13 Reasons book and show--Chan

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The major difference between the show and book 13 Reasons Why is the timeline. Clay is determined to finish the tapes in one day because curiosity and wanting to know what he did makes him eager. The show extends that to overemphasize the dramatic realization from Clay that he had a part in Hannah’s death. He is much more internal in the show whereas in the novel we get his thoughts, reaction, and responses to Hannah’s revelation. Through the show the actor for Clay had to really embody the emotions that we are told from Clay himself in the novel, to just solely looking at the actor’s facial expressions, body posture, and tears.

I felt like the novel was more subtle (if that’s possible) with the tapes being revealed and listened to whereas the show seemed more suspenseful and packed with action from Clay. Clay in the novel seems to go through the emotions as he gets there but the show makes it look like Clay secretly knew he played apart.

Overall both materials illustrated the reality of being compacted in a high school for four years with people who are bad intended, negative peer pressure, and people who have a clue but don’t want to take that clue and dig deeper. The high school community does their own thing but at the same time are very intertwined in a (potential) dangerous way. It seems that the tolerance level for awful realities like rape and suicide are tolerated to an ignorance, because the number one thing people say are, “I never thought it could happen to me.” until it’s too late and the next news cycle comes around evaporating whatever awful reality that took place.

Comments

  1. UnknownDecember 10, 2017 at 4:51 PM

    I agree that the book gives us a more raw and realistic interpretation of his reaction to the tapes. We can read and experience his fear and confusion rather than just watch and predict it. The actor who played Clay was the absolute best. You're right, the show was much more suspenseful, but that the leg up that film making has. Awesome blog!

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