I was bad I saw the movie before I read the books. Please forgive me, dear readers. I know that it is not acceptable. It is against every rule I live by. You read the book first then watch the movie and judge the movie because it can never compare with original. Well, I broke my rule. I was lured by Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and the amazing music in the preview. And let me tell you the movie was great. I loved it!! It was awesome, and because I loved the movie so much I decided to by the book and read it. And I loved the book too!!
Like many other books I like, Perks of Being a Wallflower is told completely in letters. This creates a really good connection with the main character. He is telling what happened. We only hear his thoughts. Charlie the main character of this novel is an interesting person. He is definitely not the normal teenager by any standards. A year before the book starts Charlie's best friend committed suicide. Already having experiences with loved ones dying, Charlie goes off the deep end. He is forced to talk to doctors and was treated different by everyone.
As he is starting High School he like many others stupidly hopes for a restart. He hopes that this year he will fit in. Well, like most high school stories go Charlie doesn't. He isn't automatically inducted into the popular crowd. He really has no friends until "Nothing" a kid from his shop class befriends him. "Nothing" whose real name is Patrick is a senior. Patrick introduces Charlie to new things and people. Including Sam. The first time Charlie see her sparks fly. Sam is now the best person in his meager high school life.
Charlie's first year of high school is full of up and downs. He does way to much drugs, drinks way to much, has his first girl friend, his first kiss, and many many other firsts. He basically see the world. Sounds like a typical high school story right? A unpopular boy who really knows nothing about being cool finds a group of friends becomes happy and then everyone rides off into the sunset in the back of someones beat up pick up listening to some pop music. Hear it all before right?
Well I would be lying if I said The Perks of Being a Wallflower doesn't follow that loosely. It is a high school story. Charlie does meet new friends. They are all happy eventually. But the different thing about it is Charlie. He is not the typical teenager as I have said before. Charlie is different. Charlie thinks differently. Charlie is a wallflower. He sees and he understands.
The letters let the reader see into Charlie's world. The things he wouldn't say. The things he can't say.
I really can't say much else about this book besides read it. I know I should go into some in depth discussion on the language, writing style, and character development, but lie Mr. Chbosky I am going to keep it simple. You don't need to know what I got from the book, you need to read if for yourself and see.
Lindsey
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