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The Perks of Being a Wallflower
  
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Turtleback)

by Stephen Chbosky (Author) "I am writing to you because she said you listen and understand and didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though..." (more)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Turtleback
  • Publisher: Demco Media (April 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0606183787
  • ISBN-13: 978-0606183789
  • Product Dimensions: 18.4 x 13.3 x 1.9 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

What is most notable about this funny, touching, memorable first novel from Stephen Chbosky is the resounding accuracy with which the author captures the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood. Charlie is a freshman. And while's he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He's a wallflower--shy and introspective, and intelligent beyond his years, if not very savvy in the social arts. We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of undisclosed name, age and gender; a stylistic technique that adds to the heart-wrenching earnestness saturating this teen's story. Charlie encounters the same struggles many face in high school--how to make friends, the intensity of a crush, family tensions, a first relationship, exploring sexuality, experimenting with drugs--but he must also deal with the devastating fact of his best friend's recent suicide. Charlie's letters take on the intimate feel of a journal as he shares his day-to-day thoughts and feelings:
"I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they're here. If they like their jobs. Or us. And I wonder how smart they were when they were fifteen. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It's like looking at all the students and wondering who's had their heart broken that day, and how they are able to cope with having three quizzes and a book report due on top of that. Or wondering who did the heart breaking. And wondering why."
With the help of a teacher who recognises his wisdom and intuition, and his two friends, seniors Samantha and Patrick, Charlie mostly manages to avoid the depression he feels creeping up like ivy. When it all becomes too much, after a shocking realisation about his beloved late Aunt Helen, Charlie checks out for awhile. But he makes it back to reality in due time, ready to face his sophomore year and all that it may bring. Charlie, sincerely searching for that feeling of "being infinite" is a kindred spirit to the generation that's been slapped with the label X. --Brangien Davis, Amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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I am writing to you because she said you listen and understand and didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

74 Reviews
5 star:
 (46)
4 star:
 (17)
3 star:
 (7)
2 star:
 (4)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (74 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars It Truly Touched Me -- what can I say?, 26 Mar 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Paperback)
In this day and age when people are so cynical and cruel, it was a pleasure to read a book from the point of view of a genuinely nice person. Charlie is a "wallflower," meaning he stands back timidly watching others live life, afraid to participate. In the course of the novel, we watch Charlie grow: make friends, go to parties, participate, even fall in love -- in other words, come out of his shell. And by the end we discover why Charlie is unable to participate in life until now; we come to understand the source of his pain. I truly loved this book; and I don't care if other people put it down! The chapters are written in letter format, and the writing is smooth and unpretentious. This is definitely the best book I've read since THE LOSERS CLUB by Richard Perez. And I discovered both books on Amazon. Anyway, if you like genuinely beautiful people, I'm sure you'll love the protagonist of this novel. You may even shed a tear for Charlie...bottom line: you'll be moved!
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars a wallflower, 25 Oct 2005
By Stephanie Stretton (Surrey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Paperback)
Feel more comfortable just watching life? Has anyone ever described you as quiet when really you're just to busy thinking about everything you see to say it? Well this is the book for you. I am Charlie in a sense. It gave me great encouragement and has now earned it's place as a childhood book of mine.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An instant classic, heartbreakingly good., 12 Aug 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Paperback)
This is the best book I have read in a very long time. The character of Charlie is the most real I have experienced in any fiction for years. To compare this novel with The Catcher In The Rye would be easy, I just wish I could have read it aged seventeen. I think many readers will identify with Charlie's experiences of teenage turmoil, hopefully fewer will be able to identify with the causes. Simply astounding, I believe it to be an instant classic, with an incredibly funky cover as a bonus. I urge anyone to read this book.
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 		 Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good
This was a really well written observant book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it had me laughing and relating to the experiences described. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Susan

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This is a lovely book and one that i have re-read several times over the years since i bought it. I love the format of the book that its set out in letters between unknown... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gemma

5.0 out of 5 stars What life's like from the sidelines..
When I first found The Perks of Being a Wallflower in my recommendations, I was entirely skeptical - a sex and drugs book about a male, who describes why he's so out of it all the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. Glenfield

4.0 out of 5 stars Great coming of age novel.
The book is written from the perspective of Charlie. This is a great book for teenagers and adults as reminds those older of how difficult teenage years are. Read more
Published 2 months ago by N. J. Barnett

5.0 out of 5 stars The loneliest book I have ever read
Beautifully written, absolutely captivating. This book completely absorbed me and genuinely grasped my emotions. Read more
Published 3 months ago by emmabutton

3.0 out of 5 stars a book for your younger years?
It's not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination, far from it, but it somehow it didn't really live up to the major hype for me, when I really expected it to from the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Stephen McGinn

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read, but let's no get carried away
I read this on a journey home with Germany. I thought it was really interesting and rather well written. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Whyareyouonyourowntonight

4.0 out of 5 stars The perks of being a wallflower
I wanted to read this book for a while after reading great reviews about it. It could have been better, but overall a nice, light read. Read more
Published 5 months ago by J. LO

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving and simply brilliant
This is one of my favourite books.. ever. I always recommend it to friends and it was the basis of an illustrated series i created. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Claire Donovan

5.0 out of 5 stars A Moving Coming Of Age Story
I'm not sure I could say that I enjoyed reading this book but then I guess that you aren't necessarily supposed to considering the subject matter. Read more
Published 7 months ago by underthethumb

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