I read a book yesterday.  This novel wasn't hard to read, in the sense that it's got pretty mainstream vocabulary and it's simply stated.  The concept was phenomenal though.  Brief summary, ready?

A high school girl named Hannah Baker kills herself.  Shortly thereafter, a classmate of hers named Clay Jensen receives a shoebox in the mail containing 7 cassette tapes, each side numbered from 1 to 13 with the back of the seventh tape blank.  Clay is shocked to hear Hannah's voice on the cassettes and even more shocked to find out why.  Each of the 13 recordings is about a person that was in some way responsible for her death.  The recordings are to be sent to each of the 13 people in order, so they can understand what they did, and why Hannah killed herself.  What follows is a convoluted tale with many ups and downs as we listen to the stories with Clay, and feel his reaction to each.  It's amazing to see how everyone in that small town is so interconnected without knowing it. 

I loved the book for several reasons.  Jay Asher writes in such a way that you empathize with both Clay and Hannah as the story moves on.  He brilliantly portrays the way high school works, and the ways kids can kill one another with everyday actions and words.  Although I felt almost helpless while reading the book, and yes, I'm a crybaby so I cried a couple of times, it changes your perspective.  People often don't realize how they affect people with their actions and words.  Some people have nothing better to do than to make others miserable. I think that anyone who reads this book will reevaluate themselves, however.  It's a very well written story that teases you just enough at the beginning that you can't set it down.  If anyone has read the book, or if you read it on my recommendation, let me know what you think :)  

i have 3. ears and belly button.  I had the nose but it hurt like hell!  probly done with piercings but tattoos are another matter entirely!

   

I just answered this Featured Question; you can answer it too!

Hey Everyone!!  I had a friend write an article about this event and he is very against alcohol.  I am interested to see everyone's take on this subject.  Check out the link and tell me how you feel about each soldier in Iraq getting two beers for super bowl sunday.  Is this an ok practice?  Will it really help with morale or make them miss home more?  Let me know what you think!

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=iraq/thompson