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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Stephen Chbosky

4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 · rating details · 625,002 ratings · 35,261 reviews

Charlie is a freshman.

And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family d ...more

Paperback, 213 pages

Published February 1999 by MTV Books and Pocket Books (first published January 1st 1999)

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Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

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Dec 28, 2014 Aria (The Whimsical Reader) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: oh-my-favorites, contemporary, stand-alone, young-adult, 2012-reads, book-to-movie, damn-that-made-me-cry, grade-a, real-life-issues

Wallflower (noun)

a shy or retiring person who remains unnoticed at social events, especially a woman without a dance partner

I decided to read this book not because there was going to be a movie coming out soon.
It one of the reasons but then again it wasn’t the main one.
I wanted to read it because the word “wallflower” caught my attention.

I was a wallflower.
I was not one of those kids people notice immediately.
I was one of those people who blends in very well that I was no longer noticeable.
I wa ...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Reynje rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Reynje by: Shirley Marr

Shelves: books-that-linger, read-2012, shelf-of-ambivalence, young-adult, it-s-complicated, release-the-drama-llamas, contemp-or-realistic, rory-gilmore

If, like me, you ~~lurk on~~ frequent tumblr, you will have realised that there is only so far you can scroll before you hit something like this:

Stephen Chbosky’s epistolary novel has something of a cult following, and the quotes that litter the internet seem almost anthemic, given the passion with which they are re-blogged, quoted, slapped across artfully light-leaked photographs and “liked”.

A generation appears to have adopted The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and by extension it’s narrator Charl ...more

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Dec 28, 2013 MizzSandie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: annoying-characters, books-everyone-loves-but-me, bored-so-bored, dissappointed, hate-the-cover, overrated, own, why-the-hype, terrible-writing, had-high-expectations, hated-it, no-thank-you, what-a-waste-of-time, wish-i-could-unread, youre-doing-it-wrong, authors-and-series-i-wont-revisit, facepalm-cringe-eye-roll-sigh, ratings-and-reviews-had-me-fooled, so-much-fail, please-be-over-soon, cliched-stereotypical-unoriginality, i-reviewed-this, movie-was-better-than-the-book, this-is-crap-literature, too-much-tell-not-enough-show

(this review has been rewritten in july 2013. The ultimate opinion and meaning is the same, though the communication of it, has changed.)

DISCLAIMER:

I did not like this book.

I am about to try to explain why that is so, here, in my own, personal review space. I am critiqing this book, based on my own opinions, personal taste, experiences and perspective, criteria and standards for literary work. It is entirely subjective, as I think all reviews, per definition, are.

I mean no disrespect to the pe ...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Tatiana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: Lifetime movies fans

Recommended to Tatiana by: book club pick

Shelves: why-the-hype, ya, 2011, ala-ya-2000

There may be a book in the world that can address, just within very few pages, suicide, molestation, domestic abuse, homosexuality, drug use, mental issues, first sexual experiences, rape, abortion, etc., and not sound like a Lifetime movie, but The Perks of Being a Wallflower is not an example of that.

For me, the straw that broke the camel's back was when I realized that, to add to all of the above mentioned melodrama, the narrator was either emotionally or mentally handicapped. It appeared, C ...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Karolina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, one-of-a-kind, loved-it, conteporary

February 25, 2013

Dear Charlie,

I am writing to you because I feel like you're the only one that would listen to me right now. From all the friends that I have made you are the one that's the most understanding. I guess what I'm trying to do is thank you for being there for me these last couple of days. I didn't expect to learn from you as much as I have. My mom always says that you can never really understand a person until you walk in their shoes, but I guess getting to know you and reading your ...more

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Dec 04, 2007 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

As much as people say it, this really is one of my favorite books of all time. MTV promoted it, it got a lot of press, so many people shun it and say it is overrated. I disagree.

I didn't read this book until last year, when I turned 21. My boyfriend owned it, it seemed like a quick read, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

Main character Charlie is loveable from the first sentence out of his mouth. There are endless quoteable quotes in this book that had me folding the page over so I ...more

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Jan 08, 2015 Lola rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1st-person-pov, young-adult, realistic-fiction, coming-of-age, lgbt, sad, friendship, love, family, abuse, contemporary

‘‘Charlie, we accept the love we think we deserve.’’

That is quite true. I have stumbled upon many beautiful sentences, throughout my reading, and ones that make us think but, this one, is my absolute favorite of them all.

description

There is so much that can be said about this, yet I don’t seem to find the right words, but I will try my best. It was such an…emotional, deep and realistic story. The plot was simple, if we only look at it as a whole, but every detail contributed to make it an incredible read. ...more

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Jun 02, 2014 Emily May rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, 2014

Clueless. I am clueless. The popularity of this book baffles me even more than the popularity of The Fault in Our Stars. Maybe I really am just a coldhearted person with no feelings.

Amazingly, I actually managed to start The Perks of Being a Wallflower knowing absolutely nothing about it. I've avoided all the reviews and hype over the years, I've purposely put off seeing the movie because I wanted to check out the book first. I knew nothing except that so many people LOVE this book. I was a bit ...more

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Dec 03, 2013 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: high schoolers and beyond

Recommended to Megan by: Kelsey Fernandez

*UPDATE:* I went and saw the movie today and it was a very good movie. Stephen Chbosky directed the movie and it was very true to the book, I would say almost exact. So if you liked the book I would definitely recommend going to see the movie, you will enjoy it!

I have been struggling with how to rate this book since I finished it. I loved this book but then at the same time it was just okay. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I am finally secure with who I am… but in high school that *UPDATE:* I went and saw the movie today and it was a very good movie. Stephen Chbosky directed the movie and it was very true to the book, I would say almost exact. So if you liked the book I would definitely recommend going to see the movie, you will enjoy it!

I have been struggling with how to rate this book since I finished it. I loved this book but then at the same time it was just okay. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I am finally secure with who I am… but in high school that wasn’t true. If I would have read this book in high school I think I would be absolutely in love with it because of the fact, that probably, like most of us at one point in our teens, I felt like an outsider like Charlie. Without my closest friends around me I was a definite “wallflower,” the insecure, quite, nerd who would rather blend in then be seen.

As I’m thinking about it now I think that is what was hard about this book for me at points it reminded me of who I was in middle school and the beginning of high school and that is a person I would much rather leave in the past. Sam and Patrick were the friends that pulled Charlie off the wall just as my friends did. I could relate to a lot of what Charlie felt, which I think a lot of us can. I didn’t do drugs or drink in high school but I’m sure we all had friends who did or even just know the feelings that led him too.

“ We accept the love we think we deserve,”

When I first started the book and after the suicide of Michael and the death of his aunt being carefully tiptoed around I initially thought the book was going to be mainly about suicide. In a way I guess it was but not as much as I thought. These are the parts that really spoke to me and I connected to having seen the effects of depression and suicide. After reading about the mixed tape Charlie makes I went and downloaded all the songs and I love the song Asleep by the Smiths. I wish I had heard this song when I was dealing with everything in high school. I am glad that Stephen Chbosky introduced me to this song and the poem Charlie reads to his friends:

“That's why on the back of a brown paper bag
he tried another poem
And he called it "Absolutely Nothing"
Because that's what it was really all about
And he gave himself an A
and a slash on each damned wrist
And he hung it on the bathroom door
because this time he didn't think
he could reach the kitchen”

The Pros of this book: The letter writing was a unique format that felt very open and sincere. (Even though I still want to know who he was writing to and what that person thought as they received the letters.) The events in the book seemed real as if they happened in my own high school. The characters were fantastic even if I felt Charlie was being whinny at points, but hey it’s a letter that’s probably how it would sound.

The Cons: Okay the main thing that really bothered me in this book was the essays he was writing for extra work. His teacher claims that he is becoming a better writer each time. The problem I have with that is wouldn’t his letter writing get better as well? I know it isn’t in a formal setting but I expected his writing overall to get better which it didn’t. I don’t know if it is just me but the writing in the book seemed below a freshman level but that could have to do with the fact that I think that Charlie suffered from some sort of autism.

Overall I’m going to give this book a solid 4 stars. The book was quite relatable but I didn’t expect the twist at the end even though it did make the rest of the book make more sense. I know have a playlist on my iPod labeled as “Charlie’s Playlist” and I’m in love with the song Asleep.

“And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.”

This was a powerful line that really spoke to me. I never thought as moments as “infinite” but it really is true. Those moments when you are truly happy or even on the flip side when the world is crashing down they seem infinite. I love this line. Some may hate it and think it cheesy but sometimes life needs to be cheesy and it needs to be infinite.
...more

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Jan 03, 2008 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: everyone

This book is beautiful. It is a classic teenager read. I have probably read this book a million times and it never gets old. I love how honest and deep Charlie is. He will get you thinking about the good things and what really matters in life. I am inspired whenever I read this book and I hope you can get as much out of it as I do each and every time.
This is was my book report for school. Hope it helps!

“We are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we'll never know most of them. But even if This book is beautiful. It is a classic teenager read. I have probably read this book a million times and it never gets old. I love how honest and deep Charlie is. He will get you thinking about the good things and what really matters in life. I am inspired whenever I read this book and I hope you can get as much out of it as I do each and every time.
This is was my book report for school. Hope it helps!

“We are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we'll never know most of them. But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose wherever we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.” (pg.211) Every word spoken by Charlie has touched my heart. I love how honest and deep Charlie is. He will get you thinking about the good things and what really matters in life. I am inspired whenever I read this book.
Written by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower would have to be one of the most insightful young adult novels I have read. It’s a collection of letters written by a boy who calls himself Charlie. He writes “to know that someone out there listens and understands and doesn’t try to sleep with people even if they could have. (He) need(s) to know that these people exist.” (pg.2)
This books talks about drugs, sex, sexuality, literature, films, music, and daily adolescent life. The main character, Charlie, a freshman in the early 1990’s, is just beginning high school like all of us. Following his meeting with Sam and Patrick, two seniors who become his best friends, Charlie begins to experience more of life. He was always more of the shy understanding type who would “use thought to not participate in life.” (pg.24)
"The world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends, the world of sex, drugs and the rocky horror picture show, when all you need is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite…" (Back cover) When I read certain books, or certain lines I can get the chills. Not just “oh that I was so good I got the chills” but the true hair raising shiver with a small sweep of coldness, chills. That line does it for me. “And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." (pg.39) If these lines have no affect on you, I do not recommend reading this book. It’s for the thinkers as well as the participators. It’s for the ones who enjoy simplicity and want to widen and better their point of view. Don’t take me wrong though, everyone should read it, but at their own time.
This book has inspired me to try and do so much more. Charlie did and achieved so much in just his freshman year alone. I want to live a life like him. One that I can look back and be proud of, one that I can tell my kids about, of walking home from school and spending the best times with my friends. To you, right now in this classroom it may seem little and petty, but to Charlie and I, this is real. After reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I assure you that Charlie will be with you forever. ...more

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Sean Curraoin This is a truly great review of one of my favourite books ever
I normally read the more thriller/ mystery type of genre book but I heard they were maki ...more
Dec 03, 2012 01:27PM

Carly Svamvour Mmmmm ... can't help but think of my own teens, back in a time when a book like this would have been banned. We certainly wouldn't have been encourage ...more
Dec 05, 2012 09:05AM

Jun 30, 2012 DC rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: recommended-to-me

June 30, 2012

Dear Charlie,

First of all, thank you for sending me your poignant letters. I'm honored you think of me as a person that didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though I could have. I'm ecstatic you decided to allow me to read your thoughts. I'm glad you proved to be such a great letter-writer/story-teller. I am really quite happy about this.

It was nice receiving letters from you, even though they're dated long ago. I know that I got them for only a couple of months ( June 30, 2012

Dear Charlie,

First of all, thank you for sending me your poignant letters. I'm honored you think of me as a person that didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though I could have. I'm ecstatic you decided to allow me to read your thoughts. I'm glad you proved to be such a great letter-writer/story-teller. I am really quite happy about this.

It was nice receiving letters from you, even though they're dated long ago. I know that I got them for only a couple of months (in a span of one year), but it felt like you've been talking to me since you were very young. (Remember that memory you called the first one you ever remembered?) I sometimes felt like the things you were pouring out in your letters were a little too personal, but you let me into your head, into your heart, into your soul.

With only your words, I saw you "participate", I saw you have friends, I saw you fall in love, I saw you grow. I may not have ever seen you or the persons you know personally, but I could almost taste your fries from that fastfood chain, I could almost hear Mary Elizabeth's chatter, I could almost see Patrick's smile, I could almost feel the winter cold of your world there. Your friends and family were as real to me as if I saw them every single day of my life.

Now... While I was glad you were very honest in your letters, I have to admit that your highs and lows were brutal and enlightening to me, as they were to you. Your first kiss (remember her tears?), your first "girlfriend" (e.e. cummings will always remind me of her), your first experiments with different substances (I was a little appalled, a little sad, a little curiously happy for you), your first drive (oh, the silly sophomores), your first mix tape (thank you very much for introducing me to a number of memorable songs!), your first time watching the last episode of M*A*S*H (I promise to keep that incident secret, too). You had your issues, but you seemed more interested in those of others. I felt more than a little sad when you were being too nice to some people... But boy was I rather depressed when you had to be all alone! I wish I could've always been there, instead of reading of your exploits on a date after you've had them.

I'll sincerely cherish your words, your thoughts, your ideas. Thank you very much for the pop culture references - you surely made me add more books and more songs and more "films" to my to-check-out list!

I'm a little sad that I haven't gotten any more letters from you after that last one, but I understand. I'm sure you're doing well, and rest assured: I'll always be here to hear you out when you need it.

Thank you for being so wonderfully Charlie-esque. Thank you for letting me feel infinite.

Love always,
Your friend ...more

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Jun 06, 2008 Meredith rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: someone bored. it's an easy read.

Resounding accuracy of the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood, goodreads? Um yeah, maybe if all kids teetering on the brink of adulthood made you question if they were autistic and spent the majority of their free time reading the classics and going to therapy. Don't get me wrong. This book is good. You want to find out what the deal is with the main character for the entire book and at the end, you eventually get a pretty damn good idea. But for the love, this is not the Catcher ...more

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Sep 08, 2011 K.D. Absolutely rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to K.D. by: ☼~Marian~☼

Shelves: ya

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: A. Free live sex shows but you are not allowed to tell anyone. B. Free LSD mixed in a brownie. C. Free to make out with girls who take fancy on you because you seem to be harmless. D. Free books because you are autistic hence you can finish a challenging book to read like Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead” in 12 days and your English teacher wants to challenge you by giving you more and more books to read. E. All of the above. F. None of the above.

I read this novel ...more

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Dec 05, 2011 Annalisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: language, drugs, sex, gay sex, rape, etc

Shelves: book-club, issue, voice, young-adult

3. 5 stars.

I almost didn't finish this book. The main character was so hard to figure out. He was supposed to be intelligent but he was so naive. I get being book smart but dumb streetwise, but it was basic social and life knowledge that he didn't get. One minute he seemed wise beyond his years and the next he acted like a child thrust into a teenage life.

There were also a couple of scenes that I didn't think were believable. I almost put the book down (view spoiler) ...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Shirley Marr rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: Reynje

Recommended to Shirley by: Tatiana

Shelves: usa-crossover

"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." URGH! I hate that quote! It smacks of a forced whimsy and I bet you that nobody actually knows what it means because they don't want to be outed as a non-cool kid, so everyone pretends that it's deep instead of perhaps the matter of the truth - that it probably doesn't make any sense and therefore means squat all.

This quote just makes me think of this: The Infinite Cat Project. But that type of infinity is better because it a) involves cats and c) ...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Allie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, coming-of-age

Drugs, abuse, child molestation, anything that would make people cry & be traumatizing for a teenager, it's all here in overdose, injected wherever possible into every character's life. How can the author be such a douche.

I felt emotionally manipulated by this inconsistently written, I'm-trying-to-be-deep-and-real-and-strike-emotional-chords crying fest.

So I Hulk-smashed it into the recycling bin.

God.

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Jul 16, 2014 Jesse (JesseTheReader) rated it 5 of 5 stars

THIS BOOK ALWAYS BRINGS ME SO MANY FEELS. 3rd time re-reading it and I still feel infinite.

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Oct 11, 2014 Kristin (KC) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: new-adult-ya, powerful

*5 Stars*

A touching and emotional portrayal of an ordinary boy finding his significance...

The brilliance and beauty of this book is discreet and quiet. We have Charlie — the awkward, lovable narrator — revealing his story through a consistent flow of letters to a "friend". The letters are candid and based off emotion — exactly what you'd expect from a teenaged perspective. There is no specific plot design; no standard structure this story follows — in fact, at first glance, you may be inclined ...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Brigid *Flying Kick-a-pow!* rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: on-my-kindle, for-book-club, addicting-as-crack, bromance, favorites, young-adult, substance-abuse, realistic-fiction, romance, novellas, so-many-emotions

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

So, I've read this twice now. The first time I read it, I think I was about 14 years old and I believe I originally gave it three stars. But after waiting a few years and reading it again, discussing it with my book group at school, and seeing the movie (which I loved), my appreciation for it has grown immensely. And I think there's a lot of things I missed out on or didn't sympathize with as much when I read it as a younger teenager. Thus, I'm bumping my rating up to 4.5 Actual rating: 4.5 stars

So, I've read this twice now. The first time I read it, I think I was about 14 years old and I believe I originally gave it three stars. But after waiting a few years and reading it again, discussing it with my book group at school, and seeing the movie (which I loved), my appreciation for it has grown immensely. And I think there's a lot of things I missed out on or didn't sympathize with as much when I read it as a younger teenager. Thus, I'm bumping my rating up to 4.5 stars (and rounding it up to 5 because Goodreads doesn't allow half-ratings, hmmph).

There are a lot of things I love about this book.

First of all, it covers a lot of important issues without (usually) coming off as too preachy or trying to be too controversial. I say "usually" because there are times I feel when it gets to be a little too much. I mean, everyone's life in this book is really screwed up––and while I think addressing all these issues is important, it does feel like overkill at times and not entirely realistic. So, there are some parts that seem unnecessary to the plot. But for the most part, Chbosky handles the controversial subjects very well, and deals with them in a careful manner without hitting the reader over the head with it.

Secondly, I love the writing. It's interesting how it starts out being rather mediocre and almost painful to read, but improves a lot throughout the book as Charlie learns more and more about how to write more skillfully. (Someone in my book group brought up that it was somewhat similar to Flowers for Algernon in that regard). We see a lot of growth in Charlie just in his writing style alone. And I just love how Charlie says everything, how can get across so much meaning in so few words.

It's one of those books that is able to put complicated thoughts into very understandable sentences. I understand why many people feel that this book has changed their lives and/or saved them. While reading it a second time, I came to realize just how often I had those moments where I thought, "Wow, I've always had a thought like that but I've never known how to put it into words." As you can see below, I like a lot of quotes from this book. There are just so many little things in it that speak to me.

(Random note: OH GOD I just accidentally turned off my computer but when I turned it on again this review was still here and didn't get deleted. PRAISE THE LORD.)

Anyway ... back to what I was saying.

So, I think that's what's the most important thing about this book. It speaks to people. And sure, there are a lot of people dislike the way this book is written or think it's unrealistic or that it's a pretentious piece of hipster crap. But, in the end, it has still changed a lot of people's lives. I don't think it has impacted me quite as much as it has a lot of other kids, but I'm just very glad that this book exists because I think a lot of suffering teenagers can find themselves in it.

And although I haven't gone through a lot of the horrendous things that characters suffer in this book, it's still something I found comforting to read merely as someone who has dealt with anxiety/depression. Although it's a dark book in a lot of ways, ultimately it conveys a lot of optimism that things won't always be this bad. I can't find the quote unfortunately, but there's one part about just waiting for the happy moments in life ... and when you experience them, you try to remind yourself that you will be happy again just like you are now, and how difficult that can be. I'm not saying it as well as Chbosky does, but I just think that idea is so easy to relate to––that when you're depressed, it's hard waiting for those happy moments, but they do happen. And ultimately, you're not alone and you have family and friends who can help you.

I'm kind of rushing now because I have to go out of the house. But I think that about covers it anyway. Basically, I think this book does a great job portraying high school life and showing depressed teenagers that they are not alone.
...more

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Dec 04, 2013 Daniel rated it 1 of 5 stars

Bloody awful.

Imagine this: The Catcher In The Rye was fucked rough by A Million Little Pieces. The zygote's DNA was then re-spliced with 1980's panic journalism and bombarded with x-rays for six months. It was then delivered premature on a bloody altar beneath a full moon and methodically, repeatedly dropped on its head by Chuck Palahniuk.

Any plot whose central premise is an amnesia of the daytime TV variety belongs in a very special category. For me that category is "books to be burned with th ...more

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Jul 06, 2009 Kim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: the-kids-are-all-right

There are certain nuggets… certain lines or sentiments that I stockpile when I read.. I find them on pieces of paper towels or on the back of notebooks, I’ve stopped writing them on my arms since it grosses my husband out…. but they are still there, those little lines of self therapy that I rely on to further my mental wellness and to avoid those damn co-pays.

So, I’m reading yet another YA book about a teen with issues that seem so prevalent these days, I mean, really, what teen doesn’t have is ...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Stephen M rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: Bookshelf padding

Recommended to Stephen M by: ugh

Shelves: idiot-heart

The most interesting and relatable parts of this book—for me anyway—were the parts about his sickness, whatever that ended up being, exactly. It’s always interesting to me that a book which is ostensibly about a “wallflower”, an outsider, has sold over half a million copies and is considered to be one of the most popular YA novels out there. Either people who read are going to be the types who relate to Charlie anyway, or that we all feel like outsiders in our own skulls, viewing the world from The most interesting and relatable parts of this book—for me anyway—were the parts about his sickness, whatever that ended up being, exactly. It’s always interesting to me that a book which is ostensibly about a “wallflower”, an outsider, has sold over half a million copies and is considered to be one of the most popular YA novels out there. Either people who read are going to be the types who relate to Charlie anyway, or that we all feel like outsiders in our own skulls, viewing the world from an outsiders perspective, always wishing to be “included” on that which we observe around us. Either one of these are fairly plausible explanations for why books like this one become so popular despite featuring a “strange” main character—which the author reminds us of every three pages. And even though both of these explanations would be fine, I’d rather just get really cynical and rant about myself.

It’s interesting what you remember. . . or what you experience, and the profound influence these memories have on your opinions about books which purport to relate to those memories. I think that books like this try to have it both ways. It would be hard to write a story about a popular high school boy and have him be likable, because let’s face it, the majority of really popular kids in high school were pretty shitty human beings. And it would be even harder to write a story about a complete outcast solipsist who despises his classmates (although I’m looking for such a Gass-like YA novel and would love to read it). Thus, we get Charlie. A sweet, sensitive, people-pleasing boy with a few “issues” that keep him marginalized enough to be shoved into a few lockers, but charming and handsome enough to score friends among the seniors and get some action (from a few girls and a guy).

The furthest that the author is willing to venture in making our main character “weird” is the dissociative fugue he enters towards the end. That’s why I found his sickness to be the most relatable; they seemed to be the most real parts of, a somewhat believable depiction of mental illness, featuring a damaged and messed-up kid. As opposed to the other tensions, which cute as they may be, are superficial, contrived, and cliché.

It’s all coming full circle now, though, because these criteria I’m laying out—real, realistic, believable, relatable—are entirely informed by my own experiences in high school and growing up and I bet there are a lot of people who do find Charlie’s character weird, strange, off the beaten path, etc. And that just shows the subjectivity of reading, or whatever.

I can still remember vividly, the blue plastic-covered bench where I would sit after school, waiting for my dad to come pick me up. I hardly spoke except in class when I felt like expressing an opinion, but as far as speaking to other people, about things unrelated to class, or things that didn’t have to do with music, I felt like I had nothing to say, nothing to contribute. If it didn’t have some concrete purpose in my life, I couldn’t force myself through the trivialities of small talk and making friends; it was excruciating. And anyway, one time sitting at this bench, some sports jock sits down next to me and starts asking me what I’m doing and where I’m going. I’m kind of terrified and ambivalent about what’s going on. I didn’t know what he wanted, thus I didn’t know why he was making conversation (god forbid someone was making conversation for the sake of conversation). Our little chit-chat went on for about three minutes, with only a look of confusion across my face and one-word answers in response to all his questions, then the guy finally spit it out. He wanted to make sure that I wouldn’t ever shoot up the school, and if I did, to know that he had nothing against me and that he was friendly, like look at him talking to me. I suddenly realized, as I walked away, and got into my dad’s car, how I must come across to other people in the school to warrant such a bizarre encounter. It hurt; I couldn’t believe that a person would ever think that I’d do something like that. And even if it was the encounter with one asshole, it really got to me. I realized how much of a recluse and a social outcast I must have appeared to everyone.

And but so anyway, ever since then, I will always feel distant from a great majority of the supposed “outcasts” and “losers” that are portrayed in popular literature and movies. People like Charlie just posture in the stereotyped identity of the sensitive, misunderstood outcast without ever really being it, truly; because to be the true outcast would mean to alienate a lot of the potential customers reading the book or watching the movie. The stories that really get in there and do the work to make an unlikable character which warrants social ostracism will be, in turn, ostracized from the popular media. A book like this will never really get to me when it features a main character who makes friends easily, makes girlfriends easily, and gets invited into his teacher’s house to be told that he’s the most special and intelligent students to ever attend his high school. It all reeks of bullshit and pandering if you ask me. ...more

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Leon RE Agreed. I was quiet in school and still am, but I could not relate to Charlie. I guess I can't really relate to anyone who wears their emotions so eas ...more
May 02, 2013 05:59AM

Aaven I agree with Leon (and most of this review, which I really enjoyed). When I read the description for this book, I expected the main character to be a ...more
Nov 07, 2013 09:26AM

Dec 26, 2007 Topher rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: people who liked catcher in the rye and remember the muppets on tv

Shelves: literature

my life was nothing like his. my life was everything like his.

maybe i was in the right mood today, maybe it just is that damn good. it was everything i remember feeling from high school, from reading catcher in the rye and a separate peace, from driving around down to city line avenue and wandering around hotel hallways looking for room service trays so we could move the spoons, from not understanding how i felt about my best friend at the time, deliberately failing spelling quizzes so i would l ...more

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Feb 25, 2008 Jenn Pellerin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: someone without a cynical bone in his or her body

Shelves: crap

Reading this book is kind of like having a too-long conversation at a dull party with one of those people who won't talk about anything but books and bands and movies that everyone and their mom just loves. "Do you like the Smiths?? Have you hear that song Asleep?? Have you heard of this book Catcher in the Rye? Do you make MIX TAPES? Do you struggle with your sexual and social identity? ME TOO?!"
If you are into that sort of thing, feel free. Or you could just go on youtube and watch that "pink ...more

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Sep 24, 2011 Priscilla rated it 4 of 5 stars

What a book! Charlie grows up experiencing so much in a time frame that seems so short.

Initial thoughts:
1. Charlie's letters are written in 1991. 1991!!! Reading this book today makes me so aware of the differences between 15 year olds back then, and 15 year olds today.
2. Charlie is innocent and naive, and as he experiences the world, he remains to be a genuine character. I like that.
3. WOW, there's a lot of issues brought up in this book. From sex, drugs, to issues with family and friends, I wa ...more

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Mar 24, 2011 karen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-everyone-loves-but-me, and-so-this-is-grad-school

teens seem to love this book.

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Sep 02, 2014 Kat Stark rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kat Stark by: Rachel

Wow, I mean just wow. I am blown away by this novel. Chbosky captured all of these moments, through the eyes of Charlie, that everyone can relate to as a teenager. Yes, there are a lot of issues in this book like rape, drugs, suicide, domestic violence, etc. The list goes on and on, but these things do happen in life. He touches every issue, but doesn't dive into the deepness. I like that he doesn't go too much into these topics because it speaks very true to Charlie's character.

Yes, the story is not difficult to read and it does come off as being a little "too easy" in the writing style, but what people should consider is that it's supposed to be written by a 15-year-old, and they are letters. I don't know about everyone else, but when I'm writing letters to a friend, I really don't use huge words or make sure I'm using beautiful language to get my point across. I felt like these letters were written for me in particular (or even any reader directly).

I am amazed at the character development and how realistic Chbosky made these characters. Everyone has a Patrick, Sam, Mary Elizabeth, Peter, Craig, or Charlie in their life (or characteristics that they portray). Even the relationship between Charlie and his family members were done so well, that I saw my family staring right back at me through the pages. They are so real to me that I couldn't stop crying towards the end of the novel. Plus, the literary references from various novels are just superb. And let me just say that the ending...was just perfect. There wasn't a better way to end Charlie's remarkable journey.

This quote within the book says it all for me,

"It's strange to describe reading a book as a really great experience, but that's kind of how it felt. It was a different book from the others because it wasn't about being a kid. And it wasn't like The Stranger or Naked Lunch even though I think it was philosophical in a way. But it wasn't like you had to really search for the philosophy. It was pretty straightforward, I thought, and the great part is that I took what the author wrote about and put it in terms of my own life."

...more

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Jan 08, 2015 Laz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, tear-jerkers, contemporary, all-time-favorites

Stupid stupid stupid feelings.

This book is so touching and simple in a way that you just feel like the person to whom Charlie addresses the letters, is you. I saw the movie a while back and so when I decided to read the book I knew that I already was aware of the plot and the things happening and there was a chance I'd get bored. But I didn't. It made it that much interesting because I already knew about his aunt. It's a very unique book and a very genuine one. I think we've all felt all these t ...more

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Aug 06, 2013 Jude rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in-my-shelf

Dear Friend.

It was hard to read this book, even after my therapist told me it would help. I mean, it did, but it also broke me. He said that I could make Charlie’s story my own, because Charlie’s story is my own. I saw the movie first, and at the movie theater I cried more than anyone else, because I connected with the story, because it made me remember – well, I already remembered, but it forced me to face my memories. The book was a different experience, because I can’t forget what happened n ...more

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Oct 30, 2014 Robert rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: robert-s-reads

If my high school voice ever appeared in novel form, there’s a good chance it’d resemble Charlie. He’s naïve and precocious and childish and odd and enlightening and invisible and seen and I could have tried pot brownies and would have had no idea I was stoned unless someone told me and I would have wanted a milkshake and I can’t dance but I can do the sway and I could have witnessed a rape and had no idea what had happened because I was ~~in middle school~~ a kid. I could have confided to my teache If my high school voice ever appeared in novel form, there’s a good chance it’d resemble Charlie. He’s naïve and precocious and childish and odd and enlightening and invisible and seen and I could have tried pot brownies and would have had no idea I was stoned unless someone told me and I would have wanted a milkshake and I can’t dance but I can do the sway and I could have witnessed a rape and had no idea what had happened because I was ~~in middle school~~ a kid. I could have confided to my teacher about a tragic event that happened at home and I avoided beer like it was the second coming of Satan and I could have written letters to an anonymous pen pal and I did chores to earn my allowance and I wrote poems ~~in high school~~ college and I went out with a girl who had what could be described as low self-esteem and I was totally infatuated with her for a period of time and I like unconventionally beautiful women. I love music and books and I overanalyze and outthink myself on a fairly regular basis and speculate and contemplate and can probably be considered a deep thinker in a world that doesn’t seem to plan or speculate or think too deeply and I can keep secrets and my mom tells me she loves my stories and I type on a ~~typewriter~~ computer and I hate goodbyes and I had a teacher that thought I was special, albeit it was the third grade and sometimes I feel so much that my body has to physically shut itself down otherwise I’d start frying brain cells. I think too fast.

But I didn’t smoke copious amounts of weed and cigarettes or eat pot brownies or trip on LSD and (view spoiler).

But I did love THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER with my whole being and I don’t feel as though it will cause me any mental breaks to feel this much and to be totally caught up in Charlie’s world and to feel fortunate for Charlie because he has friends like Patrick and Sam and Mary Elizabeth and that he was able to mail letters to his anonymous friend to help him through his first year of high school and that he was able to go to parties where he kissed girls and spent time at the Big Boy and (view spoiler).

Cross-posted at Robert's Reads ...more

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Songs that fit The Perks of Being a Wallflower?	48	362	Jan 10, 2015 04:59PM
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About Stephen Chbosky

Stephen Chbosky grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the University of Southern California's Filmic Writing Program. His first film, The Four Corners of Nowhere, premiered at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival and went on to win Best Narrative Feature honors at the Chicago Underground Film Festival.

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