13 Reasons Why – Jay Asher

“You don't know what goes on in anyone's life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person's life you are messing with the entire life.”

Sometimes waiting on the side-lines is not enough. Watching someone bleed until they are incapable of breathing is not the sign of humanity! Sometimes you need to initiate a conversation and try to help a person. Sometimes you just need to try harder…

13 reasons why…! Hannah Baker! Clay Jensen! And 13 lose strings to be tied… Clay doesn't really want to come to terms with the fact that his classmate Hannah Baker is now unfortunately dead. Even more heart breaking news is that Hannah committed suicide. Hannah was so damn done with her life that she ultimately committed suicide. But she sends a set of 7 tapes with 13 reasons which coerced her into ending her life. Fall in step with Clay as he uncovers the secret behind Hannah’s death. What he hears might just change his life forever…

Suicide. I’m sure some of you must have cringed while reading this word. Some think that suicide is the epitome of cowardice. Some think suicide is downright stupid. Well that’s Bullshit! You know what’s stupid? Hurting a person so much & breaking him into a million pieces that the only solution they see is suicide. Now that is what I call cowardice!

Coming to the book the book was very brutal and honest. If you cannot handle graphic content, I’m sorry to break it to you guys, but the book is not for you. The brutality and straightforwardness of the author has contributed immensely to this book's success.

13 Reasons Why trigger issues like teenage depression, bullying and also contains mentions of rape. The eye opening plot of the novel is one of its kind and very excruciating. Asher knows how to keep the readers engaged and begging for more.

All the 13 reasons in my personal opinion work completely justified. Usually when a person commits suicide, it is not due to one major reason rather it is because of several smaller reasons creating a snowball effect because in the end everything effects everything.

The raw emotions of Hannah and the flashbacks of Clay were very interesting but confusing at times. This is definitely a story which will live with you throughout your life. Though there was some parts in the book which were not completely adding up, so I do believe there could have been scope for something even better. But then again, nothing is flawless except fantasy and this book is NOT a fantasy. It is a reality. The cruel and harsh reality of our society.

I strongly recommend this book for teenagers as it is very important for them to understand the consequences of the so-called ‘harmless and playful' bullying of people. They need to understand what it's like to hear all the crude remarks and comments and still carry on with life.

“No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people. If only we could see the endless string of consequences that result from our smallest actions. But we can't know better until knowing better is useless” Jay Asher takes us on one hell of a ride keeping our eyes brimming with tears, our hearts screaming for justice and our free hand over our mouth to stop ourselves from yelling out profanities.

Go ahead and read this book I am sure that you will like it (if not love it). It might even help you get rid of your oblivious nature. You are sure to come out as a more observant and caring person. Purchase a copy of the book from your nearest retail store and give this book a chance... A chance at saving thousands from committing suicide… A chance at saving people from a ton of regret… And a chance at changing yourself…

“He cried that day. All day! All night!

She cried too. Sadly, all her life…”

That Night – Chevy Stevens

“They said she was a murderer… They said she killed her sister... But, they LIED…!”

Toni – an 18 year old delinquent – and her boyfriend Ryan were convicted with Toni’s sister, Nicole’s murder. Due to lack of evidence, Toni and Ryan have to spend 17 years in prison. After 17 years, Ryan and Toni are out on parole. Ryan feels that he can decipher the secret of Nicole’s death. But he doesn’t know what he has gotten himself into. On the other hand, Toni’s family is torn apart since her mother doesn’t believe her to be innocent.

With menacing figures appearing from their past, Toni and Ryan have to fight against all odds to uncover the secret behind Nicole’s death. And sometimes, before moving forward, you have no other option but to take a step in your past.

That Night was the first Thriller book which I read. The narration of the book was very fascinating and at the same time, very easy to understand. The story oscillates between different time spheres in Toni’s life.

The intricately detailed personal life of Toni is what makes the book immensely realistic. A broken family, a young delinquent daughter who seems to be untameable and a tangled web of secrets, all seem to create a cliché story plot. Yet, this particular book was anything but a cliché.

Honestly speaking, this book deals with almost every issue faced by an average teenager. However, not every teenager is convicted of murder, but oh well! We start from rebelling and move on to bullying, relationships, verbal abuse, betrayals, strained family relations and what not.

Above them all, the book explains in detail, the growing gap between a teenager and their parents, which is indeed a very big issue in the present day society. The constant struggle of Toni to forget her past, make up with her parents, and ensure justice for her sister adds spice in the already hot and crisp story.

The suspense from the very beginning was enough to drive me over the edge. My heart continuously pounded thinking of the numerous possibilities and plot twists which could be there in the book. However, both, fortunately and unfortunately, the book was unpredictable. Fortunately, because it prevented the book from becoming boring. Unfortunately, because the twists and turns were excruciatingly beautiful yet utterly frustrating.

Anyone who is looking for a decent thriller which will keep you bouncing on the edge of your seat is more than welcome to read That Night by Chevy Stevens where you will come to know:

 

“Death isn’t the hard part, living is…”

Twilight – Stephenie Meyer

“Twilight, again. No matter how perfect the day is, it always has to end.”

When seventeen year-old Isabella (preferably Bella) Swan leaves sunny Arizona to live with her father in the small and gloomy town of Forks she doesn’t actually expect to like it there.  Beginning at her new school, Bella soon makes some new friends but when she sets her eyes upon a boy called Edward Cullen sitting with his brothers and sisters in the cafeteria she is instantly intrigued.  Edward is stunningly attractive and almost inhumanly gorgeous but initially hates Bella.

Bella slowly and gradually falls for Edward. But their relationship is bound to be more than just difficult due to Edward being the cold blooded, blood sucking vampire. When a few other malevolent vampires are thrown into the story, the readers are plunged into a war. A war from which, coming alive is next to impossible. With the help of her vampire boyfriend, Bella might make it out alive… But probably, just barely…

Twilight is basically the love story of Bella & Edward (at least for two thirds part of the book). It has a slow pace and the characters build gradually. The story forms step by step and the author does not force any scene onto the readers. It is a Young Adult novel but is able to fascinate both, teenagers and adults alike.

It is written in the first person from the perspective of Bella. So we see the view of things form Bella’s point of view which manages to keep the mystery of the Cullen family intact until the latter part of the novel.

It is well – written vampire novella with just the right amount of swoon and action. The tension during the last part of the book is cleverly worded and some threads are left lose to form the basis of the future installments of the saga.

Coming to the characters, our female protagonist Bella is shy, introvert and ‘irrevocably’ in love with Edward. She can be stubborn when she wants to be. But, I did like the character of Bella (at least in this novel). The only criticism I have is that once Bella had her boyfriend, she neglected all her friends. Like okay… You have a too – good – to – be – true boyfriend but you cannot just ignore the existence of your friends. I actually hated this thing!

Edward – our vampire sweetheart – is the male protagonist and an absolute gentleman. The character of Edward was penned as a vampire who is in love with a human and has a weird fetish of watching her sleep (creepy much?). But oh well… He was still a beautiful vampire who managed to steal the heart of Bella and break the hearts of thousand other teen girls… (Am I right girls?) His character is still kept in the dark and not everything about him is revealed just yet.

The secondary characters – The Cullen family, Charlie Swan, Jacob Black and the other friends of Bella – develop in the upcoming novels and in the first episode, we are just given a sketchy idea about these characters.

The writing of the author is so subtle yet descriptive that you can almost feel yourself inhaling the damp air of Forks and hearing the rain pelting against the roof. You are sucked into the book so much that you can feel yourself standing amidst the rubble, trying to fight your way just to return alive.

I would recommend the Twilight series for the people who are looking for some fresh Romeo – Juliet romance with a touch of fantasy. Teenagers, which are high school students are free to read the book but I would not recommend it to anyone below them, keeping in mind the content of the future installments.

With that said, Twilight is a great but dark read. Once started, you won’t be able to put it down. So, if you are reading this book, be ready to be sucked into the very depths of the book and this one vampire might just capture your heart…

Until the next time!

Adios Amigos!