Another Day, Another Book

     Usually, when I title posts about books that I read, I use the title of the book. It's quick, it's easy, it's there. By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead (by Julie Anne Peters) is the exception. I didn't want to scare you guys.

      I usually read books during breaks. I have a tendency to start off near the lighter end of the depth scale and work my way over to the heavier/deeper pieces. Since school is in session, however, I decided to just go for it. Teen suicide has interested me a lot lately (not because of any plans to commit suicide myself, just fascination), and, as the title pretty much tells you, that is the main topic of this book.

     Not that I expected a book on teen suicide to be happy, but this one was quite a downer. Definitely not a beach read. The story is told from the main character, Daelyn's, point of view, as she finds a website, Through-the-light.com (which is thankfully not a real website) that acts as an aid for people considering suicide. As she reads though and comments on the website's forum, we learn more information about her, including her previous suicide attempt, which left her in a neck brace and unable to speak.

     It's crazy how real this book reads (we only see what Daelyn sees and thinks, giving it more depth), and it's even crazier that there are Daelyn's everywhere. I hate the fact that she is bullied so contantly throughout this novel, and that things are rarely done about it. Daelyn's story definitely personifies the fact that the bullying of others leaves scars, and that those scars can be permanent.

     Although this wasn't my favorite book, it was an intriguing read, and felt extremely real. If you are interested in reading about suicide, I would recommend reading Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. It was extremely interesting and had me hooked until the end.


Also, if you or someone you know is consider suicide, please at least consider calling a suicide hotline. This link has a list of different suicide hotlines (by state). Life is awesome. So are you.