any offspring, can you end your own life? Nope, neither, since your impact in life isn’t limited to your own blood, you aren’t islands, you live in society, and the way that you impress your other relatives, friends, co-workers, even people that you meet one time in a street, you live a role, and that role needs to be played.
You are alive for a reason.
Maybe that reason won’t be clear to you in your own time, since your impact in your children or other people around you, may leave a mark that it will fundamental decades or centuries later.
Everything affects everything.
An accidental death is a tragedy, but we have to trust in God’s plans that those have a reason, a purpose, but if your own hand, your own decision is the one generating an early death in your own lives, well, that’s not in God’s plans (or any other higher power that you believe in).
Will I judge you if you decide to suicide yourselves? No. I can’t. It’s not up to me. Only God can judge in this life and in the next one.
But trust me, any suicide will have consequences and never will be good ones.
Maybe today is a bad day for you, but you can’t predict how it will be tomorrow, but if you end your life today on your own terms, you never will know how would be tomorrow, but I can tell that that tomorrow will be a sad day for your family, friends and close ones, since you aren’t here anymore and nobody else will be able to replace you.
You never are alone.
Even if you think that nobody else is with you, God is always with you, and God never gives you anything that you can’t handle, you’re stronger than you think, and only enduring the bad days, you’ll be able to really enjoy the good days.
This is the tenth anniversary edition of the novel which includes a new foreword by the author, along with some comments about the process of the original publication and even the original ending not used in the finished novel.
NOVEL V. NETFLIX: DAWN OF ADAPTATIONS
It’s not rare that if you haven’t read this novel before and now you’ll do it, it’s because the Netflix TV series, and that’s nothing wrong with that. Certainly films and TV series are great promoters when the stories are based or inspired on a previously published work.
I won’t tell you which is best, since I don’t believe in that ol’ saying of “the book is always better” since, trust me, I have my share of readings where the book was an awful experience in comparison with the great adaptation in film or TV series, and I won’t tell you neither that “why bother to read the book if I already watch the movie?”, since it’s true that sometimes you miss key elements in the adaptation that only in the original book are available. I enjoy the same, reading books (including comic books), watching films and TV series and hearing music (which is also another format to tell a story), and I don’t believe in limiting myself, each format (book, movie, TV series, music) have their own advantages and restrictions to tell a story, so if you truly want to enjoy the most about knowing stories, the best road isn’t just one, but traveling all.
Returning to the topic in hands, the Netflix TV adaptation certainly is quite accurate with the book, but it’s understandable that due the format, they opted to add more intensity in the rhythm of the storytelling, along with expanding in logical developments beyond of the cofines of the main story.
So, not matter which format, book or TV series, in this case, you met before, please, don’t discard the other one. Enjoy both. Life is too short to limit yourself…
…and also, life is too short for you making it even shorter than it was supposed to be.
WHY ALL THE FUZZ ABOUT THIS?
Maybe you have heard something about this Thirteen Reasons Why (which original intended title would be “Baker’s Dozen”, which I’d like better), since while Netflix generates a new hype about this story, the original book has been around since 10 years ago.
Hannah Baker is a teenager girl who commits suicide but not without leaving her reasons why behind in the form of cassette tapes where she tells in her own voice which people around her, she considered responsables for her own decision of terminating her life.
Clay Jensen knows Hannah when she was alive and the book begins when he gets those tapes explaining that he must hear them AND pass them to the next named person (thirteen people in total) in the cassettes since somebody else has a set of copies of those cassettes, watching the progress of this unusual testament, and if the “chain” gets broken, the copies will be made public and everybody will know what those tapes are revealing.
Maybe you won’t be able to consider that Hannah’s path was the right one, not because her suicide per se, but due her “reasons”, considering that some were too irrelevant, some were pushed by her irresponsible decisions, and even some fell under not expressing in a clear way to the right people, but Hannah wasn’t perfect, while obviously a literary character, she acted like a real person...
...and real people are imperfect and doing mistakes.
That's one of the beauties of this book, it wasn't written as a guideline to follow, it was intended to show what someone did and then you have to ponder about it.
She was a teenager. Do you remember what was like to be a teenager? When any trouble was a gigantic drama for you? When your social life in school was everything? When you do dumb mistakes? Hannah was a teenager, still with so much life ahead of her, and only she wasn’t able to realize that.
Even leaving behind those cassette tapes could be yet another mistake without pondering the consequences for those still alive.
But...
Don’t be so harsh against Hannah.
Don’t judge Hannah.
Help those in her same situation before it’s too late.
To judge is easy, to help is hard…
…choose the hard path and live.
And if you can't give a word of encouragement, better don't say anything.
NOT THIRTEEN NOR THIRTEEN THOUSAND ARE ENOUGH…
Why thirteen reasons in this book? Well, I guess that less than that would make a really short book, right? Never forget that this is a book after all and the more pages, more it will be considered worthy to be read.
However, suicide can’t be justified with thirteen or even thirteen thousand reasons, since life is sacred and in life there are a lot of possibilities. You may consider that your present life isn’t relevant and your absence won’t matter, and being brutally blunt…
…maybe you’re right…
…BUT…
…you can’t predict the future of your lineage. Who can tell if your daughter or your grandson, or your great-granddaughter, will be the one to find the solution of a world problem? But if you terminate your own life now, no one will solve that trouble, since don’t get mistaken with that of “somebody else will do it”, nope, no siree, each of us is unique not only in this little blue world, but we are unique in the universe, and universe doesn’t provide redundant fates. If you or someone in your future lineage has a role to play, that role is the same of unique as you and your legacy.
So? If you don’t have any offspring, can you end your own life? Nope, neither, since your impact in life isn’t limited to your own blood, you aren’t islands, you live in society, and the way that you impress your other relatives, friends, co-workers, even people that you meet one time in a street, you live a role, and that role needs to be played.
You are alive for a reason.
Maybe that reason won’t be clear to you in your own time, since your impact in your children or other people around you, may leave a mark that it will fundamental decades or centuries later.
Everything affects everything.
An accidental death is a tragedy, but we have to trust in God’s plans that those have a reason, a purpose, but if your own hand, your own decision is the one generating an early death in your own lives, well, that’s not in God’s plans (or any other higher power that you believe in).
Will I judge you if you decide to suicide yourselves? No. I can’t. It’s not up to me. Only God can judge in this life and in the next one.
But trust me, any suicide will have consequences and never will be good ones.
Maybe today is a bad day for you, but you can’t predict how it will be tomorrow, but if you end your life today on your own terms, you never will know how would be tomorrow, but I can tell that that tomorrow will be a sad day for your family, friends and close ones, since you aren’t here anymore and nobody else will be able to replace you.
You never are alone.
Even if you think that nobody else is with you, God is always with you, and God never gives you anything that you can’t handle, you’re stronger than you think, and only enduring the bad days, you’ll be able to really enjoy the good days.
April 23, 2017
Full disclosure: if you read this book and it helped you, don't read on. This is not for you.
This book has one of the most dangerous messages out there. It glorifies suicide. And I find that utterly disgusting.
I almost didn't review this book, because it's a sensitive subject: teen suicide. Or even just suicide in general. One of the saddest things ever is when someone so young feels like they have no way out other than taking their own life. It's never the right answer, but I still find it sad. I wanted to find this book sad, I really did. But I feel none of that for Hannah, after reading this book. This isn't a sad story of a girl who tragically takes her own life. This is a story about a young woman who is cold, calculating, malicious and vindictive. This isn't a girl who feels utterly hopeless; it's a girl who says "this is ALL your fault and I'm gonna show you."
The only person responsible for Hannah taking her life is Hannah. Some of the stuff that happens to her is horrible, but most things are very petty. The most disgusting part is when she witnesses her friend being raped and uses HER FRIEND AND HER RAPE as one of her reasons. This was probably the part that caused me to hate this book. Yeah Hannah, your friend being raped must have been tragic for *you*. How dare her?
I think the only book with a worse and more dangerous message would be Mein Kampf. Like I said above, the book glorifies suicide. It sends the message that your suicide can be a weapon of revenge. This is by far the worst way you could possibly waste your life. Committing suicide is *NEVER* the answer. It also goes as far as using her one attempt to talk to her counselor, and her counselor ignoring her, as an example of "no-one will truly care for you unless you take your life". There is someone out there who cares for you. Taking your own life is never the answer. Never.
This is not the tragic story of a young lady that feels she has no way to improve her life: it's a revenge story. This is the first book that I've read that has made me legitimately angry. I've never felt so much disgust towards another person in a book. If I could give this book a negative rating, I would.
This book has one of the most dangerous messages out there. It glorifies suicide. And I find that utterly disgusting.
I almost didn't review this book, because it's a sensitive subject: teen suicide. Or even just suicide in general. One of the saddest things ever is when someone so young feels like they have no way out other than taking their own life. It's never the right answer, but I still find it sad. I wanted to find this book sad, I really did. But I feel none of that for Hannah, after reading this book. This isn't a sad story of a girl who tragically takes her own life. This is a story about a young woman who is cold, calculating, malicious and vindictive. This isn't a girl who feels utterly hopeless; it's a girl who says "this is ALL your fault and I'm gonna show you."
The only person responsible for Hannah taking her life is Hannah. Some of the stuff that happens to her is horrible, but most things are very petty. The most disgusting part is when she witnesses her friend being raped and uses HER FRIEND AND HER RAPE as one of her reasons. This was probably the part that caused me to hate this book. Yeah Hannah, your friend being raped must have been tragic for *you*. How dare her?
I think the only book with a worse and more dangerous message would be Mein Kampf. Like I said above, the book glorifies suicide. It sends the message that your suicide can be a weapon of revenge. This is by far the worst way you could possibly waste your life. Committing suicide is *NEVER* the answer. It also goes as far as using her one attempt to talk to her counselor, and her counselor ignoring her, as an example of "no-one will truly care for you unless you take your life". There is someone out there who cares for you. Taking your own life is never the answer. Never.
This is not the tragic story of a young lady that feels she has no way to improve her life: it's a revenge story. This is the first book that I've read that has made me legitimately angry. I've never felt so much disgust towards another person in a book. If I could give this book a negative rating, I would.
October 12, 2020
“I guess that’s the point of it all. No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people. Oftentimes, we have no clue. Yet we push it just the same.”
It felt wrong to dislike this book, given its subject and what it’s trying to say. A teenage girl commits suicide and, through the tapes recorded prior to it, tries to explain why, tries to have us see herself, tries to show how even insignificant events can start snowballing until it’s too late and you are looking for a permanent way out. She tries to tell us that we should care enough to see what someone is going through and maybe - by caring enough - to be the one that can make the snowballing effect stop. She tries to show that it doesn’t have to be a grand event pushing you over the edge but a combination of continuing small quantities of shittiness of life that can become a burden too much to bear.
I see it. I understand it. I agree.
But I really dislike *how* it was done.
Because Hannah is so painfully selfish and melodramatically self-absorbed, and her actions with sending her tapes to those that she blames for her suicide and requiring for those to be passed on or else are quite awful and are bound to become an extra thing that just may cause the same snowballing effect in the lives of those that she’s taking revenge on with her tapes. Because let’s be honest - these tapes do seem like her way of hitting back, and not considering the consequences for others, after she is gone.
“When you reach the end of these tapes, […] I hope you’ll understand your role in all of this. Because it may seem like a small role now, but it matters. In the end, everything matters.”
She knows very well about the snowballing that even the smallest, most insignificant things can have on a person who is reaching the end of their endurance with life. And she does not really know what’s going on in the lives of those who will receive her tapes. Those who will be told - you are the one to blame for a suicide. Those who are disproportionally told - the responsibility is yours to bear for one careless act or gesture. Those who will be told - - without even considering what it can do to the person who it was done to and who is now listening to the tapes and knows that so did - or will - several others who may be able to identify her no matter if she wants it or not. Hannah wants everyone to be wracked with guilt for something they could not foresee (; ; - because more guilt apparently is a solution when it comes to Hannah apportioning blame as Hannah is laser-focused on herself and herself only). She does not know or care if her tapes will be the last straw for anyone listening to them. She does not care at all.
And honestly, given Hannah’s state of mind, if the people she blames for her impending suicide haven’t done the things they did, I’m sure Hannah would have found something else that would have affected her the same way. She was spiraling down, and it seems almost anything would have pushed her deeper and deeper into the state from where there was no escape. Yet she prefers to single out a few people to lay blame on, and most of them do not deserve that, but the blame has been already doled out and witnesses made.
Misery loves company, and Hannah relentlessly soldiers on, blaming others for small and petty and mean things that snowballed for her and led to her suicide. And she knows where it can lead, and does not care. She’s going down but is determinedly taking those who slighted her with her. She wants to *really* touch their lives - and let’s hope that they find a way to deal with it that is different from the path Hannah took.
“You don’t know what went on in the rest of my life. At home. Even at school. You don’t know what goes on in anyone’s life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re not messing with just that part. Unfortunately, you can’t be that precise and selective. When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life.”
I would have appreciated this book more if the set up was different. Not the revenge tapes that she makes sure reach the intended audience, but just a narration of a girl who is depressed and driven to commit suicide by the combined snowballing shittiness of life. It could have been poignant and shattering instead of frustration at her callously and vengefully deciding to upend the lives of those who were just a bit mean to her, by her own admission “messing with their entire life” so that they can be sorry for what they did.
I feel for Hannah but I abhor her selfishness and callousness and the way the story seems to condone apportioning blame to everyone around her, leaving them with the burden of guilt, mostly undeserved.
I dislike how he author chose to frame the story and the implications of those choices. Suicide framed as revenge is not good. A story of suicide told through vindictive finger-pointing pettiness cheapens the intended emotional effect.
So instead of touched I’m irritated and frustrated and a bit exasperated.
2 stars.
November 5, 2017
Rating:
Review:
This novel was gripping since page 1. Even though I finished it like in 1 day and 2 sittings (I didn’t want to put it down) yet I am rating it 3 stars.
Hannah Baker was a newcomer in the town and school. Her reputation was tarnished by the guy (her senior) during her first days in the town. Later on, she was accused of betrayal by her new friend that she stole her guy (all three of them are classmates). That guy sort of used Hannah to make her ex jealous and to get back her. Hannah was devastated and failed to convince her friend.
She witnessed horrible things to crush her soul. She was continuously abused by the people around her. She tried to give hints as to what she is going through. And that she was depressed and slowly losing hope. She couldn’t open up because people might think she is seeking attention. She kept it all inside until she couldn’t anymore and decided to end her life.
She decribed those incidents as “snowball effect”. Starting from the first incident to the last, everything was connected. Everyone was responsible. She wanted them to know how badly they affected her life to the point where there was no turning back. So before committing suicide, she recorded 13 reasons on the tapes with recording about 1 person on each side of the audio cassette. After listening, each one of them should send the tapes to the next person on the list.
What I didn't Like:
I think Hannah Baker was suicidal and had psychological issues but she realized that too late. She was in denial of her mental condition. She denied help of those who wanted to help her like Clay and even Mr. Porter. Except for the few like Bryce Walker, Zach Dempsey and Courteney Crimsen, I don't see Hannah was right blaming others for her suicide.
I get that school and high school could be a problem period for some (or many) people. Those who are sensitive or very emotional suffer the most. But Hannah didn't occur like any over-sensitive or emotional girl to me. She was insecure, yes. Over-sensitive - no. Emotional - absolutely not. She was fun-loving, calm and collected. She was smart enough to know whats wrong and whats right for her. Then why did she go back to the people she already knew she couldn't trust. She herself let them harm her. Then why blame others?
What I Loved:
I absolutely loved Clay Jensen. I wish he had never left Hanna alone even when she asked him to.
The idea of this novel was unique. Sending audio tapes to those who were the reasons of one's suicide so they could know how their actions affected others lives - genius!
Final Words:
This is a good book to read. Especially for teens and highschoolers. I hope people do realize how their words, gossips or little actions scar other's lives.
Those who are suicidal, should seek help. There is no shame in asking for help or confiding your darkest fears to a counsellor or a trusted friend. Life is a precious gift and both good and bad times pass. Life is all about ups and downs. Killing yourself may end your suffering but it passes the everlasting pain to those who love you.
Those who see troubled souls around them should come forward to help without pitying them and making them uncomfortable, vulnerable or hard to open.
And please accept help when offered. That doesn't make you weak.
The Mystique Reader Blog
August 10, 2022
I've owned this book for years but never felt drawn to read it until the recent hype surrounding the TV show. I want to recap the show for Snark Squad, but I wanted to start with the book so I could talk to how the show performs as an adaptation.
What I found here was a story that I don't think had bad intentions, necessarily. I found that I understand, for the most part, why the ideas here resonate with people. It's a story perhaps about the ways we treat people and how those small interactions ripple and snowball. It's a story that perhaps resonates with a lot of the experiences of high school and growing up and that strange microcosm where rumors are spread and believed and relationships are forged and dismantled over single interactions and where adults miss the nuances of what it means to be there, at that time and age.
All that said, I also found a story that I think failed on a couple of major levels. The first, I would say, is that it isn't written with much style, grace, emotional depth, description or nuance. I mentioned in one of my updates that it is very linear. Even when we are listening to Hannah talk about past events, the main action of the story is pulled by Clay's thoughts and steps and it reads in a very "I did this and then I did that and then I did that" kind of way. That, coupled with Asher's descriptionless and plain writing, made this seem so disconnected from the very weighty subject at hand. I know that must not be true for everyone who read it (obviously some people connected emotionally) but I just thought there was some emotional depth lacking here. It was almost too simplistic, too fast, too easily consumed. It felt superficial.
Another example of the poor writing was the repeated use of the narrative question to lead the reader. I know that Clay is discovering information here, but that is too often conveyed with some form of, "why would Hannah do that? What was Hannah thinking? Was it x person? Was it y person? Am I next? Is this me?" over and over and over again. It's a cheap device. The repetition in general just spoke to me of an idea that either wasn't fully fleshed out or a writer that didn't have the skill to give this story the treatment it deserved. Bad writing turned this into a reductive depiction of suicide.
I'll preface this next section by saying that I've never dealt with suicidal thoughts. As with all stories, I'm sure there are some people who do have first hand experience with suicidal thoughts who that this story spoke to their experience well, and I truly am glad if they found representation and solace here for themselves. I think, however, that speaking generally, this story is irresponsible in its depiction of suicide and metal health. I think Hannah's suicide is presented from a position so divorced from a larger conversation or even reference to mental health. By framing the story around the tapes, you frame the story on a sense of post-mortem resolution, which doesn't exist with suicide. That's irresponsible. You frame it on a kind of revenge. That's irresponsible. You frame Hannah's story around Clay, a so-good guy, his basic issue is being just too good. I hated that. It muddies an already oversimplified "be nice to people" message into "and you can be nice and still push someone to suicide." That's irresponsible. The version I read didn't even have any information about suicide prevention or a hotline to call. I mean, isn't that just basic? Wouldn't be that the first thing to do if this really was a story about suicide awareness instead of some backwards guilting into better behavior? [UPDATE] I originally wrote that my version didn't have the Suicide Prevention Hotline number listed, but after double checking, I did indeed find it: buried in the interview questions with Jay Asher in the back. So.
I originally had this between a 1.5 and 2 star rating but after sitting with it, I didn't feel good about that. This is just not a story I would recommend or that I have very much good to say about. It's major issues taint the whole thing for me, and I can't give it much credit elsewhere.
What I found here was a story that I don't think had bad intentions, necessarily. I found that I understand, for the most part, why the ideas here resonate with people. It's a story perhaps about the ways we treat people and how those small interactions ripple and snowball. It's a story that perhaps resonates with a lot of the experiences of high school and growing up and that strange microcosm where rumors are spread and believed and relationships are forged and dismantled over single interactions and where adults miss the nuances of what it means to be there, at that time and age.
All that said, I also found a story that I think failed on a couple of major levels. The first, I would say, is that it isn't written with much style, grace, emotional depth, description or nuance. I mentioned in one of my updates that it is very linear. Even when we are listening to Hannah talk about past events, the main action of the story is pulled by Clay's thoughts and steps and it reads in a very "I did this and then I did that and then I did that" kind of way. That, coupled with Asher's descriptionless and plain writing, made this seem so disconnected from the very weighty subject at hand. I know that must not be true for everyone who read it (obviously some people connected emotionally) but I just thought there was some emotional depth lacking here. It was almost too simplistic, too fast, too easily consumed. It felt superficial.
Another example of the poor writing was the repeated use of the narrative question to lead the reader. I know that Clay is discovering information here, but that is too often conveyed with some form of, "why would Hannah do that? What was Hannah thinking? Was it x person? Was it y person? Am I next? Is this me?" over and over and over again. It's a cheap device. The repetition in general just spoke to me of an idea that either wasn't fully fleshed out or a writer that didn't have the skill to give this story the treatment it deserved. Bad writing turned this into a reductive depiction of suicide.
I'll preface this next section by saying that I've never dealt with suicidal thoughts. As with all stories, I'm sure there are some people who do have first hand experience with suicidal thoughts who that this story spoke to their experience well, and I truly am glad if they found representation and solace here for themselves. I think, however, that speaking generally, this story is irresponsible in its depiction of suicide and metal health. I think Hannah's suicide is presented from a position so divorced from a larger conversation or even reference to mental health. By framing the story around the tapes, you frame the story on a sense of post-mortem resolution, which doesn't exist with suicide. That's irresponsible. You frame it on a kind of revenge. That's irresponsible. You frame Hannah's story around Clay, a so-good guy, his basic issue is being just too good. I hated that. It muddies an already oversimplified "be nice to people" message into "and you can be nice and still push someone to suicide." That's irresponsible. The version I read didn't even have any information about suicide prevention or a hotline to call. I mean, isn't that just basic? Wouldn't be that the first thing to do if this really was a story about suicide awareness instead of some backwards guilting into better behavior? [UPDATE] I originally wrote that my version didn't have the Suicide Prevention Hotline number listed, but after double checking, I did indeed find it: buried in the interview questions with Jay Asher in the back. So.
I originally had this between a 1.5 and 2 star rating but after sitting with it, I didn't feel good about that. This is just not a story I would recommend or that I have very much good to say about. It's major issues taint the whole thing for me, and I can't give it much credit elsewhere.
December 25, 2018
يحكي المسلسل المأخوذ عن الرواية قصة طالب تلقي طردًا بريديًا به شرائط كاسيت
ثلاثة عشر شريطًا
صعد لغرفة والده ووضع الأول بلا اكتراث وضغط بدء التشغيل
لتتسع عيناه في ذهول ويطلق سبة عندما يستمع لصوت هانا بيكر، الجميلة، القتيلة، التي فارقت الحياة من مدة ليست بالطويلة
لتبدأ رحلته التي فقد فيها قدرته علي النوم وتناول الطعام وممارسة أي شئ طبيعي وأوشك حتى علي فقد عقله، رحلته مع ثلاثة عشر شريطًا، ثلاثة عشر سببًا تروي فيهم هانا لمَ أنهت حياتها
وإن حصلت علي هذا الطرد البريدي يعن�� أنك أحد الأسباب..
أسباب يبدو كل منهم شديد البساطة ولا يؤدي لهذا الأثر الساحق الذي يدفع أحدهم لإنهاء حياته، شائعات، اتهامات، تتبع، اختراق للخصوصيات والتشهير الذي يليها، نبذ من المقربين، شخص رائع تشعر أنها أفضل من الحصول عليه، الخ الخ الخ
كان كل من أصحاب الأسباب يقف ذاهلا بعدما يعرف كيف تلقت الفتاة المسكينة تصرفه الغير مبالي، وما تلاه من تصرفات أخرى لا تخصه حتي انتهت بهذه الطريقة
شفرة حادة، مغطس ملئ بالدماء، وشابة جميلة فارقت الحياة!
شاهدت المسلسل الرائع في يومين، وبكيت هانا بدمع حار في مشهد النهاية المرعب الذي حطم قلبي والذي أنهت فيه حياتها
وتعمد فريق العمل هنا أن يمثلوه كاملًا واقعيًا يكسر قلبك مرة تلو الأخري عندما تفعلها وعندما تناديها أمها من الخارج وتدلف للحمام حتي تري سبب تسرب المياة للخارج فتجد طفلتها الوحيدة في المغطس وقد استنزفت منها أسباب الحياة، فلا تصدق وتحدثها كأنها نائمة، تصرخ بوالدها وتخبره أنها بخير،لا تلمسني فقط أطلب النجدة، اطلب النجدة إنها بخير !!
مشهد الانتحار لمن لا ينوي مشاهدة المسلسل:
https://youtu.be/8U69MBsK5AQ
نعرف جميعًا من الدقيقة الأولي في المسلسل أنها الفتاة المنتحرة، فقط الفتاة المنتحرة
مجرد اسم لا تحمل تجاهه أي شعور
تتوال�� الأسباب والحلقات وتفهم، وينكسر قلبك مرة تلو الأخري عندما تدرك كم كلمة يمكنها أن تدفع بشخص من فوق الحافة وأنت لا تشعر
التنمر ظاهرة مخيفة لا أظن أننا نعاني منها كما يعاني الأمريكيون، لا أظن أن بلدا يعاني منها مثل الولايات المتحدة
كن عطوفًا طيبًا، قل خيرًا أو أرجوك أصمت
الاكتئاب الذي يدفع للانتحار له مقدمات، إن لاحظتها علي شخص قريب رجاء مد له يد العون، قد ينقذه فقط أن يعرف أنه لم ينفذ من الأسباب
ولا تدخلنا في التجربة يا رب، ليس هذه التجربة.
May 20, 2017
خب تو روحت! اون همه ریویو نوشتم پرید!
مسلماً به خوبی دفه قبل نمتونم بگم. ولی بازم. آقا در کل کتاب ما یه دونه پانویس هم نداریم! جایی هم که مترجم اومده توضیح بده، تو متن در حد باز و بسته کردنِ پرانتز بوده. این به نظرم ارزش کار خودشو پایین میآره، با توجه به این که حس کردم در ترجمه وفاداری و امانتداریشو حفظ کرده. اما از طرفی با لحن هم مشکل داشتم. ازون جایی که بخش اعظم داستان حرفای هانا بود، تفکیک لحن اون با لحن شکستهی داستان و راوی گاهی سخت میشد. گرچه با ایتالیک کردن تفریق قائل شده بودن. ولی به نظرم کافی نبود. واقعاً لزومی داشت عامیانه بشه؟ بگذریم از مشکلات ویرایشی- نگارشی زیادش.
سیزده دلیل برای... همه ویژگیهای یه کتاب عامهپسندِ تینیجری رو داره. اما مشکلات هانا رو در حد روابطش نمیدونم. مشکل اصلی هانا شکستهای متعدد در دوستیها و علاقهمندیها و موقعیت اجتماعی و خانوادگیش نیست. چرا که موارد بسیار بدتر از هانا رو دیدیم که نه تنها خودکشی نکردن، بلکه ادامه دادن و بهتر هم زندگی کردن. مشکل اصلی هانا نداشتن معنی و هدفه! شما هیچ جای داستان نمیبینید هانا از علاقهمندیها، اهداف و آرزوها، وضعیت درسی و چشمانداز آیندهش بگه. حداقل من که یادم نمیآد.
هانا دختر ضعیفیه. هرچقد هم راوی بالا بالا ببرتش، هرچقد هم هانا بگه برای خودکشی تردید و تعلل کرده. هانا دختر ضعیفیه، چون سعی نکرده خودشو بشناسه. ببینه اصلاً از زندگیش چی میخواد. خودشو داده دست جریانات زندگیش و بعد مرگش خِرِ بقیه رو گرفته که نذاره دیگه همچین بلاهایی سر دیگران بیاد. عزیزم شما خودت عرضه نداشتی تو زندگیت یه هدف درست و درمون پیدا کنی که به زندگیت معنا بده، که وقتی تحت فشار قرار گرفتی بدونی چیز دیگهای ته سرت هست که زندگی رو بهت برگردونه. بعد انتظار داری بعد از مرگت پیامآورِ لطف و رحمت برای آیندگان بشی؟ ولُم کن. :))
هانا دیالوگهای فلسفی کم نداره. دیالوگهایی که به یه دختر با اون سن و شرایط اصلاً جور درنمیآد! حالا گیریم خیلی باهوشه واقعاً. ولی این هوشش رو چرا برای ساختن زندگیش استفاده نکرد؟ میدونم دارم خیلی بیرحم و شعاری حرف میزنم. ولی دیدم که میگم. بدتر از هانا دیدم و دیدم که به زندگیش ادامه داده. نه یکی، سیزده تا. حالا سیزده رو عمداً گفتم. ولی شخصاً سیزده تا دلیل واسه خودکشیمو همین الآن هم دارم. همهمون داریم. چی باعث میشه زنده بمونیم؟
معنای زندگی و هدفی که میخوایم خودمونو وقفش کنیم. چیزی که هانا نداشت. قبول دارم یک سومِ پایانیِ کتاب، داستانو نجات داد و اگه همونم نبود من هیچ رقمه نمیتونستم هانا رو درک کنم، همذاتپنداری کنم. اما باز هم کافی نمیبینم. باز هم سستی و بیتوجهی خودشو میبینم. یه وقتی هست میبینیم طرف چقد خودشو به آب و آتیش میزنه آخرش، نمیشه. این بره خودکشی کنه محتمله. ولی هانا نیست. هانا خودشو به آدما سپرد و انتظار داشت یکی این وسط قهرمانش باشه. سعی نکرد قهرمان زندگی خودش باشه یا دست کم، کسی باشه که وضعشو تغییر میده.
و پایان. پایان میتونست منو راضی کنه، مثل یک سومی که گفتم. ولی این پیام اخلاقیِ تهش بدجور خورد تو صورتم. لازم نبود اونقد واضح پای اسکای رو بکشه وسط و خیلی سینماتیک کلی بره دنبالش که نذاره مثل هانا خودکشی کنه یا هرچی. اگه در خلال داستان درست بهش میپرداخت، منِ مخاطب میفهمیدم قربانیِ بعدی میتونه کی باشه و دیگه حدس میزدم کلی با توجه به همه این تجربیاتش، میره سراغ اون.
نقدمو دوست ندارم. خیلی پراکنده و غرغرانه شد. گودریدز خیلی خری، بار اولت نیست اینطوری میکنی. :/ من خسته بودم اینقد برام مهم بودی اومدم نقد بنویسم برات. :/ میخوای برم خودکشی کنم بعد کتاب بشم 8 میلیون نسخه بفروشم و به 40 زبون دنیا ترجمه شم؟ اینو میخوای لعنتی؟! :))
مسلماً به خوبی دفه قبل نمتونم بگم. ولی بازم. آقا در کل کتاب ما یه دونه پانویس هم نداریم! جایی هم که مترجم اومده توضیح بده، تو متن در حد باز و بسته کردنِ پرانتز بوده. این به نظرم ارزش کار خودشو پایین میآره، با توجه به این که حس کردم در ترجمه وفاداری و امانتداریشو حفظ کرده. اما از طرفی با لحن هم مشکل داشتم. ازون جایی که بخش اعظم داستان حرفای هانا بود، تفکیک لحن اون با لحن شکستهی داستان و راوی گاهی سخت میشد. گرچه با ایتالیک کردن تفریق قائل شده بودن. ولی به نظرم کافی نبود. واقعاً لزومی داشت عامیانه بشه؟ بگذریم از مشکلات ویرایشی- نگارشی زیادش.
سیزده دلیل برای... همه ویژگیهای یه کتاب عامهپسندِ تینیجری رو داره. اما مشکلات هانا رو در حد روابطش نمیدونم. مشکل اصلی هانا شکستهای متعدد در دوستیها و علاقهمندیها و موقعیت اجتماعی و خانوادگیش نیست. چرا که موارد بسیار بدتر از هانا رو دیدیم که نه تنها خودکشی نکردن، بلکه ادامه دادن و بهتر هم زندگی کردن. مشکل اصلی هانا نداشتن معنی و هدفه! شما هیچ جای داستان نمیبینید هانا از علاقهمندیها، اهداف و آرزوها، وضعیت درسی و چشمانداز آیندهش بگه. حداقل من که یادم نمیآد.
هانا دختر ضعیفیه. هرچقد هم راوی بالا بالا ببرتش، هرچقد هم هانا بگه برای خودکشی تردید و تعلل کرده. هانا دختر ضعیفیه، چون سعی نکرده خودشو بشناسه. ببینه اصلاً از زندگیش چی میخواد. خودشو داده دست جریانات زندگیش و بعد مرگش خِرِ بقیه رو گرفته که نذاره دیگه همچین بلاهایی سر دیگران بیاد. عزیزم شما خودت عرضه نداشتی تو زندگیت یه هدف درست و درمون پیدا کنی که به زندگیت معنا بده، که وقتی تحت فشار قرار گرفتی بدونی چیز دیگهای ته سرت هست که زندگی رو بهت برگردونه. بعد انتظار داری بعد از مرگت پیامآورِ لطف و رحمت برای آیندگان بشی؟ ولُم کن. :))
هانا دیالوگهای فلسفی کم نداره. دیالوگهایی که به یه دختر با اون سن و شرایط اصلاً جور درنمیآد! حالا گیریم خیلی باهوشه واقعاً. ولی این هوشش رو چرا برای ساختن زندگیش استفاده نکرد؟ میدونم دارم خیلی بیرحم و شعاری حرف میزنم. ولی دیدم که میگم. بدتر از هانا دیدم و دیدم که به زندگیش ادامه داده. نه یکی، سیزده تا. حالا سیزده رو عمداً گفتم. ولی شخصاً سیزده تا دلیل واسه خودکشیمو همین الآن هم دارم. همهمون داریم. چی باعث میشه زنده بمونیم؟
معنای زندگی و هدفی که میخوایم خودمونو وقفش کنیم. چیزی که هانا نداشت. قبول دارم یک سومِ پایانیِ کتاب، داستانو نجات داد و اگه همونم نبود من هیچ رقمه نمیتونستم هانا رو درک کنم، همذاتپنداری کنم. اما باز هم کافی نمیبینم. باز هم سستی و بیتوجهی خودشو میبینم. یه وقتی هست میبینیم طرف چقد خودشو به آب و آتیش میزنه آخرش، نمیشه. این بره خودکشی کنه محتمله. ولی هانا نیست. هانا خودشو به آدما سپرد و انتظار داشت یکی این وسط قهرمانش باشه. سعی نکرد قهرمان زندگی خودش باشه یا دست کم، کسی باشه که وضعشو تغییر میده.
و پایان. پایان میتونست منو راضی کنه، مثل یک سومی که گفتم. ولی این پیام اخلاقیِ تهش بدجور خورد تو صورتم. لازم نبود اونقد واضح پای اسکای رو بکشه وسط و خیلی سینماتیک کلی بره دنبالش که نذاره مثل هانا خودکشی کنه یا هرچی. اگه در خلال داستان درست بهش میپرداخت، منِ مخاطب میفهمیدم قربانیِ بعدی میتونه کی باشه و دیگه حدس میزدم کلی با توجه به همه این تجربیاتش، میره سراغ اون.
نقدمو دوست ندارم. خیلی پراکنده و غرغرانه شد. گودریدز خیلی خری، بار اولت نیست اینطوری میکنی. :/ من خسته بودم اینقد برام مهم بودی اومدم نقد بنویسم برات. :/ میخوای برم خودکشی کنم بعد کتاب بشم 8 میلیون نسخه بفروشم و به 40 زبون دنیا ترجمه شم؟ اینو میخوای لعنتی؟! :))
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