The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion has become a modern classic. Charlie’s letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating and through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.
Reader Reviews
Anonymous
23 October 2020
A true coming of age book. Tackles issues which teenagers will resonate with. A classic for modern times.
Anonymous
06 October 2020
I can see why this book appeals to a YA market; there’s a good mix of characters. there’s a hint of something going on that we know we’ll only find out about if we read the whole book, and the protagonist is a likeable guy. It looks at serious issues with a touch that isn’t heavy-handed, and is a good representation of what it’s like to be an outsider.
I didn’t really have a favourite character, but I guess that the sister stood out for me more than the others – she was presented as both confident and vulnerable, and the way her character developed felt natural.
As far as reading the book to someone else – well, yes I would, but it would depend on the person. I think it’s definitely a YA novel. Some of the time the characters – particularly the central one – were quite self-absorbed. Then again, a lot of the characters are having to deal with things that wouldn’t be easy for adults to deal with, never mind teenagers. I’d probably recommend it to wallflowers!