The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

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 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. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. 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.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

Rating: 5 stars

Alright, before I begin this I just want to say I'm sorry I haven't done many reviews recently. I've been really busy and I've had a few family troubles. I'll be gone at camp just next week, but then I'll put up some more. But, on a happier note, the German CoB trailer came out and *fans self* *dies*AHHHHHHH 

 I had actually heard of the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower before I had heard there was a book. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I plan to. The book was fresh, fluffy but serious, and so incredibly unique, I hope the movie portrays each of the characters correctly.

The book was actually written in letter form, which I wouldn't normally read, because when you write letters you don't include all of the details that you would get normally, but The Perks of Being a Wallflower did a very successful job at putting as many details as possible into each of the letters. For being in letter form, I felt like I was actually with 'Charlie' seeing everything he saw. But it was still believable, because Charlie is the sort of guy to cram and cram and cram all of his thoughts out like that, with his feelings so realistic and palpable and his voice so strong and so bold and yet so quiet to everyone but him all within being a believable personality. It was incredible.

'Charlie' isn't actually 'Charlie's' real name, because he wrote these letters to an unnamed friend, and he wished to be anonymous. Everyone else had made up names as well (by Charlie). Charlie is fifteen years old, and his best friend, Michael, died. Charlie doesn't have any more friends that are still at his school, so he is forced to enter into high school alone and hurt. Until he meets 'Nothing' Patrick, and Sam, Patrick's step sister. They soon become friends, even though Patrick and Sam are older than Charlie.

Charlie has an immediate crush on Sam, which eventually develops into love. That was actually very sad, because he couldn't help the way he felt, even when Sam had a boyfriend. Charlie's emotions were very subtle, but very strong and deep. If he loved something, he loved it with every fiber of his being, which made heart breaks so incredibly tough on him. Most people would look at him and think he was just an emotional baby, but when you see inside his head, you realize how wrong that is.

Charlie also over thinks things, wondering about and exploring anything that he doesn't know about, which was quite interesting in some parts, because Charlie is also very innocent at the beginning of the book. Charlie wants to know what everyone else thinks, and why, and about who, and when, and why they do what they do, and he wants to sympathize with them so desperately that it leaves him wondering what is going on in his own mind. He spends so much time thinking of other people, that he doesn't know what is going on in his head, or if it's wrong, or whether he's crazy, or whether he's just a freak.

He trusts easily, as well. He likes to talk to people about his problems, and he wants them to help, and he listens, truly listens and does his best to understand what they're saying. He's a great listener, and he's got a brilliant mind. It was impossible not to fall in love with him.

Sam was a pretty girl, who loved listening to people and loved people. She was sweet and was the absolute perfect match for Charlie. Unfortunately, she didn't realize this until the end of the book, and poor Charlie was all confused by then. Sam was like the mother. She made sure everyone got along, and if someone didn't she made them apologize. She was sympathetic and sweet, and she loved Charlie, even as a friend.

'Nothing' Patrick was funny. He got his nickname when people were calling him Patty, and he told them to call him Patrick or nothing. So they started calling him Nothing. Charlie called him Nothing at first, but then called him Patrick when they became friends. Patrick was gay, but he had a hard time keeping his relationship together with his 'boyfriend' who was gay, but in the closet still. Charlie helps out with that a lot, but Patrick is still hurt by the end of the book.

There was no evil plot in this story, no who-dun-it, no bad guys, just a teenage boy trying to get through school. And that was all this book needed, just a couple of wallflowers, never noticed by others, but always noticing things themselves. This book was sad, but it was truthful. It had real circumstances and realistic people who were lovable. You start reading this book, and you never want to put it down, it draws you in until you're so hooked in the story and captured by the characters you never want it to end.

SPOILER BELOW (kinda?)
One thing about this book that will never stop bugging me: At the end of the book Charlie introduced himself to a kid, saying 'I'm Charlie' or something along those lines. The kid replies saying 'I know' and then walks away. WHAT?!?! How does he know? Does everyone else know? Is Charlie more noticeable than he seems to think? Why isn't this explained? I am literally so frustrated about this now that I just can't...

Anyway, wonderful book. Everyone feel free to read it and enjoy it and love it with all your hearts. If you don't, you have major issues with the brilliance that Stephen Chbosky created.

xxAvalon