YA Group Read (Feb 2014) - The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

[Holly, That Geeky One]

This is the thread for discussing our Young Adult Group Read for February: The Perks of Being A Wallflower.

The poll's runner up, Divergent, is a buddy-read for this February as well.

[Holly, That Geeky One]

I read this as I wanted something shorter to read, and I knew I'd have a lot to read in February.

This actually surprised me a little bit. I don't think it's amazing, but it was a good read. The writing was interestingly done, you really felt for Charlie. I can understand how people would love this book, and I can understand how people would hate it too. The writing style isn't like a 'normal' book, but the letters addressed to the reader really add a personal touch to it.

[A]

I loved this book.....I read it a few months back and this book really touched me. Needless to say, I loved it. I loved Charlie, and I loved the book because of him. This was a different kind of book, same concept, but written in such a different way.....and I loved the writing.

[Amber]

I plan to read this one this year. Holly, def watch the movie of that book. it is pretty good.

[Amber]

Okay awesome lorah. ^_^

[Kassandra]

I'm about 30% of the way through and I'm really loving this book! The characters in the movie are very close to the book so I can see the scenes in my head as I'm reading.

[Jamie]

I have not seen the movie yet and just started the book. I'm looking forward to both.

[Kassandra]

I finished the book and really enjoyed it. Charlie is such a gentle soul; his emotions run so deep. I loved the characters.

[Kassandra]

I'm so happy that you pushed through Lorah, I think you'll feel it was worth it when you finish. It was one of those books where I genuinely felt touched by the experience.

[Holly, That Geeky One]

Lorah, I was the same. It's pushing past the first bit to reach the good bits.

[Jackie]

I picked the book up from the library and I will start reading it tomorrow.

[Jamie]

Lorah,
I had a similar response in that I really wanted to love this book and have been looking forward to the movie, too, but it wasn't what I hoped it would be.
I just finished the book tonight, and I'm glad I read it, but it wasn't a favorite. I'm not sure what was missing for me--usually I can define it. Maybe I need a little more time to consider it.

[Lucy]

I totally agree with you all - the start felt a little dull to me. I really struggled to get into it. I did, however, really love the last third or so after it all started to make a bit more sense.

The writing was deceptively simple, yet I felt this matched the narrator and was a deliberate style choice by Chbosky rather than a lack of skill.

I found some of the characters a little two-dimensional, but then maybe that was because Charlie is an unreliable narrator, and it was *his* two-dimensional view of people that we are seeing.

There is a lot of discussion that could be had about this book!

[Jackie]

I'm really enjoying the book so far. Right now I'm in part 3 of the book. At this point I think the reader really learns a lot about Charlie. ****SPOILER ALERT****

I thought Charlie was a little different in the beginning of the novel. But the author finally gives the reader more information about Charlie. Also when Charlie shares the poem that Michael gave him, I knew before he did it was a suicide note. Charlie is naive but at the same time he understands so much. I love that he is emotional.

On a side note- I finished Eleanor & Park before reading this book. Music plays an important part in both books. The Smiths are mentioned in both. I'm an 80's baby so I wasn't familiar with the group and had to look them up.

[Jackie]

I just finished this morning and I was actually shocked. I never expected that. It was a great book and I want to see the movie now.

[Danielle]

I'm just really getting into the book, which kinda sucks now that this is last day it is a monthly book read, but I'm enjoying it. It took a bit for me to get into the writing style but I like it. Very introspective.

[Danielle]

Danielle wrote: "I'm just really getting into the book, which kinda sucks now that this is last day it is a monthly book read, but I'm enjoying it. It took a bit for me to get into the writing style but I like it. ..."

Ok I finished this last night and wow what a roller coaster. As someone who just came out of my teens I felt really affected by this story. What an interesting read.