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quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
”I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they’re here. 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 ... Or wondering who did the heart breaking and wondering why.”
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 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. But Charlie 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.
Structured as a series of letters from Charlie, a high school freshman, to an unknown “dear friend” between August 1991 and August 1992, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age story.
A sensitive boy given to crying for very little reason, Charlie is a loner by nature, given to close observation of the world around him and even closer introspection. Charlie’s closest friend, Michael, committed suicide several years earlier, and his other friends have drifted away during the transition to high school. Viewed as a freak by his classmates, Charlie’s ability to defend himself is the only thing keeping the bullies at bay.
Then Charlie meets Patrick and his step-sister Sam – both are in their final year of High School, intelligent, vivacious and outgoing and very much into sub-culture interests, most notably performing a fan show for The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Patrick and Sam are drawn to Charlie’s quiet intelligence and in return, help draw him from his shell. At the same time, Charlie’s English teacher has taken an interest in him and is setting extra-curricular reading to help him develop.
Charlie writes the letters to address both his own reaction to the changes in his life and also to come to terms with the problems in his family life – particularly his failure to reconcile to the death of his favourite Aunt Helen and his sister’s relationship with an abusive boyfriend. As he goes through the normal coming of age rituals – learning to drive, first love, his first girlfriend – more of his past comes out and the reason for his sensitivity becomes apparent.
A gentle story, this is a character piece rather than an action adventure but it’s well told and holds the interest. Charlie is an interesting narrator and Chbosky sensitively unravels his backstory, and although Charlie’s propensity to cry becomes a little repetitive, the explanation for it is shocking. Adult readers will enjoy the nostalgia that comes from the period setting while teens should be able to empathise with the main characters. All in all, it’s a solid read and well worth a look.
The Verdict:
Gentle and slow to build, this is an affecting story that makes for a solid read.
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 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. But Charlie 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.
Structured as a series of letters from Charlie, a high school freshman, to an unknown “dear friend” between August 1991 and August 1992, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age story.
A sensitive boy given to crying for very little reason, Charlie is a loner by nature, given to close observation of the world around him and even closer introspection. Charlie’s closest friend, Michael, committed suicide several years earlier, and his other friends have drifted away during the transition to high school. Viewed as a freak by his classmates, Charlie’s ability to defend himself is the only thing keeping the bullies at bay.
Then Charlie meets Patrick and his step-sister Sam – both are in their final year of High School, intelligent, vivacious and outgoing and very much into sub-culture interests, most notably performing a fan show for The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Patrick and Sam are drawn to Charlie’s quiet intelligence and in return, help draw him from his shell. At the same time, Charlie’s English teacher has taken an interest in him and is setting extra-curricular reading to help him develop.
Charlie writes the letters to address both his own reaction to the changes in his life and also to come to terms with the problems in his family life – particularly his failure to reconcile to the death of his favourite Aunt Helen and his sister’s relationship with an abusive boyfriend. As he goes through the normal coming of age rituals – learning to drive, first love, his first girlfriend – more of his past comes out and the reason for his sensitivity becomes apparent.
A gentle story, this is a character piece rather than an action adventure but it’s well told and holds the interest. Charlie is an interesting narrator and Chbosky sensitively unravels his backstory, and although Charlie’s propensity to cry becomes a little repetitive, the explanation for it is shocking. Adult readers will enjoy the nostalgia that comes from the period setting while teens should be able to empathise with the main characters. All in all, it’s a solid read and well worth a look.
The Verdict:
Gentle and slow to build, this is an affecting story that makes for a solid read.
