Thursday, June 7, 2018

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by STEPHEN CHBOSKY (1999)

Title: The Perks of being a Wallflower
Author: Stephen Chbosky
Pages: 213
Published: Feb 1st 1999
Publisher: MTV Books and Pocket Books

You know when you go into a book shop and you find people like you. That like the same books as you. Well, funny story. I was at Windsor's Waterstones and standing in front of the YA section I picked out 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'. So I stood there, looking for a second book, when this girl started talking to me. Maybe a year older than me. We got carried away talking about books and when I asked for a book she recommended she pointed to the second copy of 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' on the shelf. Standing there with my copy in hand she laughed. I don't remember which book I ended up buying apart from 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' but I got Stephen Chbosky's book and I loved it. 

When I recommended this book to my friend she said she didn't like to read books about characters that were mentally awkward. I was about to flip. NOOOO!!! It's not like that. He's just a little socially awkward.

I absolutely love this book because it just explains... everything! He explains the feelings all of us are feeling as teenagers (well, I've felt them sometimes and I think, or hope that you agree because otherwise it means it's just Charlie and me, and I don't think that's meant to be). But he explains things we go through, feel, understand. I want Charlie to be my friend!! I want to be his friend! He's so likeable, loveable. I don't really know how to praise this book without flipping out. If you haven't read it you just have to take my word for it.

IT WILL UNDERSTAND YOU!!

Plot Summary:

Charlie's not the biggest geek in high school, but he's by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent, yet socially awkward, Charlie is a wallflower, standing of the threshold of his life whilst watching everyone else live theirs. As Charlie tries to navigate his way through uncharted territory - the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends - he realizes that he can't stay on the sidelines forever. There comes a time when you have to see what life looks like from the dance floor.
- as on the book cover

Favourite Quote:

'You can't just sit there and put everyone's life ahead of yours and think that counts as love'
And all the other amazing quotes:
'We accept the love we think we deserve'
'Love always, Charlie'
'And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.'
'This moment will be just another story someday.'

'Why do I, and everyone I love, pick people who treat us like we're nothing?'
'You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand'
'Enjoy it. Because it's happening.'

My Rating:

10/10

Don't miss out on the film staring Emma Watson and Logan Lerman. I think the film is great. The one thing I noticed the most was that in the book Sam has long hair and Emma Watson has short hair in the film. Now I happened to see the film before I read the book and Charlie doesn't comment on her hair until the end so I kinda (like many others) imagined Sam with Emma's short hair all the way through the book. Otherwise, I quite enjoyed the film. The point (trying not to spoil anything) of Charlie's discomfort throughout the book is explained much better and clearer in the book. In the film I was left hanging guessing. Assuming. Anyways. I think it would be better if I reread and then watched again and I'll make a review then.

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