The perks of being a wallflower
Mon 19 May 2008
Carolyn Garner, Bachelor of Journalism
The perks of being a wallflower takes the reader on a tumultuous journey through Charlie’s freshman year of high school where he discovers the responsibility and the trials and tribulations of being a young teen.
Stephen Chbosky has created a complex and unconventional protagonist, Charlie, who you immediately bond with and feel as though his experiences parallel our own high school journey. He is a young, intelligent teen coming to terms with the changes of puberty in a physical and social sense. This book has humour, melodrama, depression all wrapped up in this young boy’s perception of life and love.
Throughout the book we follow the intimate relationship between Charlie and Sam as she introduces him into the life he so longs to be a part of. When he is befriended by Sam and her friends, he is welcomed with open arms into a world where he is exposed to sex, drugs, alcohol and breaking the rules of convention.
The novel is written as a series of letters sent to an unknown pseudo recipient as a form of escapism from his turbulent life. These letters describe and divulge his innermost demons, and secrets and fears from the people closest to him. It is more intimate than a diary, his writing is poetic, humorous and charming and the reader can’t help but fall in love with his innocent and loyal demeanour. Charlie faces topical issues including homosexuality, domestic and sexual abuse and of course, girls.
It is a reminiscent, coming-of-age story for anyone who can relate to the growing pains of high school. It is also synonymous with other coming-of-age books such as The Catcher in the Rye. It was an endearing story that was simply impossible to put down. His charismatic letters are enticing and captivate an inquisitive mind. It is definitely recommended for anyone who has ever wanted to be a fly on the wall in a sticky situation.
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