'I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they are 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 away 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 Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinte. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of what 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 an interesting book, which offer the perspective of Charlie, a shy, quiet boy, through his letters to an anonymous reader, or you - depending on how you look at it. Even though the letters get very long and sometimes it seems like a real chaptered story, once you're deep into a letter, it holds a certain charm, because it's a really intimate way of writing and Chbosky did a really good work with it.
It's a book about coming of age and it deals with several themes that is somewhat teenagers can see themself in. Whether it's body image, friendship, mental illness, drugs, sex or first love, the way Chbosky writes the story through Charlie's eyes and mind makes it an interesting story to read.
It has also been made a movie based on this book, and it was written and directed by the author.
The book came out in 1999 and the movie came in 2012.
I find this book wonderful and it was a real mind opening experience to read it. I also think that this book is very good, so maybe you wanna read it?
If you want to read the book, you can choose to read it in Norwegian or English, press right here for the book and here for the DVD!
Happy reading!!
Emma, a school student working here for the workweek.
