The Perks of being a wallflower

The Book

The novel is told through a year's worth of letters that the first person narrator, Charlie, sends to a random stranger. This allows for thoughts and feelings to be shared to the reader, but it does make you wonder at the poor receiver of these letters - why is this person sending me letters? Who are they? I would have contacted the police!
It is a story of high-school teenage years, retreading some of the familiar plots of boy likes girl but girl has boyfriend; boy is gay and has a relationship with the jock, who doesnt want it known; girl becomes pregnant but boyfriend doesn't want to know etc etc. The first person narrator is rather wet and I felt like giving him a shake, as he is always crying - when he's happy or sad. It all comes to a head when he finally gets to be with Sam, the girl he has been moping after the whole time and when things begin to get physical, Charlie baulks.
I wanted to throw the book down then, but as there was only 20 pages to go I thought I would finish it.




That's when the big reveal, so incidentally mentioned at first that I missed it, explains so much about his mental state and behaviour.
Some of Charlie's internal dialogue and actions did remind me of my teenage years - staring into a mirror til your face becomes a double image in order to see the real you behind the mask - but it was not a time I look back on with affection and am glad I dont have to deal with all that angst and introspection. I imagine that it would be a great book for 16 - 19 year olds, however.



 Perks of being a wallflower film website




The Film


Stephen Chbosky adapted and directed his own book for the film and little is altered, but the flashbacks and visions of Charlie work really well as a cinematic conceit and all the actors help to bring the characters vividly to life. Lerman Logan has the perfect hurt, shy look and conveys the underlying conflicts and trauma without having to spell it out in dialogue.
The written letters obviously play a lesser part in a film version as the means of telling the story, so it is not clear that they are anything but a means to put Charlie's feelings down. The sex scene with Sam is skipped and you are left assuming that they had a happy experience, but this is the start of Charlie's breakdown and the subsequent flashbacks do hint at something that may have sparked this episode off. Overall, I would say I enjoyed the film much more than the novel.

Possible other linked reads could be Meg Cabot or Louise Rennison
Other watches could include The Outsiders, Breakfast Club or 10 Things I Hate about You