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| The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Posted: 07 Apr 2011 08:59 AM PDT  The Perks of Being a WallflowerPublished in: Feb 1999 Published by: MTV Books from Simon and SchusterFormat: Paperback 224 Pages Source: Won a giveaway from MTV books Synopsis Standing on the fringes of life... offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor. This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up. My Review You know how everyone has books they love? Then there are others who have a book or two that have literally changed them. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of those books that has literally changed my entire way of thinking. This book is one that you will find yourself thinking of night after night, month after month, even after you finish reading it. I am a huge fan of Epistolary novels, but the Perks of Being a Wallflower took it to a whole other level. Even though the book is written in letter format, I was surprised that the setting was described very well. There were a couple key things I recall, such as the burger place they all went to. Even though it wasn't described exactly, it was very imaginable. There was also another point when Charlie is on drugs, he mentions a specific tree that swirled out into the shape of a dragon. That exact line gave you a distinct idea of what Charlie was seeing in that moment. Other word choices and lines describing music helped give readers a sense of the time period. Stephen Chbosky is a brilliant and very skilled writer. There is some difficulty in writing novels in the form of diary entries and letters. One thing that I have seen that some authors struggle with is the bouncing between past and present tense, along with the description of dialogue. I was very pleased to see that there weren't any mistakes or confusion in the authors writing. The letters were very personal and sounded like something the character would be reading out loud to us, the readers. In The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Charlie ends up growing in ways that no one could have seen coming. The year documented by his letters show the slow changes that Charlie makes, and then the final plot twist realization he comes to. In the very end of this book, the author chose to include an epilogue; this final letter really closed off some loose ends and gave us that semi happy ending we were all hoping for. It wasn't what everyone would have wanted, but it is definitely a step in the right direction for Charlie. Although this book is obviously written about Charlie, there are other key plots that are being discussed. For instance, there is the overall idea of acceptance of gay relationships dealt with by Patrick. Then there is the obvious attraction between Sam and Charlie. Each character has their own minor issues being dealt with. I think that is what made it so well rounded and likeable. On another note, I thought it was very interesting the way Charlie was constantly reading new novels and listing them in his letters. I cannot adequately describe how deep in love I have fallen with this book. There is something about the changes that Charlie goes through that people can find relatable and also thought provoking. I especially enjoyed the message of trying to participate in life, not standing on the sidelines watching. This is one that I plan on rereading multiple times in my life. A new comfort novel, so to speak.  Truth Be Told gives The Perks of Being a Wallflower a 5 Lantern rating. I'm in love Purchase Links: or add it on goodreads
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