Discussions

Anyone watch this on NF yet? I saw the preview and thought it seemed familiar...sure enough I had the book on my shelf, so read it before I started watching the series (haven't finished yet).  
 
I thought the book was very well written, although I found it glamorized suicide as a means of revenge a bit too much? They never touched much on the girls' family and their struggle. Thoughts? Opinions?

I just read the book in March cleaning up books I owned. I had low expectations and was surprised how much I liked the book. It was in a really unusual format and it will always stick with me.  
 
I didn't even know about the tv show till last week but I watched episode 1 last night. I think they did a good job with the casting. "Clay" was a perfect. I will continue watching it.

I don't think the book really glamorized it enough to draw people into the idea. However if someone troubled has been on the fence about it they may choose either side of the fence while reading the book.  
 
However keep the end of the book in mind. No spoilers here but I hope you know of what I am referring to.

I never read the book but I've just finished watching the whole season on Netflix and WOW it's an amazing show. I don't think the show glamorizes suicide at all although I have heard the book is a little different.  
It's pretty tragic how everything unfolds and I think it's a very thought provoking show. There were a couple of things that annoyed me about Hannah (the girl who committed suicide) but I won't discuss them as it would involve spoilers lol.  
Her suicide scene is graphic and her parents pain is well documented in the show (which is in contrast to the book according to the OP)  
I think there are lessons to be learnt from this show and I recommend everyone watch it. I'm not sure what a suitable age limit is for this show but I would even recommend older kids seeing this show too so they can see the impact bullying can have on a person and also the impact suicide has on family, friends, classmates etc.  
 
Not sure what others thoughts are on kids seeing this show or what an acceptable age limit would be. Im not even sure if it has an age rating?

I just finished the series last night, the last 3 or 4 episodes are tragic, gut wrenching, heart breaking and painful. The suicide scene is graphic and I had to look away, you really feel her pain, you hurt for her. I think it if you allow your teens to watch the show you need to watch it with them, and you need to discus it. Allow it to open up the lines of communication as to what they may be feeling or going through and let them know that you love them and you hear them and that their is always another way.

I remember reading this book when I was younger and loving it for the fact that it dealt with such intense subject matter in a way that made you understand what the character was going through. I was excited when I saw they made a tv show and watched it all in two days. I''m really impressed with how they managed to add to the original story line without taking anything away from it. In my opinion neither the book or the show makes glamorizes suicide or is using it as a way of revenge. I think the whole reason the character did what she did was to try and help the people she wasn''t able to in person. And to make people realize their actions and words have consequences. Obviously there is very strong subject matter in this but I think people should be seeing stuff like this before they hit highschool, it could really open up a conversation about mental health, bullying, what to do to help a situation if you are a bystander, and how you could get help if you are thinking of suicide.  
 
Edited by Casandra, 2017-04-08 12:07:14

I was referring to the book more so than the tv show. I tried to think in terms of her helping the others....but for me her tone and the authors usage of words to describe her emotions and actions while making the tapes led me to believe otherwise. There were moments where she seemed far to sarcastic towards certain individuals to be merely pointing out their flaws in an effort to show them the errors of their ways. Just my opinion. Suicide is never the answer of course either, so I don't know, I personally picked up on "this is my revenge I bet you'll be sorry or I will make you sorry" vibe. Hmmmmm...  
 
But I do see the series shows the other side of the coin the further I progress. Interesting to see the differences. The book and show are very well done

In the book Hannah to me comes across as kind of snarky, high and mighty I'll show them-ish.  
 
In any case, Hannah's plan was well thought out and the book kept me on the edge of my seat.

am a bit slow on Netflix but I just finished it all in a week or so. very well done.  
a tv show that should be required watching in grade 6 up.  
I worked in a middle years school and you would be surprised how much they deal with at this young of an age.  
I raised 3 kids who went through similar things and it needs to be addressed.  
 
school staff don't address it. I asked a counsellor once to see my child and was told after initial meeting that my child was fine, that this counsellor had kids with worse problems to deal with.  
 
now that may be true but as a parent I felt I could not deal well with this issue so I reached out for help. I was told my kid did not matter as much as the other. so how do we get help for kids before they become suicidal or homicidal?  
 
how do we get help before its too late.  
well we talk and we open up with our kids and we discuss shows like this and how we feel about it and how our kids feel.  
watch it. encourage your family friends school staff and everyone to watch it.  
do not let someone you know and love give up or be one of the 13 reasons why someone else did.

I have finished watching the show. It got pretty intense towards the end. I think it was even better than the book actually.  
 
The series has been renewed for a second season! I get the feeling Tyler may go all out Colombine - another serious and thought provoking issue.