The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
By Stephen Chbosky
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower might have been written back in 1999, but this doesn't stop it from being an instant classic. The novel is about a boy (Charlie) as he transitions into his freshman year of high school. Along the way, Charlie is befriended by the senior sibiling duo Sam and Patrick. The novel follows the three as they navigate through some pretty sticky situations involving Drugs, Alcohol, live productions of Rocky Horror Picture Show, Homosexuality, and of course teen drama!


      I have to say, this story starts out a little slow, but once you're a few chapters in, it's impossible to put down (I finished the book in one day I had some much trouble putting it down!). I think the slow start is mostly caused by the way the novel was written. Perks is written in the very experimental format of letter writing. You see, the entire story is Charlie writing down what has happened that day, and mailing it to a "trustworthy person" (you!). At points, this writing style really drags on, seeming more like a journal than a fiction novel, but at other points it really cracks opens Charlie's soul and shows his inner most fears and hopes, really "baring all" on the page. This can be incredibly uncomfortable at times because Chbosky really doesn't shy away from the gory details. If you have anything against drug use, suicides, sex, or teen alcohol use, I would not recommend this novel to you, because all of those are described in incredible detail. But just because it has some intense moments does not mean it doesn't have a happy ending. It does leave the reader a bit hanging (so if you like a tight, clean happy-ever-after, this is not for you!), but you get the sense that after everything Charlie has been through, he'll make it out okay.


    Another amazing detail of Chbosky's writing is his ability to develop every character, even the smaller ones. Charlie is obviously the most developed, but Sam and Patrick are incredibly dynamic characters. Patrick is lovable and endearing as he deals with forbidden love and heartache, and Sam is just as beautiful in my head as in Charlie's. I could even imagine some of the smaller characters, like Charlie's English teacher and his dead Aunt, both of whom are great influences on Charlie's behavior.


   Overall, I give this novel four pearls. It's a very intimate look into a young man's life that is sure to be a classic. (P.s. If you liked Catcher in The Rye, this is right up your alleyway, as that was the major inspiration for the novel)


Hope you enjoyed my first review!
XOXO
Babsie