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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky

Start date: August 1, 2013

Finish date: August 25, 2013

Discussion: Group Reads

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What Members Thought

Aug 03, 2011 Library Lady 📚 rated it really liked it

Shelves: believe-the-hype, disturbing, lol, banned-books

4.5 stars
This was one of the strangest books I've read in a long time, maybe ever. At first, the start of it didn't suck me in and I didn't know about reading a book written entirely as a series of letters because I don't normally like those gimmicky formats. Usually it seems like those things are used to prop up weak plots, so I put down the book for almost a month. I found it again last week and thought I'd give it another shot since I had heard so many good things about it. I am so glad I did 4.5 stars
This was one of the strangest books I've read in a long time, maybe ever. At first, the start of it didn't suck me in and I didn't know about reading a book written entirely as a series of letters because I don't normally like those gimmicky formats. Usually it seems like those things are used to prop up weak plots, so I put down the book for almost a month. I found it again last week and thought I'd give it another shot since I had heard so many good things about it. I am so glad I did.
This book was so unique and quirky, but not enough to irritate me. It never tried too hard. It managed to be funny and moving and wonderful all at once. Charlie had such a strange voice and he was such an odd character that I kept wondering if he has Asperger's. It took me a bit to get into the flow of the story because of the odd way he articulated everything. But I was already absorbed into the plot, and pretty soon I got used to his voice. Then it got weird because he reminded me of this guy I knew who was mentally insane and talked *exactly* like Charlie thinks. So I started wondering if Charlie was crazy.
This book is probably best for older teens as it has a lot of disturbing themes, including rape, incest, child molestation, underage sex, drinking, drug use, domestic violence, etc, and how often people are passive to these things or stay with (and love) the person perpetrating the abuse. It deals a lot with passivity to life in general. There are also lots of homosexual scenes that some people would not be comfortable reading. The book has lots of bad language and is a very sexualized account of this boy's life and experiences. While the sex isn't described in a titillating way, it is pretty graphic in terms of what goes where, what exactly is happening, who is in what positions, etc.
I must also warn that this book is extremely absorbing and written from the perspective of a child with psychological problems. Sometimes while reading, it made me feel a little like I was losing it. To me, that is a sign of a great book, being able to draw the reader in so thoroughly. My only complaint was that the surprise at the end seemed unnecessary, and I would have liked a more internal explanation for Charlies problems, since he was such an internally focused person. ...more

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Jul 05, 2012 jia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fangirl-for, classical-lit, fell-in-love-with, made-me-cry

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of those books that I just couldn't wait to get my hands on. Not because there's going to be a movie but I really really just wanted to read it. To know why it's always been challenged. But I always almost never got the chance but in almost every bookstore here in Hong Kong, I couldn't find a single copy! Is it because it's always banned? Ugh. So I had to keep looking online until one day, Eureka moment, I found it!

How do I describe this book? It's utterly ...more

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Jul 06, 2017 Marie Patlan rated it really liked it

This was my second time reading Perks, and I loved it just as much as I did the first time. The book itself is definitely a product of its time (I'm thinking specifically of some of the references to Patrick and Brad and the way protection and the AIDS scare was alluded to), but it has also stood the test of time. Charlie is such a unique character. And I miss him when the book ends and he's gone from my life.

Part of me wishes that Charlie talked about some things in a more explicit way, especia ...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Lyn Liza rated it it was amazing

I have to admit that my first reading of this book was not very critical. Then again, I tend to dislike a book after a first read, unless of course it was an easy read. But alike many confusing books I've read, this one made such an impression in my mind that it didn't leave it until perhaps a week later after I've talked to my friend about the book.

Confusion struck me early from page 1 of this book. The simple syntax of a 15 y/o first year high school student who sees the world in such innocen ...more

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Oct 24, 2014 Liv rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, read-2014, coming-of-age, young-adult

When I started reading this book, I didn't know where it would lead me. First, I had to get used to the style of writing. The one-sided writing doesnt give you a wide perspective, you just get to know the boy's thoughts on how he gets thru life and everything that happens to him. His thoughts changed often rapidly and you couldn't follow them properly, you just had to go on. That was the hardest for me. There was no conversation with anyone really, just his side of a conversation written down. A When I started reading this book, I didn't know where it would lead me. First, I had to get used to the style of writing. The one-sided writing doesnt give you a wide perspective, you just get to know the boy's thoughts on how he gets thru life and everything that happens to him. His thoughts changed often rapidly and you couldn't follow them properly, you just had to go on. That was the hardest for me. There was no conversation with anyone really, just his side of a conversation written down. And thats kinda biased, because who remembers a conversation on a matter-of-fact base?! It's always subjective. It reminds me of the game Chinese Whispers. There is always something missing or reinterpreted.
Second hardest part was halfway through the book. First half of the book was just charlie's thoughts and life (and why did he always have to cry?! We and also he didn't even know why), and then I felt like he is just telling what happens to his friends, like a matter-of-fact storyteller. It got bored and I didn't know if I should skip some pages and see if there is something different coming. I didn't though and am glad about it. Because coming to the end, it felt like closure for Charlie and myself with him. And I am happy for Sam and Patrick to be his friends and for Sam telling Charlie that she wants him to be who he is and doing things he wants to do and not because others tell him to. I think that school will not be so bad for Charlie even though Sam and Patrick aren't there with him anymore. I also believe that Charlie learned a lot from his friends. The experiences he made were necessary. He would sure have a harder life without them.
We all need friends like that to tell us to be who we are and help us get thru life and experience new things together.

My favorite Quotes:
- "..even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them."
- "..please believe that things are good with me, and even when they're not, they will be soon enough." ...more

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May 27, 2015 Miranda Levi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction

Dear Charlie,

I am writing you because you listen and I feel you have been a good friend the past few days as we’ve gotten to know one another. You’ve opened your heart to me and the honestly has been refreshing. There is an old saying about not judging someone until you’ve walked a mile in his or her shoes. I feel like you’ve given me the opportunity to see your life through your eyes and experiences. You are so intelligent, and I can see that you don’t really get credit for that. Let me say th ...more

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Nov 06, 2014 Ali rated it liked it

3.5.
The main character, Charlie, is just so likeable. He's so selfless and emotional, with a huge heart. Who buys presents for other people on their own birthday? Charlie does.
Overall I enjoyed it, but I felt that there wasn't much 'point' to the book. I wish there had been something bigger to take away from it. But then again it was very simple and straight forward which made it a nice read. (I definitely see why it's a banned book. I would have enjoyed it more if there wasn't so much drugs and ...more

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