The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.

Stephen Chbosky.

Publisher:MTV Books.

Publication Date:February 1,1999.

Genre:YA Classic|Drama|Romance.

Format|Pages:EBook|146.

Source:Owned|Goodreads.

5 STARS

 

I heard about Perks of Being a Wallflower, for a while now and I been curious about the book, about why so many people were talking about this book. After getting the book and reading it, I could see why. It was an amazing book, from beginning to all the way to the end. Charlie was a very likable character, and I felt like I could connect with him. He seemed a lot like I was his feeling about belonging, high school. To me, this was one of most realistic, touching novels that I read this year. I can see why it’s a classic; it deals with issues that most of teens go through. Despite the book being depressing, I would highly recommended for everyone.

 

 

GOODREADS SUMMARY

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the story of what it’s like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie’s letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives or to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and music—when all one requires to feel infinite is that perfect song on that perfect drive.

 

Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.

 

What is there not to love about this book? Though it has dark themes, and depressing most of the time, it’s the type of book that you find yourself thinking about after reading it. I thought about some of the things that I read about, once I finished the book, there was some quite unexpected twists that happened in the novel, once that I didn’t see it coming, till it happened. Especially towards the end, when the truth was revealed about Aunt Helen and Charlie. That was a shock to me, considering what happened to her when she was a child, and she went and done same thing to Charlie? At same time, it answered some of the question and why Charlie seemed depressed half of time. I knew that his mind was trying to block out the memory, till he was with Sam. I had hard believing that she was capable of something like this, to me seemed like she cared for Charlie.

 

 

  I felt like I could relate to Charlie on most things, not everything but some. Like not belonging, trying to fit it. Honestly that is how I felt when I was in high school. I was the shy one, who barely had any friends. Maybe that’s why I could relate to Charlie so much, though he is a boy. To be honest, at beginning when I just started the book, I didn’t even realize that Charlie is a boy. Yet, once I found he was, I found myself he would be the kind of guy I see myself being friends with, while in high school. Though he did make some bad decisions such as drugs but that’s how it happens in real life, people make mistakes. After finishing the novel, I could see why he did what he did, because he was trying to block out the memory with his Aunt.

 

 

I loved his relationships with Sam, Patrick and his family. But Sam and Patrick were his real friends, and to me it seemed that they were the ones that were always there for him, no matter what. I was glad that he actually made some friends when he started high school, someone that he could actually hang out with. Everyone needs friends, even if they were older than him. I could see tension between Sam and Charlie from moment that two of them met. I was curious if something would happen between two of them, despite what she told Charlie at the start. It seemed that something always seemed to get in a way, anytime that something was close to happening. Now, with his family, despite his sister arguinging, fighting with him, he was still always there for her. At first I wasn’t sure if his sister cared for him but as book progressed I could see that she did, that his whole family did.

 

 

  I read books that were  written in letters format, but somehow this book seemed different. Fact that Charlie started each letter with Dear Friend. Reading the letters, I was always curious who Charlie was actually writing too, if he was writing to someone in particular or just writing, to get his feelings out. I think that’s another reason that I loved this book was because of letters, it felt more personal to me, when story was told through Charlie’s point. The way that he wrote the letters, felt as if he was talking to us, the readers. I imagined feeling and going through all emotions that Charlie was going through. The letters made the book seem more real to me, bring the stories to life.

 

 

I enjoyed going on Charlie’s journey with him, I smiled, I cried, I laughed; I got sad along with him. I’m eager to find out how the movie adaption turned out. It’s the book I see myself reading again in future and one I recommend for everyone, not just teens.