The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky

Hello, my fellow readers. I am aware I haven't reviewed anything in a while, but it was because I was in a reading frenzy. So don't hate me. You can expect a lot of quick-fire reviews coming up in the next few days. Now, I am going to review the book which might well be my favorite book of all time, 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower', by Stephen Chbosky. Normally I try to be a bit funny in my reviews, and I'll try in this one, but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to pull it off this time. If you've read the book you'll understand why. THE EMOTIONS. As you turn the last page in this book, you feel like running out on to the street and living life to the fullest, only to realize you haven't done your homework yet.

This has definitely go to be one of my favorite books, YA or otherwise, of all time. I usually read fantasy, dystopian or paranormal, but it was refreshing to read something more realistic, something that I could relate to. I feel like this book is going to be a classic in fifty years, because it really is life-changing. It's very rare to find a genuinely meaningful book, and I thank Stephen Chbosky for writing something that moves the reader. I don't care if you're a boy or a girl, old or young, but if you read this book and you aren't moved, YOU ARE DEAD INSIDE.

Before I start going on about how freaking amazing this book is, I think you should know what it's about. Ready? Set? Boom, here goes the synopsis:


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.

This book has been getting a lot of attention lately because it has been made into a movie releasing on September 14th (I think), starring Emma Watson as Sam (OMG HERMIONE), Logan Lerman as Charlie (OMG PERCY JACKSON), and some other guy playing Patrick. I'm not going to lie to you, I didn't even know this book existed before I heard about the movie, but as soon as I heard the movie was based on a book, I bought it, because I refuse to watch a movie before reading the book. That's just how I roll. I'm very cool, I know, don't be intimidated.

The book is written as a series of letters that Charlie addresses to a "friend" whom we know nothing about. I find this quite cool, because it makes the you feel like he's writing the letters to you personally. The storyline isn't overly complicated, but it manages to convey how an adolescent struggling through high school is exposed to a new world and how he changes because of it. The character development is what makes this book what it is, because we see how Charlie and his friends change throughout the book, and this only makes them more endearing. By the time the book ends, you feel like Charlie and his friends are your friends, which just shows what a good storyteller Chbosky really is.

I can safely say that this is the best-written book I've ever had the privilege of reading. The writing style is completely flawless, and it's beautiful, there's just no other word to describe it. I've gone over this book twice just highliting the quotes, which are simply amazing. After watching the trailer, everyone knows the "And in that moment, I swear, we were infinite" quote, which is great, but there are so many others like it. An example of this is, "Charlie, we only accept the love that we think we deserve". Chills, right?

My favourite character has got to be Sam, because of how wonderfully complex she is. I love a a character who isn't one-sided, someone that can show different aspects of himself or, in this case, herself. We see a wide range of emotions, from blissful happiness to painful sadness, which helps us bond with her and identify ourselves with her. She's just an amazing character, and I think she deserved a mention in my review. (The fact that Emma Watson is playing her doesn't hurt much either).

Okay then. That's pretty much all have to say! Amazing book, and I mean AMAZING. Incredible, fantastic, [insert adjective here]... So anyway, if you haven't read this yet, get off your compute, you lazy layabout, and go an buy it. And then read it. And then tell me thought of it on twitter or by commenting below. So, yeah, that's it. Peace out.

Happy reading,

JRD