The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Stephen Chbosky

[Rach Wood]

This book is about a 15-years-old kid, Charlie, supposedly, schizophrenic and also a high school freshman, but he is on the sideline and he doesn't real socialize or do things, he just watches the others and the world moving and living more than he ever dreamed. But one day he just meets Patrick, a cool and funny guy, and his pseudo-step-sister, Sam, an unconventional beautiful and smart girl. Then, the story, which is told in letters written by Charlie himself, begins with the "Wallflower" trying to take part, as his English professor advises him.

Charlie did not win me, even though I don't really dislike him, because he's not just an awkward kid who likes to read the same books over twice, which is fine to me since I already have done it, but he's also too lame, always crying, even when there's no reason at all, and it was so annoying to know he was sad almost all the time. But then I remember he has a problem and maybe the whole instability and anxiety scene make a bit of sense. He's also strangely naïve, since he doesn't know a lot of things a 15-year-old boy would know, like masturbation. It's more than ok if he doesn't do it, but not knowing it is just unrealistic, even to a schizophrenic, I guess.

Well, the other characters were wonderful. It just felt right, even the whole thing with Mary Elizabeth, which is the first date of Charlie. I think it's because Charlie is a talented storyteller after all, even if he's not a normal kid, or the author is a skilled storyteller, whatever. As the book talks about the life of a teenager and about all the great first experiences, the bad and good ones, was easy for me to identify myself quickly. Yes, there are some teen drama, but come on teens have drama in theirs life, is not a lie or unrealistic at all, teens make everything a mess and for being honest it's not a big deal, it's so easy to mess up things, so we're not worse or better than anyone else.

One of my favourite parts was the whole thing with the mix tapes and the music in the motorway tunnel, the scene when Charlie talked about feeling infinite. It was also cool that Charlie writes as he thinks, because it felt like he was talking to me, and btw it was great that the letters would be for a person he didn't know but thought would understand him, 'cause the author was smart enough to don't say who the person is, so we can all think that we are that person, the person Charlie doesn't know, but thought would understand him. And I liked a lot when Sam offered a typewriter to Charlie, it was just sweet and thoughtful, and when she told him to stop being just nice and do what he really wanted to do and not apologize for it 'cause we deserve and may feel and that's ok, that scene was awesmazing!

Anyway, I didn't like this book that much, but I liked it. It talks about love (hetero and homo), family dramas, abortion, death and rape, music and literature, a lot of stuff. It's a pretty screwed up story, I guess. Well, the whole point is the book is more than readable, the characters are good enough; the story makes it easy to connect yourself into it, and there are a lot of quotable quotes, so that's it, enjoy the ride!