A review for Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Tell me a good enough reason to commit suicide!
This book is essentially an epistolary novel, uniquely told through audiocassettes, a novel device, which in decade or so may make this book seems like a really old book even though it is not set in a fixed year. But the use of the novel device will not dampen the effect of the book. This is a story of Hannah Baker’s suicide. She narrates how everything in her life (minor to major events) affect her emotionally to give up her life, which she (and her teacher) explains as ‘Snowball effect.’ She gives thirteen reasons to convince reader (most importantly herself!) why she must commit suicide. She names people responsible for her decision to end her life and her story is filtered through one such character, Clay Jensen, the guy who really liked Hannah Baker. The book talks about how social isolation, rumors, idealization, and indifference can create havoc in life of students and how they can saved by true friendships and trusting each other. The author with the help of thirteen stories brings reader to conclusion (without preaching) that the life is precious and there is no reason strong enough to end one’s life.
It’s an important book to understand the mind-set of young adults, primarily where student suicides are common. Students suicide are a common occurrence in India (https://data.gov.in/catalog/stateut-wise-distribution-suicides-causes), like any other country, though reasons might be different in India, considering India’s unique cultural and socioeconomical context.
One particular thing, I didn’t like about the book is how the character of Clay Jensen is used. As a character, he is immensely likeable and well fleshed out but his regular intrusion into Hannah’s tapes constantly breaks reader’s fictional dream. The author justifies his choice by saying that he wanted to give second opinion of Hannah words which he did achieve but most of times at the cost of constant interruption and unnecessary repetition of feelings. There were times when I skimmed over the parts which weren’t italicized.
Overall, this is a great read. It will make your body tense, as Clay Jensen feels upon listening to Hannah’s story, and makes you question her motives whether you agrees with her reasons or not. So strong is the impact of the book is that you becomes Clay Jensen who urges Hannah Baker to stop committing suicide, knowing that she is already dead. The book ends beautifully in hope.