The perks of being a wallflower, Stephen Chbosky

Dear friend, are you there?

Mireia Singleton Escofet

Dear friend.” There is something hypnotic about the simplicity in which Charlie manages to befriend his/her reader with only these two words. An instant amicable relationship is established that enables Charlie to pour out his soul to the newly encountered friend.

Weirdly enough, Charlie’s letters quickly reveal that he is practically friendless. As a reader one wonders why? As the trustworthy friend one keeps reading knowing, precisely, that friends need the right time and moment to share their troubles and secrets. Charlie encounters friends in the likes of Sam and Patrick two half-siblings and their gang who simply have to accept Charlie because the two leaders promoted his way in. Charlie might at first be the outward observer with a keen eye for detail and the ability to empathize and detect the sorrow in others. However, this soon translates into others -besides Sam and Patrick- to confide in him their troubles and find comfort in his friendship.

Hence, with his network of friends secure and his need of us: the reader, gone, one cannot help but wonder what is ailing Charlie? More importantly, who is really in the receiving end to comfort him if we don’t exist?

Online, the book has received a set of mix reviews (a love vs. hate kind of thing). Yes; it’s a coming-of-age book and inevitably deals with recurring YA themes (sex, drugs and rock-roll), which certainly are old for me but new for them…

Personally, I thought the quality of the writing was mesmerizing. I also loved the read-in-between-the-lines style that contribute to detect the subtle clues that help understand what exactly is going on with Charlie The originality of the writing format was engaging and helped pace the reading, which essentially makes it an appropriate read for foreign language readers.

Editions

Adaptations

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Trailer : The movie, directed by Stephen Chbosky and starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Nina Dobrev and Paul Rudd from September 2012.

Resources

Stephen Chboksy talks about The Perks of Being a Wallflower what it was like to write the book and direct the movie, audition the stars, and connect with its audience. He was interviewed by Cal Poly journalism student Victoria Billings.

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