The Perks.

I finally got around to reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
And it wasn't what I was expecting!

Based on what I had read in a review, I was kinda expecting a hipster novel, because of its cult following, or just another story about a teenager's experiments with love, drugs, etc.

I was surprised to find a sensitive portrayal of a boy who is 'different' from others around him, his struggle to fit in, how he faces everything life throws at him, good and bad, but mostly bad; and especially how he is as accepting of whatever is bad as he is appreciative of the good things.

The book reminded me of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time' by Mark Haddon. (Do read it in case you haven't!) The protagonists in both books are teen-aged boys who are unconventional, have behavioural problems, and are talented in their own particular spheres (mathematics vs writing skills). Although: Christopher in 'The Curious Case..' is probably autistic, while Charlie here might have been suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

I'm not going to write a synopsis of 'The Perks..'; just going to pen down what impressed me most about the book.

From the beginning, Charlie has a difficult life. He loses his best friend in middle school. He is devastated because he can't understand why his best friend couldn't share his problems with him and had to commit suicide. He goes into high school alone, and is either ignored or bullied by his classmates. He makes friends with a pair of siblings, and is totally devoted to them. When he falls for Sam, one of them, he keeps loving her though he knows she might never love him back.

He is pure and selfless, like a child rather than a teenager, and in some circumstances, he acts mature beyond his years, in matters of love and understanding.

"I'd die for you; but I wouldn't live for you"

He doesn't judge people by their faults. He buys and makes such thoughtful gifts for his family and friends, it shows his untainted love. Even after the truth about his aunt comes out, he still willingly forgives her.

He has his stints with drugs, smoking and sex too. But his outlook towards life and his innocence and honesty permeate every experience he has, making it that much less mundane.

“And I guess I realized at that moment that I really did love her. Because there was nothing to gain, and that didn't matter.”

Charlie's fondness for music and habit of devouring books gives another angle to his character. He has a deep appreciation for 'the people who wrote the songs' and finds himself lost inside the books he reads. His quip that his last book is always his favourite one, I think I can relate to it sometimes.

“And all the books you've read have been read by other people. And all the songs you've loved have been heard by other people. And that girl that's pretty to you is pretty to other people. and that if you looked at these facts when you were happy, you would feel great because you are describing 'unity.”

Overall, I found Charlie's character very fascinating (which you may have realised already!). The other characters in the book too are well written and consistent. The family dynamic is very realistic and also endearing, the take on homosexuality and frustrated love, the chain of abusive relationships in Charlie's parents' families, each character's personal interests and goals in life, and how it affects everything around them, it was all interesting.

There are a lot of sentences/conversations throughout the book, that make you ponder, smile and agree quietly. Here are a few more images I found on Tumbler and Google:

Maybe the happy ending did it for me too. Charlie sticking it out till the end and taking his life into his hands, his friends and family coming together to support him. 'Cause I don't think I could have accepted a wretched fate for Charlie, after everything he had gone through. With Charlie's resilience and kindness, what could have been a frustrating depressing story turns into one of hope and acceptance, optimism and faith.

One paragraph I especially liked:

There's a lot more about the book to talk about,  but I'll leave the rest for you to read and discover.

If you want to share your thoughts on the book/movie, I'd love to hear from you!

Pride and Prejudice!!!

This is one of my all-time favorite novels!

I don't know what I like most about it:

Elizabeth Bennett, in whom every reader seems to find a piece of them, and who is somehow perfect even with all her flaws,

Mr. Darcy- in the beginning, the handsome and regal but haughty gentleman, and later revealed to be just as charming, kindhearted and sensitive,

or the characters, intricate and lively, who could be a lot like our own acquaintances,

or the plot and the content itself, contemporary and still relevant to today's society,

or the language, which is beautiful and expressive, not so 'Old-English' to be archaic, but with an antique charm and a certain edge to it that keeps you rooted in the scene and the scenery, as much when Mrs.Bennett laments to her family about her 'poor nerves' as when Mr.Darcy confesses his love to Elizabeth.



Oh! This is one book that I can read over and over again (as I have already done, innumerable times).

However, I find that the movie versions of the book don't seem to justify the characters and the story itself, though it must be conceded that it is a difficult job to condense such a profound tale into a 120-min script.
Not to offend movie-lovers, of course!


Yes, I've read many other books, by many different writers, each of their styles varying a lot, but somehow, I find that this one book is very dear to me. It reminds me in bad times that I'm no worse than the next person. And it has been a pleasant companion on many lazy afternoons and tired nights.

Or maybe I'm just an obsessed fangirl. :)