13 Reasons Why

I learned about the book while browsing one of my Candy Magazine's back issues. I remember reading the synopsis once and promised myself to read it, but it has always been hard to find. And due to boredom, persistence and the urge to read, I looked for the book last weekend, and glad to finish it today.

I'm not into books centered on mysteries, but this book was something worth the read. I love that the author (Jay Asher) used a guy as narrator and did not use the usual girl-who-talks-and-narrates-about-her-story type of writing. I also loved the idea of using audio tapes, it gives more mysterious/vintage/suspense effect on the story, and considering these days? Who uses audio tapes when there are compact disks and mp3s? And using suicide as the theme for a book makes it interesting as well, it's a social problem, but the author focused on its effect on a normal teenager. Other issues were tackled as well, there were rumors, bullying, alcohol, parties, sex and reputations.

Somehow the book reminds me of a former movie of Alexa Vega, called Odd Girl Out. I just finished the book this morning and I closed it with a heavy feeling, this feeling stayed with me the whole time I was reading the book. There were a lot of regrets, especially on the part of Clay (and Hannah), a lot of if only(s) and had I(s). I just can't imagine how something like that was planned, and most especially, I can't accept the idea of everyone acting pretty normal after all the troubles caused to a girl.

P.S. As usual, I searched for a possible movie-to-be of the book and found that there's a possibility and "the" Hannah, according to this article is Selena Gomez, seriously? I have nothing against her, but I hope that proper casting be given to such an amazing book, she's just far from how I imagined Hannah. I hope that they pick another actress, someone "more" fitted to be Hannah. And please choose a good actor for "Clay". 

#1

After weeks and months of trying, I still don't have what I want. Am I not capable of handling things like this? Am I not good enough for these people? What is wrong with me? What is wrong with my life decisions? Will I ever get this thing that I want? Will I ever learn how to be on my own? I just really want this, please please give it to me.

Along for the Ride

Auden is me. Seldom do one finds a book where one sees a certain character, more so, the protagonist, as oneself. A large part of Auden's character is me. She has been very persistent with acads that she forgot she's losing a part of her youth, she's smart- book, and not street smart. She has be accustomed to shunning some people around her, especially boys, as she focused on one thing- her studies. She never got into a prom, never had a boyfriend, no social life, used to being alone and having a hard time dealing with male species.

While reading the book, I kept on pointing some of the lines and telling myself, "wait, that is so me!". And like any person, Auden experienced her quest to a new self. And anyone can relate to this, as everyone sure has his or her own personal quest, it is like a journey, or a goal, and it doesn't necessarily need to be a very serious or deep thing. 

Summer opens up possibilities, and for Auden's case, it is a possibility of a quest. She was about to do her usual stuff, reading and studying in advance and preparing for college. But a twist of her plans happened when her father's new wife sends her an email inviting her to spend her summer at their place. As much as she didn't like her father's new wife, she entertained the idea and along with this decision  are a series of new realizations in her life. She met her newly born sister, she had a part time job, she got involved into issues she;s never been into before, she got almost attacked by a jealous girl, found herself more insomniac and met someone who has the same problem. 

Find out how summer, biking and restaurants proved Auden that "people do change" and that "it is never too late to retrieve one's lost childhood and youth."

I've mentioned how Auden is me. Well, the only difference is that she found her quest while I'm still on my way towards mine. 

Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan captured the hearts of young readers and viewers as they wrote "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist". Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List, is another work of the authors and is a pretty good read as well. 

Naomi and Ely are bestfriends, they are inseparable and have their future planned. Their mothers pictured their future together, they must study, land good jobs, marry, have kids and have a happy family. Only, this is not going to happen anymore. Their No Kiss List is a list of the people whom they are not suppose to kiss as both of them like them and would end up hurting and breaking each other's hearts. Bruce the Second, the boyfriend of Naomi is not part of the No Kiss List, and things turned out chaotic when Ely told Naomi that he kissed Bruce the Second. The Naomi and Ely tandem is put to a greater test as other people become involved and as they the other refuses to reconcile with the other. They would later on realize how their friendship was different from any other kind of relationship.