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The Perks of Being a Wallflower
 
 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Paperback)

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 (65 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster (3 Aug 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0671027344
  • ISBN-13: 978-0671027346
  • Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 12.8 x 1.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 36,972 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

Product Description
Charlie is a shy and introspective boy, a wallflower always standing on the edge of the action. He encounters many of the struggles familiar to everybody from their school days, but he must also deal with his best friend's suicide and shocking realization about his beloved late Aunt Helen.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
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

65 Reviews
5 star:
 (41)
4 star:
 (14)
3 star:
 (6)
2 star:
 (4)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (65 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
20 of 21 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
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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13 of 15 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)   
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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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An instant classic, heartbreakingly good., 12 Aug 1999
By A Customer
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 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 4 days ago by underthethumb

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
I started this book this morning, and have read it twice since! Charlie is a very likeable character and you really relate to him. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Laura

5.0 out of 5 stars A Favourite on the Bookshelf
The Perks of Being a Wallflower

This book. Wow. I'd heard about it from a friend and decided to give it a go and I'm glad I did. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Eleanor Parker

5.0 out of 5 stars the perks of reading this book
Probably my all time favourite novel, I've read this a ridiculous amount of times and passed it on to pretty much everyone I know! Read more
Published 28 days ago by secondhandmagpie

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Book of ALL time!
I just finished the book and it just so good, there are twists in it that make you sit up and you never want to put it down. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Allyn Lindsay

3.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat dull and... dare I say it: insincere
I had high hopes for this book and I really did WANT to like it but I read this just after Looking For Alaska which was a masterpiece. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bookworm

4.0 out of 5 stars A gentle, slow-building character story that's worth a look
Structured as a series of letters from Charlie, a high school freshman, to an unknown "dear friend" between August 1991 and August 1992, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a... Read more
Published 3 months ago by tybalt-quin

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect gift for anyone who loves books
I find this book so captivating and wonderful, I have bought several copies for my friends and annotated them so they can truly understand what it means to me & what parts I think... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ms. K. Russell

4.0 out of 5 stars Quaint and quirky
This book is not unlike how I imagine the outcome of mixing The Curious Incident of the Dog... with Eeeee Eee Eeee by Tao Lin would be. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Saskia van V

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning to participate in life ...
Written as a diary in letter form to an unknown addressee, this novel chronicles the first year in High School of Charlie. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Annabel Gaskell

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