Nest Book Club
SnShne322
member
my read shelf:
Wes: 10/8/2012
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
WIFLT: 13 Reasons Why (spoilers to through whole book now)
I went into this book with great expectations considering a lot of great peer reviews. I was intrigued with how Clay got to be on the list. That's what's kept me remotely interested. After finding out that it was just an apology, I didn't really feel like listening further. I did, only to find out that she did nothing while a girl was assaulted. I assume she was assaulted because it alludes to it, but never really specifically says. (ETA: My apologies a few minutes later it does say she was raped) I'm so angry at Hannah now. I wasn't super sympathetic to her reasons before, but after that? Ugh. I know she tries to explain her non actions, but I just can't accept it.
I haven't finished it yet, so maybe things will get answered. For a story that has the power to make such an impact, it's falling really short for me so far.
I haven't finished it yet, so maybe things will get answered. For a story that has the power to make such an impact, it's falling really short for me so far.
116 books in 2016
my read shelf:
Wes: 10/8/2012
Re: WIFLT: 13 Reasons Why (spoilers to through whole book now)
So I don't know if she does end up doing this, but if for some amazingly stupid reason I didn't stop him from raping her, I would have call the police!
my read shelf:
Wes: 10/8/2012
2014: 4/40
[2010: 63] [2011: 35] [2012: 23] [2013: 27]
my read shelf:
my read shelf:
I think that's why I really liked this and feel like more educators and parents of teens should read it. Once we get older, we forge how the teenage brain thinks and the things we found so important then just seem so insignificant now. These things seem tiny because we have perspective, but teens lack that entirely.
A few of you mentioned that you didn't like her bc she did this dramatic thing before she killed herself, but that's just what teens do. It doesn't make sense and it seems insane, and we would handle it differently now, but the inside of a very depressed teenager is a whole different ball game.
I don't remember the exact details of this book but I remember feeling like it was gutsy and honest.
I also think Hannah's reasons being a little...less than valid when it comes to suicide is the point of the book. The readers are Hannah's hindsight. We can all see how DUMB it was for her to kill herself over these things and how she just needed a best friend and a little perspective. I hope that when kids read this book they not only see how their little action toward someone can compound with the other things going on in their lives to make things worse, but also that you may be having issues, but it's nothing you need to take such drastic measures about.
In books, the character needs to go through a change by the end of the story so it feels satisfying for the reader. Hannah doesn't change. She doesn't learn from the things she went through. She can't. It's too late. And I think that's what annoys people about this story...but I also think that's why it's perfect for teen readers. It's up to the reader to register where she went wrong and why she didn't change and (hopefully) keep that in mind as they go through their lives.
Both of you make such valid points. I remember struggling a lot with depression as a teenager and I think it's hard even now in my own situation to not look back and question why I did some of the things I did or said and I'm sure ten years from now I'll say the same thing about who I am now but in a different context.
I feel like I should re-read this for sure now. I know I've recommended to a few of my friends who teach middle school and I should ask them their opinions on it too.
I would like to update since I finished it. I still didn't care for it, but I do respect the fact that it's written from a depressed teenager's perspective. Each person's reasons for being depressed or suicidal is their own, regardless whether I feel they were valid or not. I do understand that it's is likely part of the message of this book.
As a depressed teen myself, I remember having moments like Hannah had in her guidance counselor's office. Someone not trying hard enough to understand you, or trying to trivialize your feelings. Granted, my version wasn't the last attempt before suicide, but I do remember that feeling.
I got a little more resolution from the book by the end. Especially Clay's anger at Hannah for not trying or checking out. Or not realizing that he WAS trying to help, in his own way. I felt a little bit better knowing that all aspects of Hannah's death were being represented, not just her dramatic exit from her POV. However, I'm still angry that she was willing to call the police over a stop sign being knocked over, but not over a girl being raped. I can get over the tapes and her reasons for calling out people, but I'm not sure I can get over that as a reader.
Like I said, I didn't love the story by the end, but that doesn't take away from the fact that I do think it's a good read for teens. They live in that moment that Hannah's having, not 15 years post, like me.
ETA: I updated the title since there are spoilers for the whole book now.
my read shelf:
Wes: 10/8/2012
I've been diagnosed with depression since I was 18. I went through a partial hospitalization program this past spring.
I discussed the fact that I was reading this book with my therapist and the topic of it. I know that I've changed since I was 18. I was reading this book with my teenage years in mind and how I feel now. Knowing and acknowledging that this was a work of fiction. I was still able to keep detached from it.
As far as calling police about the stop sign but not the rape. She may have realized the impact on more people from the stop sign being down, but the rape was between the raper and victim. It's kind of like a discussion I was having with a friend of mine about not realizing how many people's lives you impact from one simple action or inaction.
All of this was exactly how I felt, so there's not much more I can add. I also thought about how things we did as teens may have seemed insignificant at the time, but really may have affected someone much more deeply than we ever knew.