Thirteen Reasons Why

       I was inspired to read Thirteen Reasons Why after reading someone's blog post on this book. I have only gotten to page 100 (1/3 of the way through), but I am really enjoying this book.

       Thirteen Reasons Why is different from any other book I have ever read. Why? Because the majority of the story is told by a girl who has already committed suicide.
       Huh? Yeah, by a dead girl. But don't worry, it's not her ghost.
       Hannah Baker had recorded several cassette tapes before she took her life. The tapes explained the 13 reasons why she committed suicide, along with instructions on what to do with the tapes if you had received them: listen to all of them, and send them to the next person/reason in Hannah's tapes.  There was one person for each reason, and the main character, Clay Jenson received these tapes. That meant that he was one of the reasons why Hannah killed herself.
       The story is told through Hannah's recorded tapes, and is occasionally interrupted by Clay's  thoughts while he is listening to her.
       So far, Clay has only listened to 4 of the tapes. I don't want to give too much away, but basically, the reasons involved mostly guys, rumors, betrayals, ruined friendships, and a peeping Tom (I know, eww ewww ewwwww GAG). 
       
       Needless to say, Hannah had terrible experiences with lots of males. But I can't help wondering- if the genders had been reverse, would people be as sympathetic or show as much understanding for why she took her life? I mean, let's think about how outrageous this would sound:

"Hi, my name is Hans Baker. I killed myself because 13 girls were being really mean to me and I felt helpless."

       Now, I'm not saying that girls can't bully guys, because I know they do. HOWEVER, in a story like this, a girl being mistreated by men makes a much more gut wrenching sob story. If "Hans" had been real, he would've sounded weak and unmanly, instead of scarred and depressed like Hannah. Hmm...I guess gender stereotypes are still rampant. 

       Another thought I had while reading this book: I don't think Clay is one of the reasons why Hannah killed herself. If the author had planned that, Clay would've come off as a lot more guilty than confused. 
        When Clay hears Hannah's first tapes, he thinks, "But we [Hannah and I] never had the chance to get closer. And not once did I take her for granted. Not once. These tapes shouldn't be here. Not with me. It has to be a mistake. Or a terrible joke," (Asher 10).
        I predict that Clay is right- the tapes were accidentally sent to him. So far, the worst thing he has done is steal a Walkman cassette player so that he could listen to the tapes while walking outside. He doesn't seem like someone who would hurt Hannah. And besides, he didn't know Hannah well enough to hurt her and push her to suicide. 
       And also, no one wants the main character of a book to be an indirect murderer. Let's be honest here. When has the main character of a book ever been an evil person? 

       That's all for now. I will be finishing this book next week, so stay tuned!