The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Left: original cover published in 1999, Right: new cover 2012

"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.

Love always, 

Charlie"

All the best books have a line where they ponder infinity (see: The Fault In Our Stars), and this one is just something else. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age story written in an epistolary narrative, told through letters through the narrator to an anonymous person. The narrator in question, who goes by the alias 'Charlie', is a shy, introspective misfit who is about to embark on his freshman year of high school. And he is anxious to say the least, considering his only friend, Michael, committed suicide only a few months before. Charlie is our wallflower, standing by and watching others live their lives from the sidelines.

One thing I really loved about this book is Charlie's innocence. Surprisingly, I was unsure about it at first. All throughout the first part of the book I kept thinking, 'how can someone, who is nearly sixteen, be this sensitive and so... naïve?' I understood that Charlie was different from his peers, being someone who didn't fit in very well at school herself, I could relate to him, but I just couldn't wrap my head around how someone could be so mature, yet so child-like at the same time. But as I progressed through the novel and got to know Charlie, I started to 'get' him. I started to understand that he just thought differently to everyone else - he was kind, introspective, completely selfless, and just down right positive about life. I will admit that at certain points of the book, I started to question the way I looked at certain things in my life, mostly about the things I got angry at, and how there is no reason to hold onto anger.

As we reach the end of the novel, we start to realise why Charlie is the way he is, why he thinks and feels the way he does, and why he is not all that well. Reading this book was like going on a journey, and at various point I felt like I was living Charlie's life right with him. It was a pleasure watching him grow and adapt and 'participate' during this year of his life, and after a while, it kind of felt like the 'dear friend' he was writing t was me. That may sound completely pathetic and cliched but it did. In many ways, I felt like I connected with Charlie the way I haven't connected with other characters from books I love, but in other ways, I felt the complete opposite. I still haven't figured out if I have become 'a filter or a sponge' towards this book yet.

The supporting characters were all great too, although some were slightly forgettable even when I was glued to the book. Another thing Charlie and I seem to share in common is that we seem to connect better with older people, in his case seniors and step-siblings Sam and Patrick, and Charlie's English teacher Bill. Charlie's friendship with Sam and Patrick is the kind of friendship I wan to have in my life (minus the unrequited love, perhaps. And I really loved Charlie's relationship with Bill, it's not your standard student-teacher relationship, but they're not friends to the extent that it becomes weird or suspicious. We have to credit Bill for pushing Charlie to participate in life and to push him to think and write differently in his essays (and Chbosky for educating us with some fantastic literature).

The ending made me feel sad, yet happy at the same time, which is quite confusing but I kind of like it. You really have to hand it to Chbosky, not every writer can make you feel content yet sad yet hopeful all at the same time. It takes a skilled writer, one who truly loves and cherishes his characters, to stir such emotions.

Perks is a tumultuous account of love, loss, family, sex, drugs, homosexuality and friendship. It's easy to read, thought-provoking and not too pretentious. It's definitely a book that caters to a more youthful market (perhaps 14 - 18/19), but I don't think that will stop someone who's a bit older from enjoying it too. I would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a good read. And I will definitely go see the film and write a review in comparison (is it even in cinemas anymore? I haven't been in ages!)

Lastly, on a completely unrelated note, I'm so so sorry for the lack of posts! I keep meaning to update this blog but I've been so unbelievable busy in the past couple of months that it's overwhelmed me a bit. But writing this review (as an escape from all the work I should be doing and the stress I'm under, might I add), I've remembered how much I really love blogging, and actually how relaxing it is, so I will definitely be updating with new posts soon! I can't promise how regular they'll be (you know me), but Christmas holidays are just around the corner, so you never know!

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Cassius:
"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings."


Julius Caesar (Act 1, Scene 2)


The Fault In Our Stars is a poignant tale about sixteen year old cancer-suffer Hazel Grace Lancaster, who enjoys life's simple pleasures of reading poetry and watching trashy TV. All she wants is to be normal, and to not have others look at her like a 'cancer kid'. But since this is not possible, over the years she becomes somewhat of a homebody, staying indoors as often as possible, reading her favourite novel, An Imperial Affliction, over and over again. It is when she is encouraged to attend a Cancer Kid Support Group where she meets the mysterious and alluring Augustus Waters, who changes Hazel's life and perspective of it in the most wonderful ways.

John Green uses humour and philosophy to swiftly carry us through this journey of self-actualization, engaging the reader with his quick-witted dialogue, Venn diagram humour and profound outlooks on how we view the universe. He is one of those authors that can write the kind of books that make you feel ALL OF THE THINGS. You may not necessarily cry (I did), but you will certainly laugh, think and feel deeply for the story and all of the characters in it (which I certainly did). It is very rare to find a book that you want to read as soon as you finish it, and that stays with you long after the final page.

Whenever I read a John Green book, I always hear his voice narrating in my head, which made reading the first couple of chapters slightly challenging. But Hazel's voice becomes so clear throughout the story that it wasn't long before Green's voice slowly dissolved away (although I sincerely hope it comes back when reading his other books). Both Hazel's narration and dialogue, along with Augustus's, was real and unpatronising. I felt so invested and wrapped up in both Hazel and Augustus's lives, so much so that I felt as if I were a part of it all. I felt as I knew them as friends. Green paints such a brilliant picture throughout the novel, that I felt like I was right there with them, sitting with them at picnics, on Hazel's couch watching TV, amongst the circle in the Literal Heart of Jesus.

It's hard for me to pinpoint my favourite part of the book, because I think the whole thing is simply a work of genius, but I have to say, I did really like the philosophies and questions that were raised throughout the novel. John Green is a smart man, and unlike some adults out there, he acknowledges that teenagers are smart too, and therefore he isn't afraid to throw at us big topics such as death and oblivion and 'what happens after'. I find with some YA authors, they are maybe slightly afraid of overwhelming their readers, therefore simplifying things and and keeping it light. That is not to say that their books are not enjoyable, but it emphasises how much Green values his readers and does not undermine their intelligence.

The Fault In Our Stars is so much more than just a book about cancer. It's about a journey, both literal and metaphorical. It's about being realistic without being pessimistic. It's about wanting to be noticed by the universe, and noticing it back. It's about acceptance, longing and understanding. It's about family, friendship, love, and all of the things in between. It's about living your best life today.

Find out more about John Green through his twitter, website, and Vlogbrothers project on YouTube, where he collaborates with his brother, Hank, to create fun and informative videos with prevent the world from suck, and to make us laugh.