This is truly an amazing book. Since my post about my reading list here, the book The Perks of being a Wallflower has arrived through post. I read it. I loved it.
First of all, a Wallflower, as defined in the book, is someone who sees things, who notices stuff. As I get it, these are people who understand.
"You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand."
The book is a series of letters that the protagonist, Charlie, writes to a 'friend' whose identity we do not know. Charlie has his way of seeing things. He's shy, unpopular and by convention, weird. In the book, we see Charlie make friends, grow, experience things and go through some rough patches.
 |
| Picture from here |
 |
| Picture from here |
What I love most is Charlie's intent quest on making people happy. It is not a good thing. He screws up, but he gets to learn why. Most of all, the reader learns why.
"It's great that you can listen and be a shoulder to someone, but what about when someone doesn't need a shoulder. What if they need the arms or something like that? You can't just sit there and put everybody's lives ahead of yours and thing it counts as love. You just can't. You have to do things."
What I also like a lot in this book is that Charlie mentions all these extra books that his teacher, Bill, gives him to read. These are: To Kill a Mocking Bird, This Side of Paradise, Peter Pan, The Great Gatsby, Separate Peace, The Catcher in the Rye, On The Road, Naked Lunch, Walden, The Stranger and The Fountainhead.
They're in the order in which Charlie read them, too. Yes, I'm so busy that procrastination is at it's best. Bill also gives him a list of movies to see. Which, of course, I've looked up the names of: The Graduate, Harold & Maude, My Life As A Dog, Dead poets Society and The Unbelievable Truth. I really want to read those books, and watch those movies. When I have time. Which I don't. Right now.
I have also put together a playlist of the mix Charlie makes. This mix was part of the 2 sided mix tape he gives Patrick (a friend) as part of a Christmas Present.
Asleep by The Smiths
Vapour Trail by Ride
Scarborough Fair by Simon and Garfunkel
A Whiter Shade of pale
Time of No Reply by Nick Drake
Dear Prudence by The Beatles
Gyspy by Suzanne Vega
Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues
Daydream by Smashing Pumpkins
Dusk by Genesis
MLK by U2
Blackbird by The Beatles
Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
"And finally...
Asleep by The Smiths (again!)"
That's all about the book. I really suggest that people read it. It's good.
Anyway, coincidentally, they are doing a movie adaptation of this book. It is being directed by Stephen Chbosky, the author himself. I'm a bit wary, as with any adaptation of any book really, but still looking forward to seeing it. I just hope they do the book justice. There isn't even a trailer yet. I won't even put up the movie poster or anything. I really like reading books first, and then watching the movie adaptations. It leaves you free to make up your own version of how things look.
That's all folks. :)
x
