Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Thirteen Reasons Why is probably one of the most talked about TV Series of the moment and it was in the public’s eye since Netflix released their very controversial Original Series based on the amazing book with the same name by the bestselling author Jay Asher. I have to admit that I didn’t know anything about this book until a few weeks ago when I was browsing Netflix. After I saw the highlight, I wanted to see what the book was like, and boy, what an amazing story I got treated to… So, this is a short review for the audiobook version, not the for Netflix Original Series.
I would like to give a word of advice to those who watched the series, please, if you want to understand why the producers chose to tell a different story, adding to the one in the book, check out this short documentary Thirteen Reasons Why – Beyond the Reasons and everything will make sense. Now, lets get to the review!
Jay Asher in Thirteen Reasons Why tells us the dramatic, riveting and mesmerizing story about a teenage girl, Hannah Baker, who committed suicide because she couldn’t take it anymore. But, the brilliant part is that she has recorded a few cassette tapes giving 13 Reasons for her action and those tapes are now making the rounds between those who she thought were responsible for her pain.
The story follows Clay Jensen, Hannah‘s school mate, who has received a strange box, containing the tapes and now he needs to know why Hannah is dead and why he is on the list of persons responsible. Clay is a nice guy, he doesn’t remember saying or doing anything wrong to Hannah and takes to the streets of the small town as he listens to the voice of a dead girl who was alive just 2 weeks ago…
What could have happened to drive her to do such a thing? Why the tapes? Who is responsible? Who else knows? Could it all have being prevented? I found the answers to all of these questions in the 6 hours in which I listened to the audiobook. Hannah‘s story is one that will mark you for life, really, I know that it’s fiction, but it will make you think twice before you say of do something to someone, because you won’t know if you could start a snowball effect that could ruin his or her life…
Narrators Debra Wiseman and Joel Johnstone give life with passion to Hannah Baker‘s story. Debra is Hannah and Joel is Clay, they interact with one another throughout the book, as Clay listens to Hannah‘s motives, he walks the streets, he treks to all the spots that Hannah mentions and he realizes that their paths have crossed more times than he had thought before.
Debra and Joel deliver a perfect performance for Thirteen Reasons Why! Although the book is mainly focused on the interaction between Hannah, a beautiful, special, quiet and good girl which at times becomes aloof and dispassionate and a guilt stricken, bookish, nerdy, Clay, both narrators give their very best, making the listener see everything clearly in his mind’s eye with surreal vividness.
They carry us from the first love, to the first kiss, to bullies, to best friends, to stupid rumors, to sleepovers, to traumatic events and at last to redemption. They read, they act and most important of all, they care about the characters they bring to life! Both distinguish themselves by being extremely talented with different voices and accents, wrapping this tragic story in complete immersiveness for those who listen. I experienced Thirteen Reason Why in one sitting. I pushed play and couldn’t stop until the last word…
Thirteen Reasons Why is a book that should be read by teenagers and adults alike, its deep, serious, it addresses many of the problems with which young adults are strugleing every day and yes, I think that we could save someones life just by doing something nice for him / her or by not being mean just because we can be. This book has a message, a very important one: Take care how you treat those around you!
I could write until tomorrow on this subject, but this is a review, so I’ll end by highly recommending Thirteen Reasons Why, the book, to everyone!
Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Narrators: Debra Wiseman , Joel Johnstone
Duration: 6 hrs and 24 mins
Genre: Teens / Family / Fiction / Drama
Release Date:10-01-07
Publisher: Listening Library
You can get Thirteen Reasons Why for FREE when you SIGN UP for the AUDIBLE 30 DAYS TRIAL!
Publisher’s Summary
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush, who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah’s voice explains that there are 13 reasons she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out why.Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a first-hand witness to Hannah’s pain, and learns the truth about himself – a truth he never wanted to face.
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Victor Dima
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