1. Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. MTV
Books/Gallery Books trade pbk.ed., Movie tie in ed. New York: MTV Books/Gallery
Books, 2012. Print.
2.
Plot Summary – This first
novel by Stephen Chbosky tells the story of Charlie, a young boy on the fringes
of adulthood. He’s not the biggest geek in high school, but he’s a wallflower. A
wallflower in the sense that he is shy, introverted, and tries not to meddle in
other people’s business too much. His life does begin to change when he meets
new friends and confronts the realization about his beloved Aunt Helen. Written
in a unique style where Charlie writes letters to his “friend”, readers will
feel as if they are joining him in his journey of self-discovery.
3. Critical
Analysis – The Perks of Being a
Wallflower is Stephen Chbosky’s first novel and has been on a number of
bestseller lists such as, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Publishers Weekly,
New York Times, and Washington Post. While reading professional and reader
reviews of the title, there seemed to be polarized views about the quality of
the book. Publishers Weekly called it
“trite,” and Voice of Youth Advocates
described the novel as having “[A] disjointed and almost dreamlike quality of a
music video.” On the other hand, a reader from Amazon.com, Kailey commented,
“This book is horrible because it is sad. It is so sad, you’ll hurt. But it is
now my favorite book. It makes you feel.” So, while professional reviews may
not see the affect this title has on young adults, the young adult readers
themselves felt connected with the events that occurred.
That is one of the strengths of this
title. Chbosky was able to bring readers to a time in adolescence when you felt
that falling in love was the biggest concern and nothing could stop you when
you’re with your friends, while on the other end of the spectrum, it the title
tries to resolve and deal with real-life events such as, homosexuality, love,
abortion, depression, sexual abuse, and social anxiety. As mentioned before,
Chbosky’s writing has a dreamlike quality. One example is when Charlie comments
on a car ride he recently shared with his friends, “I have since bought the
record, and I would tell you what it was, but truthfully, it’s not the same
unless you’re driving to your first real party, and you’re sitting in the
middle seat of a pickup with two nice people when it starts to rain (p. 33).”
The title’s diary-like writing is
another strength that helps young readers connect to the protagonist, Charlie.
He writes to a “friend” and it feels as if we found his diary randomly in a
sock drawer so as we begin to read, we experience everything he is experiencing
at the time. It’s near the end of the title’s end that we are hit with the
realization Charlie discovers about his Aunt Helen. We begin to feel sadness,
but also relief because after this painful event has been unearthed, Charlie
can now seek help and move on from the traumatic event. It’s safe to say that
most teenagers feel affected by something and perhaps this title will help them
confront their fears and try to understand the situation.
What I found to be weak in this title is
that a few events were cliché. One example is that Charlie has fallen for his
friend Sam, but she is with someone else. Another is that he is a misunderstood
and quiet teen, but is also gifted in writing which the teacher takes notice
of. It’s not to say that the story is boring, but some readers may be able to
predict what happens next in the story.
Overall, I found this title emotional,
touching, and relatable. Young adults have more experience with the subjects in
this book than adults would like to believe, but perhaps we sometimes forget
that we were all young once and felt more alive than ever. Charlie sums up
those special moments in adolescence well when he said, “I feel infinite (p.
33).”
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