I received The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky on my 21st birthday from someone very important to me. He told me that it has held a special place in his heart since high school, and even stuck with him through rougher times in college. So, he imparted a copy to me, hoping I would like it.
I didn't like it. I loved it.
On the surface, the story sounds similar to many other teen lit summaries out there: a coming-of-age story of a boy writing a letters as he enters high school. But it's so much more than that--I can't even begin to stress that enough. In fact, I was pleased to find this book in the regular Fiction section at Barnes and Noble rather than the Teen Fiction section, because it's not a story that merely appeals to teenagers. Charlie, the main character of the novel, is imperfectly human (and sympathetic) at his very core; his words reach into the depths of anyone who is still striving to grow as an emotional being, or anyone who has struggled (or is still struggling) with personal discovery. It's a story with such a painfully beautiful--and oftentimes humorous--sting of reality, and by far my favorite coming-of-age story I've read in years.
You don't know who Charlie's letters are addressed to, but it doesn't matter. Walking beside Charlie on his rather intimate journey of self-growth is both rewarding and heart-warming. hands-down a must read!
Oh, and Charlie's impeccible taste in music doesn't hurt matters in the least.
