Author: Stephen Chbosky
Format: Paperback
Publisher: MTV Books
Publisher: MTV Books
Publication Date: February 1999
Source: Purchased from Borders
Charlie is a freshman.
And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.
Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.
My Review
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| Me and Stephen on opening night of The Perks of Being a Wallflower |
Anyway, let's get to all of the reasons I love this book...
First of all, I adored Mr. Chbosky's simple writing style. When you read The Perks of Being a Wallflower,
you feel like you are the friend that Charlie is writing to because you really are the friend he
needs. You're reading Charlie's every thought, and sometimes they come out sounding very profound, but other times, they are just completely raw and emotional. You smile with Charlie. You laugh with Charlie. You cry with
Charlie. You really do become his anonymous best friend. It's a wonderful feeling to be able to connect with a character in that way, but Chbosky just makes Charlie one of the most graspable YA characters. The bonus - the letters. There's just something so beautiful about letters, and I will cherish Perks forever because of Charlie's letters.
Secondly, I loved the characters in this book. Not only is Charlie a wonder, but his friends are too. Yes, they're not exactly the most functional group of friends, but their friendships and relationships just work. They are all so completely different, yet they find ways to come together and form a tight-knit friendship. Charlie, Sam, Patrick, and the rest of the gang have their ups and downs, but at the end of the book, they all realize that they are better together, and it's just a really good message for young readers.
I truly believe that every teenager in the United States and the rest of the world needs to read this book. My English teacher raved about it when I was a junior in high school. (Well he was pretty much a Stephen Chbosky fangirl, but that's beside the point.) This book might not speak to every teenager, but at one point, a teenager will suffer from or know someone who suffers from depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses. I think it's important to read about those kinds of illnesses, and Perks will forever be the gateway book for me that introduced me to issue-heavy books.
As a Pittsburgher, this book will always be in my heart. I love that such a wonderful book is set in my hometown. I also love that I've been lucky enough to meet Stephen Chbosky twice now, and I have an autographed book and movie poster to show for it. I will be proud every time I remove this book from my shelf to reread.
Secondly, I loved the characters in this book. Not only is Charlie a wonder, but his friends are too. Yes, they're not exactly the most functional group of friends, but their friendships and relationships just work. They are all so completely different, yet they find ways to come together and form a tight-knit friendship. Charlie, Sam, Patrick, and the rest of the gang have their ups and downs, but at the end of the book, they all realize that they are better together, and it's just a really good message for young readers.
I truly believe that every teenager in the United States and the rest of the world needs to read this book. My English teacher raved about it when I was a junior in high school. (Well he was pretty much a Stephen Chbosky fangirl, but that's beside the point.) This book might not speak to every teenager, but at one point, a teenager will suffer from or know someone who suffers from depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses. I think it's important to read about those kinds of illnesses, and Perks will forever be the gateway book for me that introduced me to issue-heavy books.
As a Pittsburgher, this book will always be in my heart. I love that such a wonderful book is set in my hometown. I also love that I've been lucky enough to meet Stephen Chbosky twice now, and I have an autographed book and movie poster to show for it. I will be proud every time I remove this book from my shelf to reread.
Stephen Chbosky grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the University of Southern California's Filmic Writing Program. His first film, The Four Corners of Nowhere, premiered at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival and went on to win Best Narrative Feature honors at the Chicago Underground Film Festival.
He is the recipient of the Abraham Polonsky Screenwriting Award for his screenplay Everything Divided as well as a participant in the Sundance Institute's filmmakers' lab for his current project, Fingernails and Smooth Skin.
