The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a book review

Author: Stephen Chbosky
Pages: 213
Year Published: 1999
Rating: A hearty 4/ 5 stars
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The problem was nobody was there to play Rocky, the muscular robot (I'm not quite sure what he is). After looking around at everybody, Mary Elizabeth turned to me.
"Charlie, how many times have you seeen the show?"
"Ten."
"Do you think you can play Rocky?"
"I'm not cut and hunky."
"It doesn't matter. Can you play him?"
                                                                            "I guess."
                                                                            "Do you guess or do you know?"
                                                                            "I guess."                                  
                                                                            "Good enough."                                                        

Charlie (sighing)

Charlie (chuckling softly)

Charlie.

Sometimes, it's that book that's all weird and unstructured and messy that draws you in. And this is one of them.

Charlie is a freshman. He is also very socially awkward, but very aware of what surrounds him. Or more like unaware that he is aware. He notices the little details that people leave out, and he perceives the silent emotions emitting from a person's soul.

In this book, Charlie writes letters to an undisclosed person. In his letters, he writes about his new found friends, his new experiences, but most of all, he writes about himself, but in such a subtle and unconscious way that leaves so much to the reader's imagination. I felt like I could connect with Charlie on so many levels. His searching for life's meaning, his voice, his way. And when I couldn't connect with him, I tried to understand him, I tried to make sense of what he was trying to make sense of too. And it worked, because this book worked.

Charlie's voice is blatantly honest, and it even resonates through the supporting characters. Sam and Patrick, Charlie's two new friends, possess a lot of character and will. I think they made Charlie more strong as a person, while not consuming or controlling him. And Charlie's relationship with his family is just so real and unfiltered that I feel like I could peer through my bedroom window, and look into another person's house and imagine it was Charlie in there.

Look, I won't lie. I bought this book but I wanted to hate it. I wanted it to hate it because everybody loved it and it didn't even seem that special. But it was. It is. It's special because it makes you realize things you didn't realize before. It makes you think, and frown, and it kind of silences you. Because you just don't want to miss a single moment of what this book gives you.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is simply a book. And more. Just like Charlie is simply a person. And more. And you are simply a reader, a human. But once you read this book, you will be more.