NY Times Book Review
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
By: Amanda Bayer
Heart
Borders: $14.00
The Perks of being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, an easy read that will get you hooked. The series of letters from the main character, Charlie, to an unknown person tell the story of beginning his freshman year of high school in a city near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Charlie only had one friend, Michael, who he had lost to suicide. He was thought of as weird because he was so shy and quiet. A new place with no one to help you get through it can be scary, until Charlie is befriended by Sam and Patrick, two seniors. They expose him to many different things such as sex and drugs. Throughout the novel, Charlie deals with his complicated family. He helps his sister when she gets into a lot of trouble. The message of the story is to not watch your life go by, but to start living it. Charlie changes from the beginning of the book to the end, from being shy and quiet, to one who is more confident and brave because of his experiences with the upperclassman.
Charlie, an intelligent freshman boy who is very quiet would never speak of his love for Sam, his stepsister. He is the “wallflower” portrayed in the novel which means that he is a thinker and not a doer. “Do you always think this much, Charlie? – Is that bad? – Not Necessarily. It’s just that sometimes people use thought to not participate in life. – Is that bad? – Yes.” (24) This quote explains that Charlie has not realized that he is not living his life. His character in the beginning is very quiet but also very emotional (he would get upset and cry very easily). In comparison to his character at the end of the novel, Charlie transformed and discovered who he was.
I would recommend The Perks of Being a Wallflower, to anyone who is looking for an easy read that is also easy to relate to. For teenagers, they can relate to the everyday issues that Charlie faces such as drugs and sex, and for adults; it will give them a chance to relate also as well see the different pressures that teen’s face today.
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6 comments:
I have always wanted to read this book, i have heard people talk about it on numerous occasions and it seems really good. I think i will like it because as you said it was an easy read, but mostly because it is relatable to teens such as me to read!
This book really sounds like it's walking right down my alley. Since I am a boy in high school I can probably relate to many of the things that the characters in the book experience. I like reading books that are about kids around my age because I think it keeps me more involved and they usually talk about issues that most teens face. This book really sounds like something I would want to read.
I've heard really good things about this book before. It seems like an emotional read, which is something i tend to gravitate towards. I don't necessarily think i could relate to this story because it comes from a boy, but it seems like a story everyone should read!
I think i have read this book before. If it is the one i read, then it is very good, and relates to teenagers and gives them an outlook on how thier lives may be following the steps that these teens make. Its interesting.
After you were telling me about this book, and how much you liked it, i went out and bought it and cant stop reading it. I'm going to read this book this 9 weeks, i really like it because its something that most teenagers can relate to in someways.
This book sounds like i would really enjoy it. I like to read books that I am able to relate to rather easily and this sounds like it!
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