Thirteen Reasons Why

“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.”

I am aware that this is sensitive topic and that my review may very well upset some people. If you feel that this may apply to you, please just skip reading this.

Where to begin? Let's start with the book itself because there are two tales really being told here. First and foremost we get the tale of Hannah who left tapes for Clay and others to listen to in order to find out the part they played in her death. What Clay hears on the tapes not only gives him greater insight in the situation at hand, which leads us to our second tale...Clay's story. Clay the emotionally insecure teenager who does not appear to be confident in himself. Not even enough to talk to the girl he claims to love. This is not Clay hate by any means, but is stating the obvious fact the Clay does seem to be battling some things himself. Overall the story hits many great points and opens the door to discuss issues with rape culture, sexual harassment, and suicide. I do think it missed the mark with discussing victim shaming and survivors guilt. I do have an issue with the idea of “loving” someone through the situation. While one can love someone as much as humanly possible and do whatever they need, I do think the book presents the idea that everyone who chooses to commit suicide could've been saved if they were loved more. I'm not sure this is the message the book is attempting to send, but nevertheless it is a message that is out there. Again while I think the book opens the door to having the discussion if you see someone you think is in need the best thing you can do is attempt to help them get professional help. I'm not saying that is the end all be all, but it is a start.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I think it handles a lot of issues with delicacy and appropriate gravitas – understanding consent, with no hint of “boys will be boys” or anything – but the very premise is really concerning to me. As a YA book, especially, its premise of a girl who's killed herself and left tapes to point the blame at other people is worrying. Having had my own struggles with depression in adolescence, I think that the idea of weaponized suicide is dangerous and could be easily seductive to a kid who has those same struggles. The line between recognizing the consequences of our actions and saying “You are to blame for this person's suicide” is a tough one to find, but I think it has to be drawn.

SpoilerWeak spoiler, I guess: in the end, I think the focus on listening, reaching out, not just watching things happen to people is a good one. I think the lesson Clay learned, shown as he tries to reach out to someone else he thought might be troubled, is alright. But it feels secondary to the overarching narrative of punitive suicide.

I also think that Hannah was portrayed as far too lucid and balanced. Her decision is presented as a rational one, when in reality the mindset needed to actually do something like this is the opposite of rational, and while it's good to express sympathy, it's dangerous to treat such actions that way.

I'm not the kind of person who says “let's not let our kids read things like this,” because ... well, that's stupid. But I did have concerns about how the core premise was presented, and I think it's the sort of thing that, if I had a kid reading it, I'd probably want to discuss with him or her.

I also thought there were some minor issues with two-dimensional characters, and the kind of strange connection between Clay and Hannah (which felt forced).

I think it's probably worth reading (it's pretty short, if nothing else), but with a lot of caveats.

3.5 stars It's a good book, the TV series is alright. I think I might be too old to really connect to the characters/I've never lived through this in high school.

One of those books that will stay with you forever. There's something haunting about listening to the reasons that someone killed themselves. It all feels so real and relatable that you can't reading. It even feels like you can hear her voice.

4/5

I decided to give this a read because I heard nothing but good things with the Netflix adaptation. So I thought to myself... if the Netflix show was well-received, maybe the source material is also very good? And there I was...picking this book up after a long time sitting around in my book shelf.

I finished this book overnight, yes OVERNIGHT, and that's actually something good. I finished it because it was very compelling. The way the story Hannah's story unfolds, the perfect pacing, and Jay Asher's writing. I can somewhat see Stephen King's influence on him with this book. It's a powerful book and it was an emotional ride with this one. I felt sadness, joy, rage, happiness, disgust, etc. It's a book that addresses the issues of suicide and bullying without getting it right INTO your face.

It's a book that should be read by everyone! By everyone I mean not just teens/pre-teens, as well as adults and parents who have children going through adolescence. Reading this book will make you understand them more, and also realize how one misdemeanor can have a long-lasting negative effect on a person. The topics in this book are not light and not easy to discuss.

With all that being said, I'm now ready to watch the Netflix original series. I got my feels ready!

I don't like this book. I really wanted to like it, but I honestly consider it to be one of the worst books I've ever read. Parts of it I definitely enjoyed, but the general story I didn't like at all.I feel like it's a dangerous concept, mostly because it seems to imply that people commit suicide as a kind of revenge or as some kind of goal. There's no doubt that this has happened at some point, but in 90% of all cases there's no tangible list of “reasons”. A lot of parts seem silly and unrealistic. [a:David Foster Wallace 4339 David Foster Wallace https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1466019433p2/4339.jpg] (who eventually killed himself) has a great quote about suicidal people. He compares it to people who jump out of burning buildings. “It's not desiring the fall; it's terror of the flames.” Those weren't my only problems with the book. It's too contrived. A lot of things are just a little too convenient. This is a book that glamorizes suicide. It trivializes life. I think Beth's review about sums up my thoughts on this book:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/202639713?book_show_action=true. Would not recommend to anyone.

It's a book that helps you think more.. Ponder over your actions.. How you might be affecting someone without really realising it..

I liked this book, a lot. Had to finish it all off in one go, couldn't put it down.

Couldn't give it a five cuz I didn't agree with some stuff.

i finally managed to finish this book. it didnt take me that long because it was boring or tedious to read, no, i just wanted to be in the right mood for reading it and the last few months just weren't right for it.

but honestly, this book is lovely. i loved the format and i was hooked immediately. 10/10 would read again

BLUF: Great book, but does not provide usable insights into depression. (Inaccurate descriptions do a disservice to the disease.)

Plot:Thirteen Reasons Why comes into play after Clay Jensen receives a box of cassette tapes in the mail. These tapes detail the reasons leading up to Hannah Baker's, fellow student and former crush of Clay, suicide. She dictates that these tapes be passed on student to student in the order that they are mentioned in the tape – and has a watchdog to ensure that this occurs, or else. (Ha, I couldn't resist, sorry.) If not passed on, her watchdog will mass distribute these tapes – causing embarrassment for every person mentioned within.

My Thoughts:I won't lie to you; I absolutely adore this audio book. I love the way this book was written. I hung onto every word until the end. Jay Asher is a good writer* and I can't wait to discover other books from him.

Thankfully, Clay Jensen is as obsessed with figuring out Hannah's reasons as I was and doesn't dwell much on his life outside of the tapes, unless he has to. Damn outside distractions. (I say that, but the distractions all added to the story.)

Here is the elephant in the room (aka, my thoughts on Hannah): I can't relate with Hannah. There, I said it. I, who has depression to the point of being suicidal, cannot relate to this teen. What gives?She blames her depression on everyone else. This is not how most people experience depression. People do lash out at others, but typically slip into self-loathing soon after. For someone to craft hours of tape, attempt humor in these tapes, and then to follow through with sending them – I don't buy it.She takes minor situations and exaggerates them. This is accurate with my depression. I can remember, as a kid, crying because I may have hurt the concrete's feelings by walking on it. Or worse – crying because I may have hurt the concrete's feelings by not walking on it. As a teen, crying because I made a joke that the other person took as a joke, but maybe they somehow misinterpreted it and didn't show it. As an adult, just hating myself for every conversation I had – even the simple “Hi, how are you?”s. I can honestly say that I have never thrown my depression towards someone else for an extended period of time. Sure, I've been angry, but for reasons not tied to my depression.She makes readers apathetic towards her and her depression. She makes readers think that it's her fault for how she feels, for being ridiculous. I have mixed feelings on this. Depression is ridiculous. Just look at my exaggerated feelings above. It's not logical. It's laughable. It's, unfortunately, real to us. Even worse, we make helping us impossible for others. So, as much as I hate to say it, this portion of her personality is pretty damn accurate – we make it damn hard to relate, love, and help us.This girl offers no lessons to the readers. She is atypical in her depression. She is petty. She is not relatable even by those of us who have depression. She makes readers think that they should not bother helping those who are depressed because there is not point – they have already decided that they are going to kill themselves and nothing is going to change that.These aspects are very disappointing and I truly hope that this is not the lesson that sticks with the readers.In the End: I know it's weird to like a book about a subject that it inaccurately portrays, but Asher captivated me. While I thought Hannah was petty and misguided, her story is well told. I wanted to know how it ended, even when she was crafting the reasons for her death.*Cannot speak to grammar, punctuation, etc.Medication works wonders – I'm not at risk.

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so this book was really disappoiniting. i think it's safe to say that i'm not the only one who expected something more.. dranatic maybe or just something more nerve wracking. but the reason i mainly disliked the book was, that the depressed little girl, yes i even forgot her name, was being such a pain in the ass. how could you get so depressed by little things like she did. it just didn't make sense and made the book unenjoyable. but of course, this is just my opinion.

Relaying thoughts and ideas in a world revolving around Hannah, Clay mourns to hear of Hannah's suicide. He receives casette tapes from Hannah to listen to all the reasons why Hannah comitted suicide at such a youthful time of teenagehood.
Narration was my favorite part. I think it is a freh idea to write a book about someone who reacts to hearing about someone else's life. It gives readers a new aspect to think about, even though the perspectives may be biased.
As Clay embarks through each casette tape, he discovers one more piece of Hannah he's never known before. To understand, you'll need sympathy, or perhaps even empathy. I could somewhat relate to her feelings.

Oh. My. Lord.

This book.

Less than 72 hours and I was done. Besides working, I just read this book. I couldn't put it down.

Just... wow. If you are looking for a super fast read, something you can not ever put down, read this book.

While some may say it glorifies suicide, I think it gives an insight that a lot of people would avoid. If you're in high school, READ THIS BOOK.

It should be required reading.

And anyone who goes through depression, it gets better. It isn't over.

probably one of the worst books I've ever read. good idea, but didn't deliver at all. I didn't feel even remotely sorry for anyone. wish I could get the time I spent reading this back and apply it to a better book.

This book to me did not live up to its hype. I did enjoy this book even though it did not really shock me. I did like the back and fourth perspective of Hannah in the tapes and the person listening to the tapes. I do recommend this book to people who like to have somewhat of a darker read.

I read this book in one day. I loved the dual perspective. I loved that the author chose to include both the perspective of the character who committed suicide and the perspective of someone who cared for her.

I know there is some criticism that Hannah's reasons behind committing suicide were too petty. And I agree to a point. Most of what happens in the book is not far outside of the high school norm. There's not one big, traumatic event but there doesn't have to be. Depression makes you see the world differently. One set of events can affect people so differently that I have to disagree with the criticism that Hannah's motivations are too petty or that they just characterize her as a hysterical woman. So although the 13 reasons why aren't what you would probably guess are motivations for suicide doesn't mean they couldn't be.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I feel that the author's efforts to educate us about our affect on other people is valid and true. I think it's especially important we learn this by middle school and high school. We never know how much we hurt or help others by our actions.
I am a little concerned that this story portrays suicide as a way of punishing or getting back at others for the pain that they cause. I think that this idea is dangerous and often inaccurate but I worry that some people will judge others with suicidal thoughts as a way of being malicious rather than a deep abyss that people often leaves others desperate.

very good book, i really enjoyed reading it

Just an utter disappointment all around. The synopsis sounded interesting and that's where the intrigue started and stopped. I am perplexed by the amount of four- and five-star reviews this novel has received. I found Clay lacking and nearly as flat as all the other barely-there characters. For a book about suicide, I wasn't moved in any way.

Re-read in 2023:
New rating: 4 stars

This book isn't perfect and there are many people that say that it glorifies suicide. To some extent that is true. I think Jay Asher could have strengthened the messaging in the book in order to unequivocally say that it wasn't the answer, however I think most people read this book and see Hannah Baker as the main character. I've read reviews say that it's hard to empathize and connect with her, and that this is a bad thing. She comes off as whiny and looking for an excuse to suicide herself.
Some of these things may be true and valid, however, I think they are intentional.

The reader is not supposed to be able to connect and empathize with Hannah. She is gone. She is dead. She is unreachable and untouchable. She is a voice only to be listened to. We get Clay's perspective. He is the voice of reason and the voice telling the reader that things may not always be as bad as they seem to be. He is the voice saying suicide is not the answer and there are people there who support you and are willing and wanting to love you.

I think this book shows just how irrational suicide really is and how we all understand and internalize things differently. For some, something is small and meaningless, while to others, that same thing is huge and all-consuming. It is not up to us to determine these things for other people. They are just as valid thinking and feeling the way they do as the way we do. Suicide and depression don't usually operate rationally. Things get bent out of shape and the smallest things prove to the sufferer that life is not worth living.

Again, I think this book is not perfect. It's messaging can be hard for some people, and ultimately, I think it makes some people uncomfortable, thinking that they have a much larger role to play in someone's life. In a highly individualistic society, such as the United States, we often think that people should be able to handle everything alone and that the world is just and fair, when really, this world is different for everyone. We need empathy for each other. This book shows that, stating multiple times that Hannah doesn't fully blame people, but she records these messages for people to understand that they impacted someone's life in ways that they may not have known.

Clay is the eyes and ears of the reader. He does not have much personality and this can come off as boring to some readers.

This is a heavy topic, and as stated above, people may feel uncomfortable with it (for the reason provided previously or just the fact that it's a very heavy, sad, deep topic). Everyone has a different experience with mental illness, depression, and suicidality. That is all okay. Everyone is totally fine to have their opinion, however, as Clay does at the end of the story, we need to open our eyes, think about who we see around us, then open our mouths and speak, letting people know that we see them and they are there, and we value and care for them in ways that we may not have expressed previously.

I loved this book and how there was the 2 different people talking. I think this book would be good for anyone who likes books that make you think or make you think differently.

Oh, how do I describe my thoughts on this book? I knew I had to read it the first time I'd heard about it. I found it in a used book store and was ecstatic. It sat on my bookshelf for a few months while I was distracted by other books, but I'm so glad I picked it up.
This is story is both beautiful and heartbreaking, with a hint of mystery. Hannah's story is so relatable, as is Clay's. With each tape, I felt more connected to both of them. Hannah's isolation is something that I struggled with for years, and even though it never got to the point of suicide, the thoughts were still there. Clay's fear of rejection is something everyone can relate to.
Jay Asher did one hell of a job with this one, folks.

What an emotional rollercoaster of a book. I think this should be added to high school reading lists. It gives an insightful look into what can lead a person to suicide and the thought process it takes to get there.

It's a good premise, backed by solid writing. I read it in one sitting.

I read it in one sitting not because I was loving it. It was suspenseful, yes. Though that feels like the wrong word for this. Suspenseful makes me think of the best mysteries and thrillers. I read this in one sitting out of a need to just have it end, and I frequently wanted it to be over. Likely, this was due to the basic theme hitting too close to home, therefore not a problem with the book itself.

Her reasons, as pointed out by other reviews, are not exactly believable. They are more believable when placed in the context of a teenager's life, where every emotion seems to feel so much stronger than it should, be it good or bad. I bought it enough to get invested, and I found the story as a whole emotionally powerful.

Why three stars, then? Simple. I am not a professional reviewer, I don't review books based on how good they are objectively. I review them based on how much I like them, how they make me feel. For whatever reason, this book made me feel bad. Frustrated, at both the flaws in the book and the fact that not one person saw the signs and helped. I don't know. That's often true in real life, people miss the signs and things happen. I have seen that happen, unfortunately.

Still, I got nothing out of this book. It wasn't a happy book, making me feel good. It wasn't an honestly poignant and emotional book that made me feel something genuine. It was sad. Just sad, but not the right mix of sad and poignant. Just sad. Despair. Angst. Not for me.

This book is truly amazing. It's now one of my Must Read's~

A must read!