Sunday 17 April 2011

13 Reasons Why You Should NOT Read Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is a novel with a promising title, capturing back cover information, and attractive front cover. This sentence summarizes all the praises I have for the book. I discussed just the other day with two friends that I rarely write negative reviews (I think I only have one so far). However, Thirteen Reasons Why is so bad that I feel the need to caution you not to read it and never ever think of buying it (as I did).

Here are my 13 reasons why not:

1. Trivial story line - Hannah is a teenage girl, who decides to kill herself because of the attitude of her classmates and friends.
2. Too complicated structure - The novel is written from the point-of-view of two people - Hannah and Clay, a boy she fell in love with but because of her overdramatic character, she failed to develop a relationship with him. The voices of Hannah and Clay alternate and are interrupted in the most ridiculous places. Thus, the reader easily loses the sequence of the story and has to re-read over and over again to remember what the previous narrator said.
3. Reasons to kill herself - Hannah's reasons to kill herself are mildly idiotic. Some boy has kissed her but then has shared with the rest of the school that they went to 2nd base. Her best friend is no longer her best friend. Another boy put her ass in the list of the best asses in the school (this sounds like a reason to celebrate, not to die). A girl was jealous of her because of that. The school teacher didn't understand her issues. One schoolmate stole some of her letters. These problems are experienced by almost every teenager on the globe. Hannah is no different than other problematic teens, yet she decides to dramatically kill herself.
4. Accusations - Hannah accuses her classmates, her friends, her teachers, her school, the world for her decision commit suicide. She never even considers the possibility that she might be wrong. She never even asks for help. She sits quiet, believing that the world owes her something. The world owes you nothing, Hannah. It was here first.
5. Method of delivery - Hannah records 13 message to the 13 people she accuses of her suicide. Each of them has to listen to all the stories, then pass on to the next one in the list. If someone breaks the chain (God forbid!) she will make sure that all of the world hears her recordings. So what? The world doesn't care. The stories are banal and I doubt any of the characters in them would mind even if Mars heard them. Yet, the author insists that these stories are so shameful and important that we, as readers, must simpatize with the "villains" for following Hannah's rules. Sounds like a bad horror movie.
6. Happy exception - Clay is the 9th person to listen to the recordings. All the time he is afraid to hear his own story. Turns out, he is the happy exception. He appears in the story because Hannah is in love with him and without this, her explanation would not be complete. How convenient! The main character is not guilty. If I wanted to see a sugar-coated US comedy, I would have downloaded one, thanks.
7. Malevolence - Reading the novel, I couldn't feel sorry for Hannah even for a bit. Her recordings sounded angry, coarse, and sarcastic. I always imagined her rubbing hands and laughing creepy. Hannah must have gloated to the thought that her victims would feel guilty. It was as if she killed herself only to revenge herself and to make the other suffer. Well, Hannah, the only person you did hurt was yourself.
8. Overdramatism - Clay listens to Hannah's recordings and cries. His outpourings are filled with accusation, regret, and hatred. The whole novel attempts to be moody, infinitely sad, and devastating. The result is quite the opposite. I kept waiting for a really dramatic event to explain the suicide of Hana. It never came. She wasn't raped, her family was stable, she was a good student. In fact, she isolated on purpose from her friends, transforming insignificant events into life-changing tragic circumstances. She just needed someone to blame that she was unable to deal with her life and to accept the difficulties of teenage years.
9. Poor author - Jay Asher is not convincing at all. I couldn't feel any power in his words. I couldn't place myself in the place of neither Hannah nor Clay. The novel is just too far away from the reader. It doesn't provoke any feelings (except boredom).
10. Discrepancies - The "guilty" people are said to be 13. It turns out they are 12. One of the boys is twice as guilty. So far so good. She shares that one of the reasons for her suicide is that she witnessed another boy raping a girl. Do not even get me started as this for a reason. If the raped girl had killed herself, I understand. But then Hannah witnessed the raping and didn't do anything to prevent it. She refuses to share the name of the villain, yet in the next chapter she implies who he is and she sleeps with him. Hm...Of course, he is guilty for her suicide even though she voluntary had sex with him AFTER knowing that he raped a girl.
11. No parents - Throughout the novel we never ever hear about Hannah's family. Her parents are mentioned only once but we never get their point of view. Did she have a stable life? I suppose she did, otherwise she would have included them in the tapes, again pointing fingers. If they were good parents (as we suppose) didn't they notice something was wrong with their daughter? Did they try to help her? We get no information about that.
12. Apathy - Hannah doesn't seek for help. She expects other people to read her mind. She expects other people to behave the way she wants them to. When she and Clay get closer, she repels him. No reason whatsoever. The boy likes her and wants to help her out. Yet, our drama queen is now too disillusioned by all the "unfortunate" events in her life, that she just escapes. And then she blames. She talks to her teacher but she doesn't listen. She wants him to know what's going on in her head without her even showing any signs. Hannah is apathetic and bored with life. She doesn't want to fight so she finds it easier to blame everyone else.
13. Why yes- Hannah broke her rules (12 people not 13) so I am going to break mine. I will give you one reason to read the book. If you feel despaired that your teenage (adult) life is going from bad to worse, read this novel. See how a little bit hysteric and over dramatic girl exaggerates her misfortunes and ends up killing herself. Think about your problems. Do they resemble Hannah's? Do you blame everyone else for your unhappiness? Do you think suicide is the right answer? Reading about Hannah first you will see how stupid and inadequate her reasons are. Maybe you will feel the same about your problems. Maybe you will see that people have the inclination to underestimate their successes and overestimate their failures. After all, good things happen only to positive people. Proven by personal experience.

175 comments:

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    1. okay yeah i understand that you're entitled to your own opinion, but can you keep in mind you're saying al this about a dead girl. first of all, the book is based on a true story. so yes, you are actually criticizing a real dead girl. secondly, i hope and pray that the author never comes across your little "list" because quite frankly its offensive and narrow-minded and you can chill tf out. How freaking dare you say all that? I can speak from personal experience, when you're depressed the slightest things can push you over the edge. So yeah Hannah's problems actually were very real. I wanna see you go through what she did and still be 100% happy with your life. Awful rumors about her got spread, she lost all her friends, and not one single person actually respected her so yeah, she killed herself. I would of too. Go ahead and say all you want about your personal opinion but keep in mind that the book you're criticizing is saving lives. What good are you doing?

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    2. The book is not based on an actual dead person. Jay got the idea from a FAILED attempt at suicide by a family member.

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    3. You are rude. I am someone who is like Hannah and I found Thirteen Reasons Why a very good and legit book. It's very true in ways to. So don't be so rude cause you probably don't know what it's like having this type of life.

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    4. graet article i totally felt the same way reading this book! i didnt like the book at all....this girl blames and kills herself over actions that should not be considered as basis fir anyone to hurt themselves ....

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    5. I'm not sure what the exact page of this book is but Hannah stated that "You don't know what my life was like before I moved here you only know what I choose to tell you, and when you decide to mess with one persons life you aren't just messing with one part. You are messing with their entire life." Hannah is right we don't know everything that has happened to her in the past because she never tells us, she could have been clinically depressed and have those 13 reasons push her over the edge we wouldn't know. She hid in the closet too afraid to speak up while her ex best friend was raped at a party, she was groped and fingered by the same guy who raped her best friend in a swimming pool, some guy stalked her and took photos of her while she was in her bedroom, a rumor based on her first kiss took away her best friends and caused her to develop a reputation around school. Guys tried to get with her only for the sex she no longer knew who to trust. She trusted Clay, but it was too late. He couldn't save her because he came in too late. Her parents weren't around to notice how depressed she was getting which is seen when she is home alone so often. She isn't blaming anyone for her suicide, she is trying to have a voice. The voice she never had when she was alive.

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    6. Reason number 11 contradicts your earlier statement of Hannah having a stable family.

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    7. I agree this book is terrible. It doesn't matter that this is based on a true story that doesn't make it a good one. U don't care who you are if you kill yourself it is your fault and no one else's. It is shameful for hannah to suggest that it is any ones fault but her own. Again I don't care that is based on any true story it still doesn't make it good in any way.

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    8. Well, aren't you a cold hearted thing??

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    9. " Awful rumors about her got spread, she lost all her friends, and not one single person actually respected her so yeah, she killed herself. I would of too."

      What a weak fucking person you are. My life in highschool was way more "diffucult" than her life and I am still here and at no point in my life did I contemplate suicide...

      This book is about a girl who could not deal with very minor things that happen to everyone growing up. She also thought that the world revolved around her and that she was a special snowflake. Get involved in people's lives, don't sit on the sidelines waiting for people to notice you.

      Also, no one gives a shit about you. I am not saying that to be mean. I am saying that when you fuck up or do something stupid, guess what? A day or two later when you are STILL beating yourself up over what you did, NO ONE IS THINKING ABOUT IT. YOU ARE NOT THE CENTER OF EVERYONE'S UNIVERSE IN YOUR LIFE. FAR FROM IT. No one cares about you like you think they do. That is just the truth.

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    10. Name on the jead. At the very best, you will be the parent of a kid. At worst you will be someone with No one. At the end we are all alone anyway and this life is inevitably going to end. Not giving a shit over trivial stuff like the content of this book is winning.

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    11. If a teenager wrote this you are very bright.
      Your criticism is dead on. It's a boring story, the characters are unlikeable and therefore it's hard to have any sympathy for anyone.

      It's typical millennial trash tailor made for narcissists with average minds. No one who has a sense that the world doesn't revolve around them would like this book.

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    12. As someone who has dealt with depression and suicidal thoughts multiple times, I absolutely agree with everything on this list. I read the book when I was 13 or 14 - when I was first experiencing depression. And I still was like "...really? This is the book everyone has been insisting I read? Puh-lease."

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  2. Can you be more specific?

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    1. I understand everyone is entitled to their own opinion but your views seem so narrow minded. The way you only criticize the book and do not try to find any silver linings in the story clearly shows that you refuse to think about the novel from a positive aspect. I for one, think the ending to this novel, with clay having the chance to save someone else, is a fantastic way to end. Showing, that although he couldn't save Hannah he could save Skye. In all honesty I don't think her reasons where justifiable,and the mention of depression or some type of mental illness would perhaps made Hannah's suicide more realistic. However I do not think that you have the right nor the reasoning to simply say the author did a poor job, when you yourself could probably do no better.
      In conclusion, please stop being a judgmental twat, and until you have an international bestseller don't bother judging this one.

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    2. Amen! You took the words right out of my mouth.

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    3. Actually, it is their right to criticize a book. So what if he didn't like it? Big freakin whoop.

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    4. Considering it's 100% an opinion, this person has every right to criticize the book. If you don't agree, that's alright. Write your own article on why you should read it.

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    5. I do understand where you are getting at with this, and your reasoning is legitimate, but you have to understand teenagers aren't reasonable at time. It's the little things that get to you, the guilt and regret. Sometimes we want to put the blame on other for causing our sorrow, like Hanna did, but in the end most of the stuff is our fault for reacting that way. Teenagers are still dependent and we depend on the help of other sometime, even though we don't admit it. As a person with some really bad depression, but is getting help, I can tell you that sometime the little things push you over the edge, I've contemplated suicide for the dumbest reasons, but after the years of bullying and trust misused, it gets hard to trust and you give up on yourself. Some people just aren't made to be strong. And I also feel like Hanna left some stuff out because kids are vicious. The had to have done more because when you have the reputation of being a slut, teenagers won't let it slide. Yes it wasn't the most realistic but it was a good learning point, especially for looking for the signs.

      I'm not invalidating your opinion, I respect it, and understand what you mean, your opinion is your opinion and I respect that.

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    6. Calling someone names while telling them they can't have an opinion, that is hysterical.

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  3. This is a fabulous book, and you obviously didnt even read it. It's H-A-N-N-A, not Hana.

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    1. this is ironic considering that it is spelled as Hannah.

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. I read the book. I am entitled to my opinion about the book. That is why I have a blog, to share my own opinion and I don't engage anyone else with it. I gave my reasons for not liking the book but all I see from you is a mere statement without any proof.

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    1. Hi Lora,
      I couldn't agree more! I am almost done the novel and cannot wait until it is over. I am an English teacher who mainlines teen fiction over the summers and I don't get the hype around this one. You're right on every count, but I had to really search for anything but starry-eyed review. The story is thin and self-indulgent at best and the writing style, well, you know.
      Thanks,

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    2. I honestly don't agree! i Thought this book was well written in every way. Although u do have an opinion and I do think it is a little ina pro pro for a 13 year old as myself

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    3. You are absolutely entitled to your opinion. Let me explain why I disagree. If you can't understand or empathize with Hannah you are lucky. This books speaks to those of us who have been there. What seems trivial and overdramatizing to one person, can be devastating to another person. One person may think something like being voted "best ass" is flattering and love the attention, another may be painfully embarrassed and hate the attention. And although I know a lot of people think that her reasons are trivial and she is overdramatic, I would suggest considering the possibility that for some people things like that, especially building one on top of another, really can feel that serious. Part of the reason suicide is so prevalent is that people don't consider how things can affect other people. Things like the ones she describes can definitely affect people in this way. I know some people see what happened with Bryce as a nonsensical inclusion since she is seen as consenting. Consider it for a moment from a different perspective: self-destructive. At that point she is so lost and hopeless that she deliberately puts herself in danger. Reckless behavior is a warning sign of suicide. As for people saying she did not want help, someone who feels that hopeless and that lost can't conceive of a way to get help. That is why they believe suicide is the only way to escape. They are in such a dark place that they don't know how to escape.

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    4. I completely agree with what you had to say. I agree with the critic on two points only which is the no parents point (which does seem strange and leaves quite a hole) and the part where Hannah sounded a bit like a vengeful villain. But other than that, however over-dramatic and "silly" her reasons seem to be, these are very real and common reasons for teenage suicide (which by the way happens to be the third cause for teenage deaths). I suggest you try to put yourself in the protagonist's shoes. Empathy is a huge part of reading, after all.

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    5. "If you can't understand or empathize with Hannah you are lucky"
      As someone who's experienced suicidal thoughts, I also think this book is contrived and melodramatic. I'd like to kindly ask that you don't paint all people who've had suicidal thoughts with the same brush. I don't think I'm lucky just because I find this book a bit insulting to the complexity of people's struggles in mental illness.

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    6. I have trouble empathising with someone who gives up without even trying. That goes for real life teens who kill themselves over self-contrived bullshit and mean words. I have been in many situations similar to the ones depicted. I defended myself if I could or just stopped caring altogether. It seems people who empathize with Hannah are not simply the subjects of abuse, they are the ones who refuse to take life into their own hands, preferring to blame others for their misfortunes.

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  5. this book is flipping amazing you dont deserve to read it so shut up NO ONE WANTS TO LISTEN TO YOU IDGITY DOUCHE BAG...



    BITCH!

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    1. look out guys, this one's feisty

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    2. maybe you should take your own advise.

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  6. AND WHAT PROOF DO YOU HAVE

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    1. the book is his proof. plus he doesn't need proof because it is his opinion.

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    2. i meant her haha

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  7. I just gave 13 reasons above...

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  8. I completely agree with you Lora. Being someone who has spent her teenage years with all of the possible mental illnesses from anxiety, major depression and psychosis for nearly four years solid, I was absolutely horrified at the thought of this story. If something to do with suidice and mental illness wants to be done, it has to be done properly.

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    1. Okay, so I understand that this book might not have related to your specific situation but please do keep in mind that everyone's situation and the way the handle it is a little different. I have also spent many years with major depression and anxiety and I went through a few similar situations to Hannah. Even if you don't think it would have affected you as much, that doesn't mean that it won't affect others differently. Especially when it's all building up. It can make you think that no one cares about you, that nobody wants to help you. So why should you bother them anymore? Why not just end it along with all your pain? Why not just kill yourself? That's what I thought. So please don't say that this wasn't done properly. It just wasn't meant for you that's all and there's nothing wrong with that. And for anyone who thinks that suicide is selfish, please try to be little more understanding. Depression is not easy to live with and it is not something you can just get over.

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    2. There is a key there. You said "why should you bother them anymore". That's not what Hannah does. Hannah does not kill herself because she sees no escape, she kills herself to punish teenagers for alleged wrongdoing. I agree it isn't for everyone, but I do think it's accurate to say that it lacks depth beyond the simple wish-fulfillment fantasy of " oh you'll be so sorry when I die!"

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  9. Maybe you should pay attention to the book next time. It's spelled Hannah, not Hana.

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  10. I am sorry for the mistake. I didn't read the book in English and that is why I have mistaken the name. I will correct the spelling. Thanks.

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  11. I completely agree with every one of your reasons. I just finished Thirteen Reasons Why and thought it was poorly written and overly dramatic. Clay had violent overreactions (throwing up, making his hands bleed from gripping a fence too tightly) that didn't seem realistic at all. I could understand him reacting that way if he was listening to her talk about serious abuse or a person's blatant disregard for hearing about her problems, but that wasn't the case. I feel that Asher's message has merit because teenage suicide is becoming more and more prevalent and it can be prevented. However, I feel that this book was not the right way to raise awareness because Hannah's suicide could not have been prevented in any of the traditional ways because she DID NOT want help and would not accept help.

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    1. bc he loved her

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    2. Hi, i totaly agree with you- LOVED your review!
      i felt no sympathy toward hanna either, in fact how dare she put clay through feeling like he'd done something to contribute to her suicide..she should of put him at #1 and spared him the anxiety!
      it was a cop out having the main character not being a reason why and it should only actualy be 11 reasons why as clay wasnt one of them and one guy is named twice.
      totaly agree she is a self absorbed character, and the structure was hard to follow.

      now regarding the ANNOUNOUS PPL CALLING YOU A BITCH AND DOUCH FOR THIS REVIEW.. screw them and YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF! if you disagree so strongly then DONT READ the blog! or at least have the very respect to ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE THEIR OPINION- THINK ABOUT IT MR OR MISS I LOVE 13 REASONS WHY - YOU ARE JUST CALLING THE AUTHOR OF THIS REVIEW A BITCH AND DOUCH...NOW COMPARE YOURSELF TO THOSE '13 PEOPLE' WHO CONTRIBUTED TO HANNAS SUICIDE- YOU ARE EXACTLY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. A PERSON WHO IS MEAN. DO NOT HURT PEOPLES FEELINGS AND BE SO RUDE AND SWEAR AT PPL FOR THEIR OPINION, THAT IS DISCUSTING BEHAVIOUR!!! btw my name is kerry! not just annonomous

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    3. I agree completely!

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    4. The author obviously couldn't count. Clay wasn't really a reason for her suicide, and one guy was thrown in there twice. I literally poured iced coffee on the novel the second it was finished. Suicide is selfish. And by just offing yourself without a valid reason at all, you show that you don't care for anyone else's feelings. How it's gonna affect your classmates or friends. Or family for that matter! And Hannah probably had a nice house, nice friends, and a nice family. Yet there she goes, pointing fingers, claiming she's a victim of the world. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you for writing this review. You're a boss, and you deserve a cookie.
      -Deuces!





      P.S.: Clay sounds like a good kid.

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    5. There is one point about the book: do not be an asshole to other people and hope to not be held accountable or that there won't be consequences. They could do this to prevent this sensitive girl's death: being better human beings. But that's about education and cultural change of course.

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  12. Thank you, Anonymous. This is exactly what I wanted to say with my review but I fear that some people have misunderstood me :)

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    1. I thought this book was just awful. I bought it this morning to read during a long train ride. I stopped reading for 10 minutes every time I picked it up. I had no sympathy for any of the characters - Hannah comes off as a narcissistic puppeteer who killed herself to have the last laugh. Clay, well, he just seems like a goof. My biggest problem with it was that she THREATENED TO RELEASE A SET OF TAPES. A) how could she manage that from the grave? And B) honestly why the HELL would these teenage boys care? It's not like the boys implicated were involved in a hit and run scenario or something of the likes. All of their lives would have carried on just fine if the information on those tapes was leaked. The book was self important, downplayed mental illness, and quite frankly was just shit. Total shit.

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  13. my thoughts exactly. everyone was raving over this book so i decided to read it and. she's being so overly dramatic, pinning her own suicide on other people. on the littlest things. if everyone worked this way, where would the world be today. she has her entire life ahead of her, yet she kills herself over some guy touching her ass. )8

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    1. Look not all girls appreciate it when guys touch their ass. Now yall can have an opinion thats fine. Its a wonderful book. What people say or do can really hurt a person. Yall need to think about that. People have feelings. She was slowly slipping into depression. Before yall dare say anything put yourself in her shoes and quit being so selfish fot once!

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  14. The problem with this is that you all only look at the reasons singularly. If, with a teenage mindset, you take all these problems as one and how they add up, they are actually quite brutal. Getting the title as a "whore" in high school then having someone name you "hottest freshman ass" makes you seem as only a piece of meat and lowers self-esteem. Add to this the connections she tries to make but is back-stabbed on, it causes emotional disconnection and distrust. Therefore causing her problems connecting with Clay. Further more one of the reasons she killed herself when she witnessed the rape was because she felt guilty about having not stopped it. Above the author of this blog said that she WILLINGLY had sex, however if you read the novel, you could see that she did not enjoy it, nor want it. Overall this was a shallow based blog written by someone who has obviously not suffered through hard-ships or if had perhaps they were not deep? Not sure, however I suggest going back and re-reading the book and try to get an understanding. These events on their own may not have caused a suicide however as a total it is quite likely. Real teenagers kill themselves for less reasons everyday, and sometimes it's hard to out-right say "I need help," so they drop hints, like Hannah. If the teachers are not recepetive or try to help then they fail at their jobs. This is just my opinion however.

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    1. Nope, she's just immature and manipulative. If you kill yourself that's YOUR fault. This is why kids these days are fucked. We teach them that the world owes them something(it doesn't) they're told to blame others for their problems instead of accepting responsibility. And furthermore, she's bat shit crazy in the way that she recorded them and instead of giving the tapes to her parents or a therapist like any sane person would do, she has other kids in the school listen to them. Are her parents not as important to her as her classmates that she hates enough to kill herself over? It makes no sense. I've dealt with depression, attempted suicide, the whole 9 yards. And I found this story to be very self involved, droll, and narcissistic. If you're struggling with suicide, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. As you will probably end up like Hannah and kill yourself over problems that LITERALLY EVERY FUCKING TEENAGER GOES THROUGH. If you're thinking about hurting yourself or worse, you need to go to therapy. Not go make a bunch of childish immature tapes blaming everyone and everything for YOUR decision. Suicide is ultimately selfish and it's not fair to you or anyone else. You're robbing your friends and family of the joy you bring into their lives, you rob yourself of your future and any chance you would have to prove the "bullies" (and I use that term loosely) wrong. Who knows, maybe you're the reason someone HASN'T killed themselves. Look at the bigger picture, someone always has it worse, and they always manage to pull through. Don't blame her classmates, don't blame society, blame her and her shitty parents. If her dropping hints is enough to implicate guilt, then she might as well blame literally everyone in the school, her parents, and society as a whole. Don't be a whiny little bitch. The world is a tough cruel place, deal with it.

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  15. Would it be OK to use your post at school? I'm a teacher for English and we just read the book in class. I'd like the kids to read your ideas and make up some sort of answer. I know many of my students will agree with you but they need to learn how to put their thoughts into writing. And reading your post would be the perfect pre-writing task. :-)

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  16. I have a hard time agreeing with Anon. Hannah's problems were never so bad that she couldn't through. She was ridiculously over dramatic about most of the things that happened to her. None of these things were brutal even with the snow ball effect. I really never thought the thirteen reason were really the reasons she killed herself, I felt like she was just looking for reasons to end it. She never wanted help, help is easy enough to find when you look for it, she wanted excuses. As someone who has had a hard life and whose best friend has tried to kill herself, I can say I have no sympathy for Hannah. She does a truly horrible thing to those thirteen people and most of them don't deserve it. She comes off as a complete monster who uses suicide as a means of revenge and having the last laugh.

    -Anonymouse

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  17. Yes, I don't mind you using my post at your school. Hope that it indeed helps.

    I am happy most people share my opinion and are not overly dramatic about their problems in life. The last thing we need is a population of Hannahs...

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  18. I think that, to some extent, her reasons are reasonable. Yet, at the same time they are unreasonable and just cruel. I understand the "witnessing the rape and doing nothing about it" reason, but many of her other reasons I cannot help but to agree with you. Most of them are stupid and unreasonable. Suicide shouldn't ever be an option or way to get revenge, because in the end, the only one she is hurting is herself. Lovely blog! I did enjoy your opinion/reasons.

    <3 Anonymous Reader

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  19. go home and eat lead XD MVC3 for life lol

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    1. hardy har har that shit was badass... stfu and leave the lady alone

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  20. Agree totally. You are truthful, which makes you a trusted book reviewer.

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  21. Hanna never falls in love with Clay. She says herself she never sat down and said "Clay Jenson...he's the one.".

    She doesn't kill herself because of the "attitude" of her classmates, she killed herself because of a LOT of things. Where any of you bullied as children? Take it from the view of a 14 year old, who personally thinks suicide is selfish, and shouldn't happen. Things add up.

    Have you ever completely lost hope? Have you ever felt like there is nobody to let go too? Have you ever been made fun of so badly, that when someone makes the slightest remark, it's a hundred times worse then meant? If not, then that's why you don't understand this book. Things build up over time. When you have so much built up, and no way to get it out you lose all hope. Without hope, you see no reason to go on in life. That's why Hanna did it. She lost all hope. She couldn't even vent to her parents because they were distancing themselves from her.

    Like I said, I personally think suicide is, well I don't know, selfish? Dumb? I don't believe that an issue can't be solved, but I have been to a point where I've wanted to take drastic measures to stop bullying. Never anything extremely harmful though, like suicide, or cutting. I can understand why people self harm, but I don't agree with it. Maybe if open up your mind a little more, you can understand. When hope is gone, everything is gone.

    She was becoming depressed, which is a psychological issue. To me, I feel as if you're basically saying you do not believe in depression. So, if depression does not exist, then what do you think depression is mistaken for? Idiocy? No. I understand your opinion, as long as you understand mine. Maybe I can better relate, since I've lost a lot of hope before, not all, but a lot. Maybe that's what it takes to understand.

    Keep in mind, this book is saving lives. That's gotta count for something.

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    1. The book may be "saving lives", but it's also spreading suicide contagion. I understand that suicide is a touchy subject, no matter who you're speaking with. But as someone who has attempted suicide, I can say that the book downplays mental illness, and just... it's not good. Suicide is selfish as hell, in every way, but Hannah's reasons are toooooootally ridiculous. It's spreading the thought of suicide to younger people and making it seem okay to kill yourself for reasons like these.

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    2. Who are you to judge or downplay another person's reasons for suicide? there wilol always be someone else who has things worse off but that doesn't mean that your reasons for feeling that intensely are not as valid as someone else's.

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    3. Actually that's exactly what it means dipshit

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    4. As someone who had been brutaly bullied, raped by a family member, and sexually assaulted by my classmates, all while in middle school, yeah Hannah is a total tool. She's worse than Bella Swan!

      I have had my shirt ripped off me in the playground, told that I stuff my shirt because I had grown my breasts too soon, been called a whore in front of a teacher, who did nothing while I sobbed. Had another teacher call me a retard because I had a learning disability.

      Oh and my dad raped me for several years, and when I tried to get help, he threatened to kill me and my pets.

      I've been beaten up, had my body parts grabbed at, runours, been choked for no reason by a classmate who was several grades higher than me. Even had my father hand me a shot gun, and told me if I wanted to die, to do it outside the house. Then pointed it at my head telling me that he'd do it if I was so inclined to commit suicide.

      so yes, Hannah is a selfish cunt! So many people would KILL to have her life, I know I would.

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  22. I hated the portrayal of teachers in this book. If there is even a slightest hint of suicide from students, EVERYONE is called. Principal, teachers, parents. There was no subtle hint that Hannah wanted to kill herself. Moreover, there was a hint that a rape did occur. Again, teachers are legally obligated to notify the proper authorities.

    Why would a teacher EVER ask if a student is going to press charges on another student?

    This portion of the book is where they lost me. Unfortunately, it occurred towards the end of the book. Otherwise, I would have stopped reading sooner instead of finishing the book.

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    1. I agree with you completely, as a person who has been through these things I kind of shake my head at how poorly writen Hanna is.

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    2. You say you hate the portrayal of teachers in this book but I think you are forgetting that this book is based on a true story

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    3. Not all teachers are good and just because they are supposed to do something doesn't mean they will. My best friend confided in a teacher about her brothers sexually abusing her at home and guess what her response was. "Are really going to press charges on your brothers. Don't you know you'll just be causing more trouble for yourself? You should just put up with it until you're old enough to get out of the house." The teacher didn't report it and she didn't offer any help. No. She told her to "put up with it" for another three years!!! So why don't you try and tell me how teachers would never do something like that!

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  23. This is an amazing book. just finished it and how can you say that...tsk tsk tsk, you have no taste in books!

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  24. I finished the book literally seconds ago, after having heard tons of fantastic reviews about it from my classmates. I was less than satisfied with it though, so I searched for some criticism of the book, since I've only heard positives.
    I don't think that Jay Asher is a particularly talented writer. He doesn't make his characters relatable. The plot line itself was intriguing, but the climax i was waiting for never really came. I wanted, as I'm sure many other readers did too, to find out what the narrator did to Hannah. And as it turned out, he really didn't do anything wrong. That was a huge let down for me.
    Also, Hannah seems to be a little bit to dramatic for me. She couldn't wait to put the blame for her unhappiness on someone else, rather than face herself. She was clearly depressed, but I don't think the author or the plot-line portrayed that well.
    Over all, the book is average. Nothing special.

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  25. i agree with your list completely, and i'm glad that you have the balls to voice your opinion.

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  26. i agree as well that book was pure shit
    most of the people that like it are like what? 12 years old?

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  27. NOBODY LISTEN TO THIS DUMBASS! you have your right to say whatever your opinion is, and im just telling people straight up.

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  28. Tx for your review, but my question is, have ever wanted to kill your self?
    I'm a sixteen year old girl and I've tried to kill myself many times, showing signs of it too, hoping that somebory would realize my intentions and give me a reason to stay alive, and show that I would be missed. The thing with the parents is understandable in muy point of view, coz I had hid my intentions from her pretty well... for me, this book was good coz he captured how I felt during that period of my life...
    Tx again for your review even thought I can't agree with it...
    ~ Farya

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  29. I agree that you are entitled to your own opinion but all this review does is prove that the reason you didn't like the book is because you were too close-minded too understand it. I don't know if you remember when you were a teenager, but it's a time of discovery. You start to really discover and understand the world and for the first time you truly are forming your own opinions. Not only that, but you discover yourself. It's a very confusing time and that can (and almost always does) result in emotions being heightened. Now you have Hanna who not only is going through the things most teenagers go through, but also is being labeled and used and treated not as a human being, but as a piece of meat. All of this causes her self-esteem to plunge lower and lower with each event that she's labeled as her reasons to kill herself. Teenage hormones and her own added obstacles cause her to sink into a depression that prevents her from seeing the world clearly. Your outlook on suicide is just plain ignorant, not to mention ridiculously rude. Suicide is a real problem, especially among teenagers, and the way you are belittling it makes me want to throw up. Suicide is an act of desperation for those who can't see any other options. It's not easy for them to ask for help because many of them have been hurt so many times that they don't think they would be able to take any ridicule or bullying that might result from this. Often they are not seeing the big picture, and how could they when there are people like you throwing around disgusting comments such as, "The last thing we need is a population of Hannahs..." If you had put yourself in Clay's shoes for just a second maybe you would have understood what he was going through. He was listening to a girl that he once knew (who is no longer alive) talk about these secrets that had been silently tearing her apart, and no one knew. I don't know how else I can explain that to you, just read that passage again. The reason about there being no parents was explained when she speaks of how her mom didn't notice her new haircut because her parents were so distant from her. The had their own problems to worry about with that shopping complex about to be opened, they had to think about the possibility that they could go out of business. This is why they didn't notice that anything was wrong, therefore did nothing to help. I could go on about the reasons this review was so insulting and mindless but I think you get the picture. Next time you write a review about a controversial book, please be wise enough to think about what your saying. And also, try reading the book again or something similar to it, because you could really use some education on the topic.
    -Julie

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  30. i agree with you. my English class teacher made us read this book. it was so boring that i cried why do i have to read this.

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  31. okay look. how you feel about this book is fine. you either love it or hate it. but what hannah went through is a lot worse than you think. maybe the book could have been written better, but suicide is really serious. i have had more than 2 friends who have wanted to/frequently thought about doing it. the reasons why someone would want to commit suicide do not matter. its the fact that they actually want to die. they want to. being known as a 'slut' or being called 'easy' at school is hard to handle when you havent done anything wrong. i mean how do you fix something like that? people rely on rumours so much these days as if they were facts. so much so that no one would have believed her anyway.

    sometimes teenagers want to kill themselves not because of all the bad stuff that is going in their lives, but simply because there is no good stuff.
    what was there to look forward to in hannahs life?
    not to mention that fantastic support she recived from her peers.
    in the end it was all the little things that she just couldnt take anymore.

    if you knew anything about suicde, you'd know that if a person wants to kill themselves, you reasure them, point out all the good things in life. YOU GIVE THEM A REASON TO LIVE.
    YOU TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM, THAT YOU CARE.

    who did this for hannah?
    nobody cared which makes things worse.
    so of course hannah as you put it 'over-exaggerated'
    she had nobody telling her the stuff she thought/felt wasn't true.

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  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  33. Ok.. so Hannah got a few nicks and bumps on her way through high school. Yea, it sucks. That's high school for you. Big whoop.

    Do you know what my life was like? Well, to start I have a mood disorder, an anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder diagnosed by the mental institution I had to stay in for quite a while. I was called a whore at school, had trash thrown at me right in front of a teacher that didn't care, and had no one to talk to about any of it. I had an abusive brother and step dad, and was abandoned by the guy I thought was my dad, then abandoned by my real dad.

    Oh and I can relate to the boys thing too. I liked a boy and he forced me into sexual things... Then, I liked another boy, and he left me cause I wouldn't do sexual things, boys whistled at me inappropriately on several occasions, they grabbed me without even asking, and a year later, it escalated..
    I was drugged and raped twice, raped a third time, and what did people think when I tried to tell? They thought I was lying...

    But do you know what I did? I didn't kill myself.. obviously. I didn't wallow in self-pity and make a bunch of cassettes about the people that had hurt me. I've never had a working medication in my life, I've never had a real best friend to listen or understand, and my mother is always busy at work. And this all started when I was 10. All I did was grow up. I got my revenge by still pushing on and making something with my life. Along with being as terribly nice and polite as possible and listening to everyone else's problems because I know I would've appreciated it.

    That's all I have to say.

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    1. No. who are you to downplay another person's reasons for depression or suicide? Yes you've been through a lot and maybe because of that you don't understand that even if the reasons that someone is hurt isn't as "big" as your reason, it doesn't make it any less valid to that person. Just because you've been through more will never mean you felt it more. You cannot compare your problems with other people's, it's actually a very serious issue.

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    2. I agree with Kaitlyn Graham. Just because you've been through a lot, doesn't mean that you should say that someone else's reasons for suicide aren't valid. Suicide is a very serious topic and people's reasoning for doing it will always be "invalid" in someone's eyes. But it shouldn't be. For whatever reasons they have, those are their reasons. Not yours.

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  34. Honestly the fact that you're saying this book is bad, specifically because the "... reasons to kill herself are mildly idiotic." is proof that the book went over your head.

    THAT WAS THE POINT.

    THE POINT it that as petty and insignificant as your (or someone else's) actions seem to you, they can have an immeasurable impact on someone else when piled together.

    THE POINT was that you should be more gracious and loving to people in order to never have anyone end up committing suicide, because you never know what you do could be the final straw for someone (or the first straw for that matter).

    I'm not going to call you "stupid" for your opinion, because that would be hypocritical in itself, but please at least understand a book before you rant on it telling people "not to read" it when its theme is something that, quite honestly, could save lives.

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    1. I am going to ask you to do this, read the book again, and think about every chapter you've just read. Then comment again. By the way, Hannah accused Courtney for using her, but she used Bryce as a last reason to kill herself and then still blames him. A bit hypocritical isn't it?

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    2. Thank you for this post. Everyone in this comment section is saying how stupid her reasons were, but you actually saw the point of the book.

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  35. Actually a lot of the information in this book is accurate. I'm using it as Character Analysis in my Abnormal Psych class and everything this girl is going through coincides with the criteria for depression and behaviors that. Also don't you ever hear of those stories where a victims loved ones say that the person couldn't not have committed suicide because they were so happy. There are always internalized feeling when it comes to depression that lead to suicide. Sometimes when a persons world is falling apart they just want it to stop. So i think that you need to think before you say someones reasons to commit suicide or be depressed is idiotic. To them it's not idiotic.

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  36. I like the book even though I thought like you when I was done reading it that the book was not that exciting, the main character was weak etc., and she committed suicide for nothing, but as an adult and as a student, I recently had a problem with my advisor, and then I understood the feeling of Hannah. Not that I am going to commit suicide, but when people look for help (especially when one's job exists because you are paying tuitions and fees) and this person just tells you to let go of your hard work and doesn't do her job, and give you misleading information, then yes it hurts. People like the teacher in the book exist, I have one as my academic advisor! This book shouldn't be read by teenagers; the ones who really need to read this book are teachers and counselors/advisors.
    Lora you should have written a post about 13 reasons why teachers/advisors/principals (all those people whose job is to take care of the ignorant learners we are) should read the book lol.

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  37. In what universe is having no friends, no one that will say that they care, while your slowly dyeing inside a poor reason. Not to mention she lost so much self respect that she didn't object to a rape.I love this book so much because it has helped me

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  38. Congratulations on dehumanising every single person in this world that has gone through a major depressive disorder. Guess what buddy, it's different for everyone, no one can ever understand what depressed people go through because not one truly understands the complexity of the human mind- and each mind is unique so thats another complexity altogether. But it doesn't make it any less important because its the persons life at stake. I respect your opinion, but what you're saying could potentially be very damaging for those who can relate to Hannahs life. You shouldn't broadcast your opinion on serious life threatening topics that you really haven't got the faintest idea about, because you don't know who could be reading them and take what you're saying to extreme measures because you've just confirmed how pathetic they're life is and therefore confirmed the fact that they need to end it.

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  39. Also, to follow on from above, depression isn't just sadness, which is what you're portraying Hannah to be, just a sad girl. The part of your brain which controls your memory, called the hipocampus, is smaller than average for a person with depression. What this means is that there are less serotonin receptors (the calming hormonne responsible for the interactive between mind and body) meaning that a person with depression is less successfully able to process thoughts, therefore everything that to a healthy person would be considered a minor hurdle in ones life, is to a depressed person another reason they do not want to live anymore.

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    1. Ur an idiot the author glorified how Hannah blamed everyone else

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  40. I agree most of your reasons. I am currently reading this book and I have stumbled across your blog post.
    I started reading this book because i could relate to the plot. How i deal with this everyday and so do some of my friends. While reading this I found some of Hannah's reasons not enough to kill herself. I did however like the book, but it wasn't my favorites. I wish the reasons were more close to people out there, like me, who are dealing with the same thing.

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  41. I totally agree with you! I had a hard time understanding which idea was which because of the constant exchange of thoughts between Clay and Hanna. I even thought my copy had missing pages. Thanks for the great review! The only lesson I learned with this book is that teenagers are over dramatic that could lead to events like this one. You cannot blame anyone for your misfortunes especially for your own decisions. Be thankful with life, everyone has good and bad days that shape us to being better people.

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  42. Finally u r exactly right the author just glorified Hannah being right in blaming everyone else

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  43. It did mention in the book that she had similar things going on in her previous school and wanted to start fresh at Clay's school but it turned out that it just happened all over again. And anyways it doesn't matter if you think her problems weren't important enough for her to kill herself. Every single one of us reacts in different ways to the same stimuli. If someone feels that a certain event is 'the end of the world' they will react in accordance to that feeling, regardless if it would have that effect on you. If I felt traumatized by homework and my brain couldn't deal with the stress it caused and I decided to kill myself, most people would say that isn't a very good reason. But ultimately it doesn't matter what an outsider thinks because they are judging the act by their experience with homework, not mine.

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  44. As a teenager suffering from depression and social anxiety, and I'll even go as far to admit that I've been hospitalized for an attempt at suicide, this book was horribly offensive and I agree with all of your points entirely. She literally goes through issues almost all of my schoolmates have gone through more than once, things that will not matter once you're out of high school(She was a senior in the book, right?).
    I'm probably going to give this book away soon, I won't be reading it again.

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  45. Lora, you have made me laugh my ass off with this one. This is the best review of the book ever. Don't you listen to haters of this review, they aren't smart enough to understand this book. If you like this book, you must have not given the points in the book enough thought if it was totally fair how she blamed them.

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  46. Thanks for this awesome review.

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  47. So I haven't actually read the book.. and I wanted to but being someone who has lost people to suicide I wanted to check out others opinions on it.
    So first off,
    After everything I have heard and read the whole Hannah character has been portrayed as self centred and just over all I really don't even want to give it a chance.
    I do not understand why anyone would think that it is acceptable to send messages around as a chain about how those people contributed to her selfish choice to end her life.

    Second of all...
    Why on earth would she even consider having sex with someone she witnessed rape another girl? That in itself is very idiotic, and nothing can justify her willingness to sleep with him.

    And may I just say I think that Clays reaction to it was kinda completely normal, suicide is very hard to deal with and from personal experience it is quite hard to come to terms with.

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  48. It seems that the only reason you hate the book is because of the reasons.
    Hannah never "exaggerated" her reasons, she said it herself, what Justin did created a snowball that grew.
    She had sex with Bryce, because she was already close to The edge and she wanted to see how it would feel like to be her reputation for once.
    You look like 30 or 40, I know you were a teenager once, and if something like that happens, of course we're going to be dramatic about! It's not something we just go tell someone about. She had no one. Not even her own mother. If someone feels that isolated, she's bound to think she has no choice. You sound mean and just ignorant.
    I've had friends who had even more idiotic excuses to even think of that option.
    NO REASON IS IDIOTIC TO LEAD TO THAT OPTION.

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  49. THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS REVIEW.
    My best friend loves this book, lots of kids at school idolize it, and honestly, I have no idea why.
    I've been reading the comments above, and honestly, any comment that defends Hanna viciously irritates me. I'm not saying that they aren't allowed to post, and I'm not even saying that they are bad people for thinking so. But I do strongly disagree with them.
    First of all, I think it is cruel to side with the person who commits suicide, which is much of what I'm reading above. It is cruel because the real tragedy about suicide is not the person who commits it, but to the people around them who have to deal with the guilt that comes with being ignorant to someone's extreme pain. Reading this book, Hanna seemed pretty proud of herself, getting this elaborate plan to get all these people to feel guilty about her death, even the BOY THAT SHE LOVED. She wanted to be SURE that these people knew that they were RESPONSIBLE for her death long after they could do anything about it! Even if they had NO IDEA that she was even upset with them! How selfish is that?!
    I'm going to say this right now; I have had a few friends who have spoken about cutting their wrists and contemplating suicide. Yes, the first thing to do is to get them out of that situation. To calm them down and reassure them that they are loved and such; I have had to BEAT into their heads (figuratively) that I will always be there for them and that they are strong. But what is going through my mind is something no one should EVER say to anyone contemplating suicide: people who commit suicide are selfish. I know that is not what they want to hear, and I would never say it to them for their safety, but I don't believe that they are thinking about the people around them or the devastating repercussions of their actions. Especially teenagers like Hanna, who have their whole lives ahead of them and let a few insults and cruel acts ruin her.
    Now before the ammunition comes, I am a teenage girl with mood swings that have publicly embarrassed me several times. I know what it is to be stuck in a ditch. I know what it is to feel like no one cares about me and that I have nothing to offer anyone. And guess what I did? I muscled through half of it and talked through the other half. I let myself be sad, but not to the point of desperation. I let myself get angry, but not silent. I was hurting and had enough respect for, not me, but my family and friends, to talk about it. I honestly didn't care about myself for a few years, but I at least had a heart to care for those around me.
    The days when I was so angry at my parents I wanted to run away JUST so they could feel guilty about it were when I was in middle school. Put simply, those childish actions are behind me.
    I am NOT attacking suicidal teens; I understand the concept of serious depression and am not blaming people for messed up chemical balances. I am attacking Hanna's case, a normal teenage girl who is taking her unnecessary suicide to a sickening level. She is scarring 13 children, including her crush, for the rest of their lives.
    All I keep wondering is if the author actually wrote this as satire to point out how silly some teens are being. Acting like nasty words are the end of the world when there is a town twenty miles away filled with people you've never met and will be ready to embrace you... How can this not be used to show suicidal teenagers that they have more to live for than a dramatic death?

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  50. Honestly all that these reasons show is that you have no imagination and no heart.

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  51. I just have to say that her not seeking help is actually quite normal when teenagers feel the need to commit suicide. You don't even understand how much pain she must of been to able to go through with it. I can see some points that you did make in other reasons why you don't like it but I would recommend this book to anyone. It has a good message that eventually small actions will lead to big consequences. The book was well written in my opinion.

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  52. After seeing this review, I could tell that you were mostly concentrated on this book's real antagonist Hannah like most people that want to throw this book into a book burning pile. However, she is just a dead character with horrible development, and plus she finds it fun to commit suicide, perfect for little kids! However, the reason I dislike this book was because there is no plot. If I were to sum this up in five sentences then it would be this, boy find strange tapes. Boy sees dead friend on each tape and finds out about her life. Boy lives life, and tries to see her reasons through interaction with friends. Boy feels guilty about the girl's death. Passes the tapes on with a new resolution, however never really accomplished anything. I'm fourteen and that is what reading this book tells me. In addition, you can't get a feeling for each character because you feel sympathy with their guilt, yet they still performed a couple of misdeeds which makes you dislike them again, however you still feel (mostly) sympathy. Don't worry Lora, you still pretty much posted half of the complaints that I have with this horrible piece of fiction.

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  53. Are you seriously that dumb? like you should NEVER hate on a book. even if you don't like it. thats just rude/dumb/childish/immature. This book is PERFECT for teenagers. you wanna know why? because this is happening in real life! And to all people who are hating on this author and this book, keep hate to your self! saying bad stuff isn't gonna make the book better (btw its perfect the way it is) this book is one of the best sellers (wow i seriously doubt its bad...) making bad reviews about a FANTASTIC book is stupid. so please keep your thoughts to yourself. And btw, its 13 reasons why, not 13 PEOPLE WHY. I think that you only made this review because (1. are probably old and you think that this is bad. 2. you are jealous of this book. 3. you couldn't express your feelings so you just did this.) I don't think that its okay to be telling people what to read or what not to read. Maybe you could give an opinion but not an essay why not to read. Please don't say that it is a horrible book... cause its not.

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    1. Well in my opinion I don't really see the point to the book besides how Clay eventually helps Skye because of what happened to Hanna, thought I only read what happened on Wikipedia and what you all wrote in your reviews. I don't really think like some others that Hanna had good enough reasons why to do suicide (besides the rape) thought I understand that words hurt and that it does hurt her self esteem. People are allowed to express their opinion, just because it was a bestseller doesn't mean there weren't reasons not to like the book, not everyone has to fall in love with it. Nobody is jealous of this book except for some people who love it. Look at the other reviews most people really don't like this book at all, no offense but I personally think it would be better if her reasons were a bit more valid.

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    2. Its called criticism, maybe you should look up what that means. This book is not perfect and her criticism is dead on. As someone who had to read this book in high school for an all school read, I wasn't able to read it then due to the fact I was actually suicidal, depressed, and attending outpatient therapy because unlike Hannah Baker, I wanted to get help. The book shows a stereotypical "depressed woes is me" teenager. In my opinion, it's a shit book and my opinion or the author of this posts opinion is just that; a fucking opinion. If all you children could get off your ego trip for this horrible excuse of a book about teen suicide and actually examined the main character, you'd see why the author of this article made the claims she has. Come back when you're oldeirand can form an actual comment not fueled by frustration that someone doesn't agree with you.

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  54. fdytfuihojpfweaydsgui

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  55. Your reasons are contradicting each other. You said "the teacher's don't understand her issues" yet "she never asks for help." How do the teachers know that she has issues in the first place/wouldn't that be the reason why she doesn't ask for help? You seem to be criticizing this book simply because you don't understand the book. It's ignorant for you to say her reasons where petty because people cope with things differently. Besides, it's a fictional story. Part of writing fiction is creating a situation that wouldn't necessarily happen in real life. The author is allowed to use an idea that is a little different. I'm not saying it's the best book in the world (but I thoroughly enjoyed it) but you need to at least respect the message it is trying to convey. After all, I'd much rather read a story about teen suicide than a story about some unemotional girl falling in love with a vampire.

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  56. I totally agree that this is a horrible book. The main character refuses to seek help, and when she does it's just to validate that no one cares about her. I had no sympathy for her towards the end, because I soon realized that she simply killed herself to get back at the people who made her miserable. That's not selfish at all. I mean don't think of your parents or your grandparents, or even the guy that you liked who's listening to this recording. Yeah sure, you just go ahead and make them feel like the centere of THEIR universe died. Plus, what if some of the people who listened to the tapes didn't care, what if they thought "good riddance" that's just letting them win. And I didn't feel sorry for her whatsoever when she let that dude have sex with her. Especially, since she knew he raped her "ex" Best Friend. I honestly think she was looking for reasons to kill herself. It was idiotic. I was brutally bullied in middle school. I was even told to do the world a favor and "just dissapear" or "just die". I went to a high school where boys said they would only have sex with me if I put a paper bag on my head. Killing myself was not an option, especially not for something so pithy as revenge. What would ending my life achieve other than giving those people what they wanted. If anything I feel sorry for people like that poor girl in Florida, who killed herself because she honestly didn't think she could live anymore, or those 11 kids who were tormented and brutalized for their sexuality in Minnesota. This girl is not a hero. She's a coward and a selfish person, who didn't stop to think about how her actions would affect her family. She should've thought of Clay, in the very least. I mean honestly, if she cared about him so much why did she kill herself?

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  57. Everything you had to say was completely true. However, I think you are failing to connect what you find wrong with the book to the big picture. You may disagree, but I feel Hannah's reasons for suicide were purposefully unreasonable. The whole point was to show how unstable of a mindset she was in; how much her depressed state affected how she saw herself and other people. I do agree that Hannah should've included more about her relationship with her parents. She went throughout the whole entire tapes talking as if they never existed! Whether that is supposed to symbolize how distant she felt from her mother and father, I do not know. But I do know that she did reach out for help. Yes, not in the right way I suppose, but as a young depressed teenager with little education on the subject can you really blame her? Seeking help is often the hardest part; it takes a lot of courage and confidence. Something that she most likely lacked in her situation. I feel the entire purpose of this book was to show you how messed up the mind is of someone struggling with such a serious illness. Sure Hannah claims her tapes are meant to show people how their actions affect others, but then again we have to examine the source this is coming from. The information we are receive is from someone in an unstable state of mind, so of course her story is not going to be reliable. Plus even if she was completely mentally healthy her facts would always be affected by bias, and personal opinion. Hannah truly believes these people did those things to maliciously hurt her, which once again conveys how restricting this disease is. I think by including Clay in the story the author meant to even out Hannah's over dramatized view with that of every else around her. He was trying to show how much her opinion of herself differed from everyone else's. Although I will admit that Clay's input didn't do much to make the story any more reliable as he had a previous emotional connection with Hannah that affected how he felt towards her and the events. I respect your opinion, however I feel that you disliking towards the book stems from your inability to relate to the situation. (I'm just throwing that out there, I may be wrong) Have a nice day, and I hope to hear a reply back from you soon. :-)

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  58. What I don't get though is how the fact that her dignity was stolen from her (Marcus in the cafe, remember?) and the guilt she felt (Jessica in the party, dude...) is not mentioned. And dude, of course she'd want revenge! She was bullied, there is trauma, and everyone's emotional strength wasn't the same, maybe she was too weak in that aspect, withering at the sides. But I suppose, everyone has their opinion.

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  59. Thanks god I found this blogger. I extremely hate this novel. Not only because my non-educated ESL teacher asked me to do this, but also the novel is pointless. I believe that everyone's life is tragedy , but this tragedy is just like a movie made by kim kardashian. I hare this stupid book.

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  60. I bet your one of those mistaken teachers .(no offense) but MY Language Arts teachers LOVED IT.Your reasons were so idiotic.

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  61. I really regret buying this books.it's really stupid and the reason why she killed herself are pointless and invalid. I'm a teenage who has been bullied but suicide was never an option to me.

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  62. lawl look at these haters wasting their time on long reviews because they were butt hurt.

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  63. I agree on most points. Asher's writing and tone could use work. However, the foundation of a good story is there after you look past some of the other issues of the book. Likewise, the writer of this review needs to work on her critical reading skills.

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  64. What is amazing here is how some people who loved the book and pretend to understand it better than the ones who didn't appreciate the book are the first ones to insult and use very harsh words against the author of this post.
    You claim to have read and understood 13 Reasons Why, but your attitude shows me that you have not understood the depth of it.
    Words can hurt and can destroy lives. What are you doing right now instead of talking calmly and trying to debate ? Insulting. Pretending to be better than the ones who didn't like the book.
    I was not fond of it even it I found the concept very interesting. I won't say why I didn't like it as a lot of people here are insulting without trying to understand. And don't tell me I didn't understand anything: I was bullied at school and thought about death began at that age. 10 years later, I'm depressed and self-arm. So don't try to tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about. Thank you.
    Great post Lora. Would have loved to discuss it with you, but obviously some people here are just disgusting ( "BITCH" "DOUCHE", WTF ?!) with their harsh words. Take care.

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  65. I see you didn't get the whole meaning of the story. Read and UNDERSTAND please. Before you judge.

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  66. the book was amazing and I guess you don't know what a good book is if you don't like this one.

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  67. I defend the author of this blog. Hannah really gave me nothing to feel sorry about except for the fact that she was obviously mentally ill or extremely stupid. Her sick, shallow, twisted logic really shocked me.

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  68. I think your last point is the best! That's definitely what I learnt from this book-to stop blaming others in my feeble attempt to excuse myself from my problems. But then again, the author probably exaggerated all these 'reasons' to give an insight on how one's thoughtless acts can lead to such repercussions. I feel like the whole book is screaming 'Stop and look around at the people around you-for the small tell tale signs of calling out for help you would normally ignore. All in all, I agree wholeheartedly with you but at the same time, I don't regret reading it.

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  69. Hannah isn't 'stupid' or 'dumb' or anything like that. Hannah knows that she's just making excuses to kill herself. Even the author acknowledges this, when Marcus says it to Clay.

    I do not sympathise with Hannah. She isn't loveable or nice or funny. She's the antagonist. She's that 'bad guy'. But she's also has a twisted sense of reality and a twisted sense of reasoning, yet the reasons she states aren't all that farfetched.

    Personally, I've known people to have unsuccessfully try to end their lives for much less. That's not the problem. In high school, peer pressure is overwhelming. Young adults who aren't really adults and are too old to be a child walk around trying to find their path. A poor social life can cause severe effects on a sixteen(?) year old's life.

    She's twisting her words like a knife into those she sends the tape. She want's people to feel what she felt. She's angry at them, and she's angry at herself. She's given up and she blames these twelve people because yes, they did contribute. She was over dramatic. She was a drama queen. She was also successful in killing herself. People like Hannah do exist. People like Hannah are also successful in killing themselves. That's why this book is important. This isn't something that we cannot relate to, something entirely of no real foundations.

    People like Hannah exist and people like Hannah may be overdramatic and whining over petty things and 'weren't even raped' or had something 'traumatising' happen but do people like Hannah deserve death?

    Yes the writing was disappointing more often than not. Yes, there was very little characterisation. Yes, probably not the best way to approach such a careful topic but now that it's out there, as long as someone cares about what they're doing around others and prevents a perfectly preventable death here in the real world, I believe this book has its place in the world.

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  70. My English teacher had us read this book as a novel study, and I've noticed that the ONLY people who believe it's a quality book are the Hannah's of my school. Suicide really is terribly selfish. I have often thought of it, and I have PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bpd. But even with these, I still make an effort to connect and seek help when I feel especially upset. Suicide is selfish, and messy. Even if you choose pills or a rope, someone still has to clean it up. Take a moment and imagine a younger sibling trying desperately to wake you up as you die, or your mother walking in to see you dangling from the ceiling, or your father screaming in agony as he tries to stop the bleeding. I've read that some people simply jump in front of trains in NYC. Think of what you just did to the conductor. He couldn't possibly stopped in time, but the rest of his life he will always think, "If only I could have noticed them standing by the tracks sooner". By committing suicide, you have just set that complete stranger up for a lifetime of guilt and nightmares, possibly even put him out of a job because he was afraid it would happen again.
    Now lets address those of you that believe the book is just some MARVELOUS PIECE OF ART THAT MUST BE PRAISED. I've read some comments calling the author of the blog a douche/bitch for various reasons.
    A) If you dislike the opinion, why even read the blog in the first place? The search result clearly states it is an anti-13 reasons why listing.
    B) You clearly missed the point of the poorly written book. You happen to be casting yourself in the same boat as those 11 people that did some 'terrible things' this girl.
    C) WHO CARES IF SHE MISSPELLED THE MAIN CHARACTER'S NAME? It could have quite possibly been a typo, since my device tried to auto correct it to Hana earlier for some reason. Just because you misspelled something, it does not mean you didn't pay attention to the novel.
    Now I would like to add 4 reasons that aren't stated above.
    1) The novel completely waters down the issues at hand. Since Asher carried this all the wrong way, it makes suicide seem like no big deal, and that ALL suicidal people are just another Hannah. Suicide is actually a problem in today's society, but this book has people thinking it's all a big joke.
    2) The guidance councilor that doubles as an English teacher has not even received the tapes yet, and he was already feeling tons of guilt. Earlier in the novel, Clay mentions that the teacher took leave for almost a week after she killed herself. Imagine when he receives the tapes. The man will be crushed. And what if the second set gets out, because someone doesn't pass them on? He could quite possibly lose his job, because some may see his lack of comprehension as malpractice instead.
    3) Clay lists his emotions by name, rather than allowing the reader to make an effort, which might have caused more empathy. It happens in many places, and especially on the last page.
    4) The inspirational ending. It sounds like the whole time Asher was writing, he was just like "This is gonna be a poorly made movie someday. Better make the director's job easy. I'll throw in just the right amount of cheesy cliche to create a touchy-feely rom-com." Speaking of cliche, well, the entire book is a compilation of cliched misconceptions of teenage life. I mean, ragers every other night? Extreme lack of non-static parents throughout the entire town? A diner where people have undetected sex in the booths? Clay's mom allowing him to stay out ALL night and not being upset the next day? I'll even go as far as listing the scene in which the owner of the diner gives him a free milkshake because he can tell Clay is having a hard day. We all no that no one would drop the profit like that.

    Thank you, that is all.
    FOR NOW.
    ~Anon

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  71. You guys, its not that crucial.
    Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. So chill out.
    To me, Hannah was a bit melodramatic about all of this. And I agree, she should have put Clay first or not at all, because he didn't do bull.
    And okay, maybe the book was a little underwhelming, but ya'll don't need to be going crazy. I understand how some of you think that Hannah is a jerk and needs to get her life together, and some of you have some amount pity for her, but who cares? its just a book!!!

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  72. Totally agree with you. Ever since I read this book I have been talking to my friends about how stupid Hannah's reasons to kill herself are. I bought the book thinking it was going to be more dramatic, and I was easily disappointed.

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  73. You are being too harsh on the book. Hannah had a hard life at school, because of all the little things, and guess what? The little things piled up and created a mountain, one that she couldn't overcome and she felt like she was sinking deeper and deeper and the only way to get out of it was to end her life. She may not have been the most confident teenager, and that is why it was the little things that made her life miserable, because they kept popping up over and over and causing new events to happen.

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  74. I highly recommend this book for anyone especially other teenage girls even if suicide has never been relevant in your life. It was a quick read that really catches your attention and brings you into the plot as if you were following the narrator on his journey. Each tape and chapter leaves you with suspense and wonder of who will be next and why. Overall great book!

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    1. As someone who has been suicidal and went to outpatient to learn how to cope with my depression and anxiety, I'm gonna have to disagree with you. The book shows a stereotypical manic pixie dream girl like chick who, as the author said, thinks the world owes her something. She doesn't seek help and acts like everyones against her. Hannah is a poorly written depiction of a suicidal teenager and would anger anyone who's truly been diagnosed with MDD as a teenager. Overall horrible book!

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  75. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  76. I understand your opinion but I have to respectfully disagree with you. As someone who has had major depression and attempted suicide I understand how Hannah felt and why she did what she did, yes your right nothing too moments actually happened to her but its a snow ball effect and once the snow ball's built up enough momentum there's no stopping it, this is what happened with Hannah, this is what happened with me and what's undoubtably happened to many other people, things accumulate. The reason that Clay couldn't reach her was because she had already given in, she had given up on any and all hope her mind was made up and once that happens - well lets just say you can't be easily persuaded. I do however agree with you that she didn't actually ask for help and that was something that annoyed me with the book but then I thought back, and I never asked for help, well I did once from a teacher I respected and thought could help me but that didn't work out so well, as she did with her teacher and again that didn't work out so well, I didn't attempt suicide till awhile after that she was just a bit closer than I was I guess. My point is that unless you've been there the story does seem a bit off/odd that it doesn't make scene, but that's because you haven't ever been in that position and I can't penalise you for that, just as you can't truly penalise the book for that. As to your matter with the formatting that is each to their own, I personally enjoy that type of formatting and find it interesting but as I said each to their own.

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  77. Well, I read the book and I found the idea of leaving cassettes before you die for specific people to hear is genius. But then the reasons for killing herself aren't very reasonable and just lame (the most subtle way of putting it). I mean, nobody kills themselves just because there are a rumours about them. And throughout the book she just kept blaming people for her decision. She also expected other people to understand her without saying a single word. This article is all my thoughts on a page and it's very relatable.

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  78. Obviously I realize I am commenting on this a few years late, but I just want to address two things that are extremely ignorant. In reason number 3 you say, "These problems are experienced by almost every teenager on the globe. Hannah is no different than other problematic teens, yet she decides to dramatically kill herself." Is every teen suffering depression? Does every person who commits suicide do it for the same reason? Do you know any connotations behind the bullying? Does every teenager really experience the same problems? I never experienced any of those issues. Also, someone should be flattered by being sexually harassed? ("Another boy put her ass in the list of the best asses in the school (this sounds like a reason to celebrate, not to die"). That is hands down one of the dumbest comments have ever read. I respect your opinion, but I would say that nobody should read your reviews, because while you may think you are educated, you are obviously just bigoted. Just because you read a lot does not make your opinion scholarly (or valid).

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  79. 1. Based on your descriptions of Hannah Baker, you clearly aren't educated in the matters of adolescent development. Hannah's reasons for taking her own life are appropriate to her age and development.
    2. My father killed himself two weeks ago. To speak so rudely about this subject and Hannah, even if she is a fictional character, is uncalled for. Clearly you've never been close to anyone who has committed suicide, or been suicidal yourself.
    3. This book is extremely organized and well written. There is a reason the book has such a following, and great ratings.
    4. Did you even read the book? "She never asked for help". Please go read Mr. Porter's chapter. You're reasoning for bashing this book are Ludacris and have no ground to stand on.

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  80. Also, if you guilt trip people for causing harm that they had no reasonable way of knowing they were causing instead of simply explaining to them that their actions are causing harm and need to stop, then you're an emotional abuser.

    And by killing herself, Hannah has removed all possibility of facing consequences for abusing her schoolmates this way. She's also made it impossible for them to try and mend the harm they unwittingly caused, ensuring that they will likely have to live with their guilt for the rest of their lives.

    Furthermore, feelings of guilt and shame are often a reason for suicide, so realistically, Hannah could very well end up being one of someone's else's "thirteen reasons why."

    If this book is supposed to raise sympathy for those suffering depression, it has not done itself any favors by making its main character such a cruel, petty, and hypocritical person.

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    1. Oops, I accidentally cut off the first paragraph I meant for that:

      As most people do not react so drastically to the sorts of things Hannah faced, her schoolmates can hardly be held responsible for her reaction. They had no way to see it coming.

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  81. I agree with this SO much. Hannah is oversensitive and dramatic.

    I bought "13 Reasons Why" for my 7th grade reading, thinking it was a good book that deals with emotional thinking and reasons for suicide.

    I have never been so wrong. And you are oh so right.

    First off, this book does not follow the plot pyramid very well. I guess the climax is Clay finding out that he wasn't really on the list. But that, I tell you, is a weak climax. It was expected and uninteresting.

    Second, Hannah is committing suicide for dull reasons. "Oh, he embarrassed me" or "Oh, he cheated on me" is not a good reason to kill yourself. So what if you have a busy mom, or that guys catcall you from time to time? Hannah is oversensitive and doesn't appreciate what she already has. All her help, and her looks that helps her get cute guys.

    Third, there's unnecessary swearing and sexual content. Writing "ass" from time to time and a detailed description of Hannah getting fingered isn't really going to change my view on her, you know. Plus, I don't think you should treat middle school drinking and sex as a normal thing.

    Fourth, did the suicidal character really have to be the stereotypical white, blonde, female?

    Lastly, and most importantly, this book is giving off a REALLY bad message. HANNAH IS ONLY COMMITTING SUICIDE TO GET REVENGE. This should never, NEVER be the case. Hannah even threatened to release the tapes in a public way! Tell me, how is that NOT being an attention whore?!
    Also, Clay is a horny fuck.

    I don't like this book, and I agree with your reasons. I've checked out Jay Asher's other works, and he's done way better.

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  82. Agreed agreed agreed. Even as someone who has experienced suicidal thoughts and tendencies, I cannot sympathize with Hannah because she is far too in touch with her emotions to have sought out help and then been unable to articulate her feelings. She concocted an elaborate plan to drag everyone else into her misery and expressed her anger with them in a precise manner. How could she not have known she needed help and sought it out properly?
    The book would have been so much more interesting if these character flaws were intentional, but Asher does not allow her to be flawed. The person this book should have been about was JESSICA: a much more sad and compelling character who was allowed to be imperfect, and whose cruel actions towards Hannah actually had reasoning.
    But you know who's a bigger idiot than Hannah? Fucking Tony. This dude has these tapes, listens to them, and does exactly what he tells her. Okay, Tony, Hannah has described incidents of rape, stalking, and manslaughter on these tapes.... WHY ARE YOU NOT CALLING THE POLICE? Furthermore, he listened to these tapes before she died, right, and he called her parents, but vaguely saying "you should check on your daughter." Uh dude, can you elaborate please? Tell them about these tapes? Drive over to her house and try to stop her yourself, or, you know, CALL THE POLICE? Maybe after she's dead give her parents these tapes so maybe THEY can call the police on Bryce and Tyler and Jenny if you're not going to???

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  84. You seriously need to study psychology to understand people's minds and how they work in their ways. I'm sorry but this review is as "dramatic" as Hannah so you say.

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  85. PART I.
    I just finished the series right now, haven't read the book yet (not planning to). And I've only read some reviews, a lot of comments both pro the book and also those who find everything about it either insulting or bogus. First, yes we are entitled to our own opinion (and the least we could do is be considerate on both sides). So, I have nothing against those people who actually like the book/series but please don't start romanticizing suicide. That crosses the line...
    Anyway, I've read that from the perspective of those people who actually met/work/been with people who attempted suicide and still have tendencies to commit such acts -it's never that simple. Some of you already said that she "hid in the closet". I’ve watched the series and all she ever did was complain about everything. Like the majority would say, most teenagers experienced this type of abuse from other classmates and yes, not even the teachers could fix it. That’s why we have to keep going. Because no one can help us, but us. But anyway, I’ll get to that later.
    A few concerns came to mind while watching the series. I just wanted to point some things out since I haven’t read the book (now I know, some scenes may have been added or deleted and it’s not the exact version of the “novel” so please feel free to correct any of this if you see any oversight)

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  86. PART II.
    She witnessed the terrible act of rape but before any of that she (Hannah) almost hooked up with Clay; ALMOST because they both wanted it but because she kept on thinking about all the other boys/issues/terrible acts that happened to her she couldn’t do it in the end so she said “You should just go, I don’t want you here get out! GET THE FUCK OUT”. And then she said “WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LEAVE? IT WAS THE WORST THING EVER”. I think I just cursed out loud for the first time in my life. Because I usually just scream in my head and morphed them into drawings etc. But I actually said it this time.
    Like it wasn’t enough, a week later while she was walking (I understand this part. I would’ve walked to, God knows where or for how long) but then she ended up with the rapist’s house/party and ended up sharing a jacuzzi with the same dude –I mean rapist. The best part was it was implied that she was raped, but then later on while talking to that useless counselor (Oh, I’m sorry, did I hurt his feelings? Put it in a comment box, I’d be happy to elaborate that in another issue) anyway the counselor asked: did he force himself on you? to which she answered: I THINK SO. Followed by a series of (I can’t even described it) questions:
    C: Did you tell him to stop?
    H: NO
    C: Did you tell him no?
    H: NO.
    C: Should we involve your parents or the police?
    H: NO!

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  87. PART III.
    SHE FREAKING SAID NO TO CLAY A WEEK AGO BECAUSE SHE KEEPS IMAGINING HERSELF WITH THOSE ASSHOLES. THEN SHE SAW THIS EFFIN BRYCE RAPED JESSICA AND THEN SHE WENT TO THE PARTY AND LET THAT RAPIST RAPE HER. Well, maybe you’d think even if she did say NO (like what she did on Clay and may I quote her on that again“GET THE FUCK OUT!”) that Bryce would’ve still force himself on her, even if she screamed no one would probably hear her because everyone was leaving. Maybe she lost track of time because she was depressed, maybe she didn’t notice maybe she was just empty and let it happen to punish herself. Or that she didn’t care because her life doesn’t mean anything to anybody or to anyone.
    BUT THAT FUCKING ACT IS NOT ON ANYBODY. THAT WAS ON HER. If she struggled, if she screamed if she cried for help that would’ve been on Bryce. But she gave up on herself. And I AM NOT SAYING THAT BRYCE WAS INNOCENT ON THAT AND THAT IT WASN’T RAPE. ALL I’M SAYING IS SHE GAVE UP ON HERSELF BUT SHE STILL BLAMED IT ON EVERYONE EXCEPT HERSELF.
    And you know what, halfway through this series I could hear myself screaming: JUST CLOSE THE EFFIN CURTAIN!
    What would've happen if she just told them or even just her mother? Instead of expecting everyone to read her mind; to stay even if after she told them to leave the fuck out/leave her alone. What would've happen if she just trusted Clay?
    I've watched a certain movie about someone who was gang raped and decided to tell the police but nobody believed her (she has no parents, no support etc), everyone practically judged and persecuted her – but she tried anyway until the end. There was this scene while she was starting a new life in a different school (she transferred) she decided to learn how to swim because she said, in case she has too. And in the end, when everything was falling apart again, the parents of those "hs boys" (a total of 44 boys/students) who raped her blamed her and her past got exposed again -she jumped from the bridge and into the water.

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  88. PART IV.
    Point is, this series/book make everything sound so simple. Like everything ends in death (for her: her pain etc) but obviously it didn’t end with her parents, her friend and other “friends”. "The voice she never had when she was alive?" What? She had it all along, but she knew it was hard, she knew it was going to be painful that's why she end it.

    I sincerely apologize if I offended anyone regarding this comment. That is not my intention. I just wanted to correlate such events/scenes/dialogues to what I felt/feel before, during and after watching this series. I guess people related to this well because deep inside we all have that thought, maybe it’s in the deepest corner of our mind, maybe we’re not aware of it yet or just suppressing it but I bet we all have that. And this book made it sound so romantic, dramatic/poetic and paradoxical because of the result of her tapes –that at least Jessica knew the truth even if it hurt her; that Justin finally had the courage to stop being Bryce’s bitch; and maybe Bryce will pay for it (maybe literally cause he’s rich and all); Clay saved Skye and himself; Hannah’s parents knew what her life was life and what happened and what drove her to do it; Alex grew some balls and persuaded all the other jerks to be true to themselves, but then shot himself; Courtney is still Courtney and I’m not sure about all the rest except that Tony look a lot like Bruno Mars and I think I want to see him dance *insert That’s what I like*

    "You want to know, who else is responsible for my death?" Please, no.

    P.S. This book is INSPIRED by a true story NOT BASED because the real person attempted but is still alive.

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  89. I'm with the guy who wrote this. I spent 15 years of my childhood beIN g molested by my dad almost constantly. My best friends in grade school that I had for 9 years all told me come graduation that they only hung out with me because they felt bad that I had no friends, my highschool friends stopped being my friends because rumor had it I was gay which I wasn't and then come college I had such bad social anxiety from all of that that I couldn't even go to class without throwing up from nerves but forced myself to go anyways to over come it which I did. So for someone to kill themselves because of a stupid rumor of going to second base with some guy and having some other guy say she has a great ass....Get over yourself. Get help. If you're going to kill yourself don't blame the world. We all have problems and push through them. I never blamed anyone for mine and I forgave and forgot. I have a great relationship with my dad because I sat down and talked to him through some very tough subjects of why. So don't try and tell me that it's everyone's else's fault she killed herself. I've been there and there's ways to cope and get over it.

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  90. The only thing good I can say about this review is that I got to stop reading it after you stated being on a list as best ass is something to celebrate. Wow I'm sad for you

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  91. I did not read the book, but I was recommended the series by a friend. It is probably very closely aligned with the core story, and I completely agree with all your points. This series is simply an attempt at monetizing a very serious issue. Hannah could have very well gotten counseling for what we see as petty issues, compared to what say, a child growing up in a rough neighborhood who has to deal with drugs and murder. She is selfish and doesn't even consider that she is being completely shortsighted and blowing things far out of proportion... I have dealt with these kinds of things with friends in my younger years, but at high school it really isnt all that dramatic. Teens can be cruel, sure, but this is just a stereotypical depiction of high school for people who want to be sympathized for.

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  92. The reason I dislike this book was because it made it seem like Hannah didn't kill herself because of what she was going through but to get revenge on the people. She blamed everyone for her problems and then killed herself. (?) Her reasons I'm not going to demolish them as everyone has different breaking points but if I honestly used her story to "generalize" every suicide. I would think people are doing it for attention. This book should not be giving me this message or making me think that. It should be making me think that people kill themselves because they are completely lost and are pass their breaking point.

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  93. I'm glad Hannah killed herself because people like that are a waste. If the other kids are peices of shit then so was she. Look how she behaved. No different from the rest of them. I didn't read the book but I watched the series. And her good for nothing parents need to blame themselves. How do you expect everyone else to kno about your daughter when you didn't know yourself? The school is the blame the kids are the blame. Everyone else is the blame but her parents and her. Maybe if the parents did a better job raising her to be an individual and not so caught up in the bullshit she clearly participated in then maybe she would be alive.

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  94. I'm going to start off by saying that I've never read the book and I'm not sure if this is a "comment if you've only read the book" kind of blog but I'd rather not be bashed for what I have to say, please and thank you.
    I just finished the first season of the Netflix series. I absolutely love it. I'm well aware of how books and the movie/show versions of them can differ from a little to a whole lot. Sometimes I wish I had never experienced one or the other or both. At the moment I really wish that I read the book or even knew it existed before watching the series so that I could have a better grasp on some of the perceptions I've come across here.

    I've said all that to say this: After reading the review I couldn't even get through all of the comments that initially had me enthralled yet slightly disappointed in humanity. I enjoy learning different perspectives on basically everything but not today. Reading some of it was more of a trigger for me than watching the series. It's one thing to disagree with the way a story is told or not like the style of an author's writing but it's a completely different thing to ignore the fact that humans are indeed entitled to be humans..... sometimes we are ALL dramatic as fuck.
    So I'd like to propose this, forget the book and the series for moment. Hannah is a real person. She's a real person in the form of so many people in this world, not just teenagers. I'm currently 24 years old. I've been Hannah for most of my life. I've come very close to making the same decision that she made. I've already written so much so I'll just put it this way, some people can go through life taking daggers thrown at them from every direction and others can be defeated by a few butter knives. The point is we are all human and have no right to downplay or invalidate someone else's feelings or how things affect them because you really never know how fragile a person's spirit is and that's nothing to mess with. That feeling of people thinking I was dramatic or that no one cared because my feelings didn't matter or that I was supposed to just get over my experiences because they were "typical" was exactly what almost drove me to suicide. Just consider that before calling someone too sensitive or overly dramatic. Ironically I am the person that has taken so many daggers and my little sister, the fragile Cancer that she is has taken the butter knives. I call her dramatic and oversensitive all the time but not anymore. I'll never downplay her feelings or experiences again because I never want her to feel what the Hannahs of the world have felt. From the sounds of it, maybe you guys should watch the series, because from someone who has experienced it all and then some, the series should definitely draw some sympathy out of you, more importantly empathy. I hope that my perspective has helped someone today. That is all. Have a wonderful day. Hold on to your humanity. Keep reading, it's cool and fundamental! :)

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  95. Now that the mini-series is on Netflix, (filmed in my hometown and highschool! ), it's the "talk of the town"
    I couldn't agree more with the blog author. When did kids become so sensitive?

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  96. I only watch the the show on Netflix and Hannah in my opinion was putting the blame on other ppl. What I did not understand and hope that someone can explain to me is that, why did she keep associating herself with the same group of kids. Stop going to the parties that these kids are throwing? Why even go on the date with Marcus? (in the show they show they show him making sexual remarks/gestures behind her) and I don't understand what sheri did to Hannah DIRECTLY for her to be reason to kill herself. Yes is was Sheri who may have caused the accident with Jeff and that she left Hannah but how does that directly impact Hannah to kill herself? Please explain. But yea... Hannah wanted ppl to chase her and say "oh what's wrong" and it is messed up to include clay on the tapes and put him through that. She could have made him a complete separate tape/letter saying he was a true Friend or whatever. Will not read the book. The show started off good but then got annoying bc of Hannah. I kept wanting to shake my TV and say why are u walking into Bryce party knowing it was his house and the same group of kids who "tormented" her was going to be their. She wasn't invited she just stumbled in. So that's what pissed me off the most about Hannah she allowed herself to be subjected to some of the things bc she kept hanging out with these kids...

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  97. Sorry I also wanted to add (rape is NEVER OK) she screamed no to Marcus when he tried to finger her in the diner and told clay to get off her and asked him to leave. Why didn't she do the same with Bryce?? Plus, it did aggravate me that she she told clay to leave (when they were making out at Jessica's party) multiple times but told him in the tapes she wanted him to stay and was mad he actually left.... Like wtf??? I do agree she could've been more out spoken with clay and her feelings but she did expect ppl to just assume how she felt chase her down get on their knees and beg her to live life and say u are loved and have great things to offer the world. What if she when she gave the tapes to the kids and they where like " i don't have to listen to these tapes, and don't care she liked herself." Then her efforts of making them guilty was with her death was over dramatic and unnecessary.

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  98. Agree with all this. I buy Teen books for a library and the sheer amount this book is checked out worries me. I get being depressed, but actual Teen psychologists even wrote about how bad this book is, detrimental, and not realistic about suicide. Choosing to end your life is serious, and the amount of Teen books that use this topic like it's a fad to cash in on is shocking. It's as if publishers are fetishising the idea of the "poor fragile girl". No thank you.
    And now it's a show....

    Read "all the bright places" if you want an honest look at teen suicide. That author has real experience with it, and write about it at the end of her story.

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  99. Finally! After watching the netflix series, I was hard pressed to find any critique of the show. Everyone seems to be celebrating it. I can't tell you how relieved I was to read your blog post! I completely agree with the previous comment as well, WHY hang out with the same group of losers if all they do is torment you? Boo hoo, they aren't friends with me anymore, but let me crash their parties anyway!
    And Hannah wasn't particularly nice to others either. She was sarcastic AF, had a bad attitude and played the victim all the time.
    Agreed, the rape(?) Must have been terrifying and painful, but honestly, not telling your parents or the boy you supposedly love about it, and only going to the school counsellor as a half hearted attempt seemed super weak. Also, she didnt say no or try to scream, and didn't want to press charges?!it's not like the school counsellor told her to move on before presenting her with all other options.

    And just before you attack me, my best friend is going through clinical depression and the tough part is articulating how you feel and why you feel depressed. Hannah clearly had no qualms going through the elavorate process of making tapes and listing just how badly everyone treated her and why she was angry and upset. Maybe if she had used that time to go to a real psychologist, she would still be alive. Can't believe how this series is being lauded for supposedly broaching teen suicides with sensitivity, when I feel it is doing the exact opposite, justifying it, specially for revenge.

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    Replies
    1. I watched the first 3 episodes & then decided to read a detail synopsis cause I was curious what were the 13 reasons. Anyways, Hannahs character gave me a sense of bipolor and anti-social. Also, her reasons did seem like for revenge. Overall, this book/show is for teenegers.

      Delete
  100. You're fucking kidding me, right? How can some anonymous "expert reader" just make assumptions about this girl and belittle the things that happen to her? To make light of the things that happen to her or anyone else on this planet is sad. Go rethink your life and come back, then actually write a review of this book that is based on complexion and difficult situations.

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  102. 1. Looking at your blog you can't actually write yourself so you have no right to criticize Jay Asher's writing .
    2. While it is okay to critique the book it is important to do so in an INFORMED way. You have spent a few hundred words restating false beliefs about mental illness and essentially diminishing the pain of so main other people simply because you are too ignorant to even try to understand from an emotional or simply psychiatric point of view the state of depression that can lead to suicide. I really hope one day you review this post in an INFORMED way.

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  106. m4ufree - I know that many of you might think that one or two scenes in this series should be left out, but no. It is so important to address the issues that are actually happening, in reality. If they didn't show these horrible things, then there wouldn't be any serious discussions surrounding them. It's supposed to make you feel. Thank you 13 reasons why for telling these important stories.
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