Last Book Syndrome: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Everytime I feel like I am wasting my time and life away through slacking off or when I feel like my mind is already rusting from all the absurd and nonsense information I've been getting through social media nowadays, or when I feel like just want to.. chill out and feel something, the most sensible thing I should do is to get a book and read. 

Baker's Dozen: The Autobiography of Hannah Baker

After more than a year of being wrapped in a plastic and stored in my cabinet (the temporary home of my books), I finally unwrapped Thirteen Reasons Why for two reasons. One, it has been announced just lately that the book will be made into a Netflix TV series, so I just have to know the story first before it will be put on screen! (I don't want to watch the on-screen versions if I haven't read the books.) Two, I've been soul-searching and missing the feeling of being into an adventure through books, so I grabbed this since I've heard great reviews about it.

And I've not been a bit disappointed.

(SPOILER ALERT. Of course, all my book reviews are going to be spoilers. If you don't want to read any spoils, jump to tl;dr part.)

In A Nutshell

Clay Jensen was surprised when a shoebox-sized package has been delivered and addressed to him. Inside the shoebox were tapes.. Seven audiotapes with marks on each side except the last tape, only one side is marked. Thirteen marks. He was bummed at first because no one's listening to tapes anymore. Surprised even more that it came from Hannah Baker, the girl he noticed and loved, the girl who took her life away weeks ago.

It turned out that the tapes were Hannah Baker's last messages to the world she left. Messages specifically sent to people who made her life miserable and whom some way responsible for her death. Thirteen marks. Thirteen people. And Clay, confused and baffled, was one of them. He borrowed, rather stole, his friend Tony's Walkman so that he can listen to the tapes whenever he want to. He gripped to Hannah's words and connected the people she mentioned, going to the places Hannah marked on the map she provided as supplement for the tapes.

After all the horrible things happened to Hannah, Clay was the exception on the tapes. He was part of the story not because he did horrible, but because Hannah want to ask for forgiveness that she'd given up on what was happening with both of them. The rest of the tapes also include Hannah's confessions of the faults she'd also done, and even admits that she's guilty. 

From then on, Clay's life has changed forever.

Up in The Clouds

Two words: LIFE CHANGING. I really ran out of words to say after I've read the book! HUHU I've read the book from cover to cover, even the questions part and the extras, because I can't gather my thoughts well when I finished it. I can't get enough of it. I had lots of thoughts I can't seem to organize. I was put in a meditation mode and pondered all I've read-- of how some parts in the book, I am also guilty, in a way that I've done the same things people Hannah mentioned. Like Courtney Crimsen. I can imagine myself sometimes with her character that's why I cry now and then whenever there are parts I am reminded of how horrible the person I am to others. (You can judge me now. Just like Hannah, I don't want to be an angel in your eyes. It is simply the truth.)

This book is really an eye opener and by the time you've finished reading it, I PROMISE YOU, you won't look the world the same as it was before. You will start treating others better and start to consider their feelings. You will learn to be careful as all we do create repercussions. "Everything affects everything." You will be aware of how great the impact you are giving to the people around you.

I loved the book's setup. The audiotapes. The Walkman. The map and the places. I love how Jay Asher writes as I can clearly imagine Clay Jensen's journey and how vivid the details are. The words were not that hard to understand too, unlike some books that try hard to use deep words but didn't have much sense. 

It has occurred to me that we all have that Hannah Baker in our lives. I honestly am always reminded of my friend everytime Hannah Baker poured out her thoughts. All I can think of is that, "Is this what she's feeling all the time?" "Have I offended her?" "Is that why she lost her trust on me?" and I just cry and regret. But that's where Clay comes in to balance it out. We must be Clay Jensens who will try our best to reach out no matter what, to never give up on that person. We must try to represent the hope they're looking for.

On The Contrary

I don't have much dislikes on the book except that sometimes I get distracted by Clay's side comments on Hannah's tapes. Like when Hannah is still talking and the message gets interrupted by Clay's thoughts. I was quite annoyed by that format sometimes because I was so into Hannah's speech just to be interrupted by Clay's thoughts telling another story. It was confusing but I got used to it after a while. 

Also, I was quite shocked that Clay wasn't blamed. Well, I was really expecting that he gets to be blamed at for not reaching out sooner, I was quite mad at him at first. (But also relieved that he wasn't blamed at haha idk). I've forgiven him though on the later part. Part of me even wants to have a Clay Jensen.

tl;dr

Overall impact: ★★★★★

6/5 even! The suspense, the thrill, the lessons!! IT REALLY IS A MUST READ. Especially for teenagers in these (my) generations, they need a whole lot of new perspective. Many of us needs to be enlightened, encouraged, changed. It has a different feels compared to All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. Though, kind of the same theme, but different concept. ATBP can give you a meltdown but 13RW will make you understand and see clearly. It's like being blind for a while but now I've been given sight. 

I am more than willing to share this book to my friends, I will even allow them to write their thoughts on the last blank pages of my copy because I want to read their thoughts the moment they've finished reading. I recommend it with all my heart!! ♥

Credits to Bookbed.org where I've got the idea of this blog series. I've made the four parts: In A Nutshell (quick summary), Up In The Clouds (reactions and positive remarks), On The Contrary (downsides of the book) and tl;dr (recommendations and other comments).

Do you know other books that have changed your life, too? Tell me so that I can read it too!