The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky
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Book Summary Information
Author: Stephen ChboskyBrand: MTV
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1999-02-01
ISBN: 0671027344
Number of pages: 213
Publisher: MTV Books
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780671027346
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Book Review: A review from someone who has seen it all himself.
Summary: 5 Stars
To try to convey to an adult what we as high-schoolers go through is like trying to teach an old dog new tricks. They just don't seem to comprehend the struggles that we face each and every day. But, hand The Perks of Being a Wallflower to your parents and they will look at your life differently. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is an almost chilling story of a young boy names Charlie and his experiences as he transitions from being Mr. Big-shot 8th grader to a puny freshman in a peer controlled world called high school. Though it is not specifically said, Charlie's life takes place in a town very much like that of what Chbosky grew up in himself, perhaps hinting at the similarities between Chbosky and Charlie. Charlie's jump to high school is made alot easier through the help of his two new best friends, Peter, and Sam who happen to be seniors. As seniors they have already gone through what Charlie is facing and can therefore relate and help him through their own first-hand experiences.
The book is written through Charlie's letters to someone of undisclosed name, age, and gender, this technique almost allows the reader the believe that Charlie's letters may even be addressed to themselves and can get invloved with the book emotionally on a higher level thus providing for a more enjoyable reading experience. Charlie's letters, though not written on a daily basis by any means, almost creates the feel of a personal journal that we are reading without his knowing. His letters he writes are most likely a way to relieve the stress that he has built up, a release, a way to get the weight off of his shoulders. Do we know if these letters will ever see a another's mailbox? We can't know, the reader makes up their own opinion on that one. To make it seem as though a fourteen year old boy did write these letters, Chbosky will add small spelling errors on purpose to simulate the writing of a kid. Chbosky uses effective narration through the mind of Charlie so well that some of Charlie's events may be some of Chbosky's that he could not tell anyone when he was younger and this is his way of releasing it now after all of these years.
Through the book, we learn of Charlie's experiences and stories. Some are truly traumatizing and shocking while others make it seem as if his life is all good and peachy. But unfortunately for Charlie, his freshman year is filled with problems and drama. Due to some awful events as a child, Charlie has lost his trust in women it seems. Even though he manages to get a few girl-friends, trust issues force them apart. It seems as though he is more comfortable around men than he is woman, perhaps this is due to a certain life-changing event as a child. As long as you have experienced high-school this book will speak to you on so many levels. Things in your life will relate to Charlie's even though you may be of different race, sex, or background. The main message conveyed in this book is that life is precious and is not something to be taken for granted. Every day you are lucky to be alive, so that makes it a good day which should be lived to the fullest.
All in all, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a solid book. You will get something out of this book no matter what. It is almost impossible to not relate to this book. Everyone has at one time or another been affected by peer pressure, whether it be lying, drugs, or even sex. This book will hit some spots in you that you didn't even know you had. Though there are some minor discrepancies, such as a fourteen year old boy not knowing about certain sexual things, this book is a must read. Your life will be changed in some way. At least some Parents and adults will respect teenagers a little more and understand what they go through each and every day.
Summary of The Perks of Being a Wallflower
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. This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being a Wallflower.This 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. 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 and mixed 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.
Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.
What is most notable about this funny, touching, memorable first novel from Stephen Chbosky is the resounding accuracy with which the author captures the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood. Charlie is a freshman. And while's he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He's a wallflower--shy and introspective, and intelligent beyond his years, if not very savvy in the social arts. We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of undisclosed name, age, and gender, a stylistic technique that adds to the heart-wrenching earnestness saturating this teen's story. Charlie encounters the same struggles that many kids face in high school--how to make friends, the intensity of a crush, family tensions, a first relationship, exploring sexuality, experimenting with drugs--but he must also deal with his best friend's recent suicide. Charlie's letters take on the intimate feel of a journal as he shares his day-to-day thoughts and feelings:
I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they're here. If they like their jobs. Or us. And I wonder how smart they were when they were fifteen. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It's like looking at all the students and wondering who's had their heart broken that day, and how they are able to cope with having three quizzes and a book report due on top of that. Or wondering who did the heart breaking. And wondering why.With the help of a teacher who recognizes his wisdom and intuition, and his two friends, seniors Samantha and Patrick, Charlie mostly manages to avoid the depression he feels creeping up like kudzu. When it all becomes too much, after a shocking realization about his beloved late Aunt Helen, Charlie retreats from reality for awhile. But he makes it back in due time, ready to face his sophomore year and all that it may bring. Charlie, sincerely searching for that feeling of "being infinite," is a kindred spirit to the generation that's been slapped with the label X. --Brangien Davis
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