September 11, 2009 nicoleuhl
Thirteen Reasons Why
Jay Asher
Eerie, creepy, yet intriguing. Thirteen Reasons Why tells the story of Clay, a typical teenage boy faced with the death of his classmate and crush, Hannah. Before she committed suicide, Hannah recorded the reasons; thirteen of them, why she decided to end her life. The tapes are out. But here’s the catch…you will only receive the tapes if you are mentioned on them – a reason why. Clay is now faced with guilt like he has never experienced before. Why? Why is he on the tapes? What did he do to Hannah that helped her decide to end her life? Jay Asher tells Clays adventure of listening to the tapes and trying to find out just why he made it on Hannah’s “list.”
If you’re a romantic, Nicholas Sparks lover this may not be the book for you. Thirteen Reasons Why, like I said earlier, has an almost eerie theme about it. Not one of those grab your cup of coffee and cuddle up type of books. Although it wasn’t the genre I’m used to reading, I still enjoyed it. Something about the novel kept me wanting to read more.
I would have liked to seen Clay’s character more defined in the book. Asher doesn’t give much detail about him considering Clay is one of the main characters. Also, I would have liked to seen Clay’s character have a little more “pizzazz.” From what we are told, Clay’s character is dull. Easily forgotten.
The part that I really liked about the novel is that Asher has Hannah’s voice almost narrating the story. That’s what set the tone of the book. Going back to that “creepy, a dead person telling me this story” feeling. Thirteen Reasons Why also teaches it’s readers a lesson. It makes you reflect on how you’ve treated your peers.
Although it wasn’t my favorite book I’ve read, I’m still glad I read it. Not a story I will easily forget. I give it a three out of five stars.
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1. melissapilakowski&hellip | September 16, 2009 at 3:50 pm
That’s so true that Clay’s character seems a little flat. I didn’t think much about it when I read it, but I would agree completely. The strength of the story really is in Hannah’s character and her journey leading to her final fatal decision. Thinking back on it now, I would have liked for Clay to have a little more uncertainty about his actions–maybe he did do something, such as talking behind her back or some passive-aggressive behavior that leads him to believe he really did have a role in her death. I also feel that his innocence was revealed a little too soon as well.