Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Hello fellow Bri's Bookers!
Today I am reviewing The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I would give this book a 6/5 stars if it was possible. I enjoyed the book so much and I highly recommend it. It makes for a very quick and easy read.
The book is written in an epistolary format and takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1991. This means that the story is written in a series of letters that the narrator, Charlie, writes to an anonymous person who is assumed by most to be the reader. Charlie is just fifteen when the story begins and is prompted to write the letters after the suicide of his best friend. Charlie is about to enter high school and decides the write the letters to relieve some of his anxiety. The book takes us through the beginning of his freshman year up until the end and lets us experience what it's like to grow up from making to new friends, to first kisses, and all of the awkward moments in between. It also deals with a lot of real-life issues and captivates what it is like to be a teenager beautifully.
One things that I really enjoyed about the story is the fact that it is written in a letter format. It allowed me as a reader to really make a connection to Charlie and to make a connection to the book because it made me feel as if I was receiving real letters from Charlie and it made me feel as if I was essential to the book. Also, being that is directed to the reader, it gave it a more personal touch as well.
I would recommend this book to teenagers that are at a high maturity level. And I say that for two reasons. The first is that the main character is a teenager when the story takes place and I think that readers will be able to make a better connection to Charlie if they are a teenager and are going through some of the same things as him. Also, the book has a lot of things that are probably intended for an older audience. It covers a range of things from suicide, rape, drugs, child molestation, sexuality, drug use, abortion, domestic abuse, and more. If you would like to read another book that is similar to this one, my recommendation would be the classic book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
As far as the movie, it is just as incredible as the book. This came as a surprise to me because usually I have found that movies made after books are nothing but a disappointment that cannot even come close to the book in comparison, but this was a pleasant surprise.
Throughout the book, there are references to a lot of books, film, and music. A list of this can be found online.
Below is a trailer for the movie if you are interested.
Watch my review on YouTube!