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“And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.”
It’s a 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. We may not know 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, family dramas, and new friends. The world of sex, drugs and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, where all you need is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.- blurb from the back of the book
I’ve been trying to find this book for almost a year but always failing. This is just like The Virgin Suicides…a copy keeps evading me, until that day at National Bookstore when I finally spotted a copy of this. I bought it immediately, savoring the idea that I finally have this book. :P
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an epistolary novel, filled with letters from Charlie who seems to be writing to you, the reader, because “she said you listen and understand and didn’t try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have.” Charlie begins to tell you of his adventures during his freshman year of high school, of how his friend Michael kills himself, on how he met his friends Patrick (aka Nothing) and Sam. Every letter is filled with stories of his experiences with his family (who is actually quite normal), his friends and their encounters with drugs, alcohol, smoking and sex. The letters are honest, with the intention of delivering what really happened to Charlie, his observations about the things around him, and his way of trying to “participate” and not at the same time. The novel wraps up quite nicely, tying up the loose threads that hang from the plot and ending with a nice goodbye with Charlie, who I have gotten to know and like for the past two days I’ve been reading it.
I have to admit, however, that the situations that happened to Charlie’s life can’t really apply as much in the country, especially with how conservative Filipinos are as compared to the Americans. Aside from that fact, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a good read because you get an instant connection with the protagonist. His family is not the dysfunctional family that I expected it to be…in fact, it’s quite normal, albeit with some quirks. Charlie’s letters are sincere, and you know that even if things are happening around him that makes him cry (and yes, he cries a bit too much), he still finds a way out of it. You can see that he wanted to protect his friends and be there for them, and protect and love his family as well. Charlie, in a way, acts as a mirror to all of us, who tries to find himself in a world where it’s easy to lose yourself in everything around. Charlie’s illness (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, I think! :p), but this illness is what Chbosky used to wrap things up in the end…that to really know yourself, you’ve got to be honest with yourself. And even if you have a really bad past, it will still be your choice with if you would let this bad past rule your life. You have a choice.
Good book. Not exactly the best, but really good. :) This would be up for re-reads. :)
I’ve been hearing about this book a lot; will try to find a copy for myself too! Looks like a must-read!
The Perks of Being A Wallflower is probably the best book I’ve ever read. Charlie is the most sensitive, brilliant, infinite character I’ve ever read about, and I really wish he was a real person. I would die to meet this kid. Alot of people can say they relate to him pertaining to peer pressure and such, and I can say the same. But what Charlie went through in Perks was just jaw dropping. He had so many ups and downs and with that personality of his he deserved so much more than he was getting. I think Sam was such a jerk. She knew Charlie and her were just perfect for each other, she knew who he was as a person and she accepted it. She kept Charlie’s spirit alive for a really long time. Yet she never acknowledged him as more than a friend except once, and even then it didn’t turn out the way I had wanted it to. The way Charlie views life in general is just self-satisfying and makes me think alot about how much people take for granted. No one actually thinks this way, or that’s just what it seems. People in this generation don’t ever stop and think about that stuff. It’s always about themselves. Charlie is a perfect example of what people should be like. Even though his first impression in this book is extremely awkward and out of place, you really get to know him in this book and for that I give major props to Stephen Chbosky. This is a MUST READ book and a little note to the author… Pleaaase write a sequel! :)
-Chelsey
I agree, I wish I’d meet the real Charlie and I also hope to know what happened on his second year in high school. All of us can relate to what he experienced in one way or the other. I’m actually rereading the book, I plan to buy my own copy because I think I’ll never get tired of reading this book, the copy I’m reading is an office mate’s copy, it’s her fave book as well. I’m currently listening to the songs Charlie loves to listen, and I would like to read all the books Bill gave him as well. Two-thumbs up book! Love it!