The Perks of being a Wallflower

I just finished reading “The perks of being a wallflower” by Stephen Chobsky. This book is definitely now one of my favorites. In this book Charlie the main character is writing letters to an unknown person about his life. You can always tell from the beginning there might be something a little off about Charlie but you don’t know why. This book follows Charlie through his first, tough year in high school, the friends he makes, and the ones he doesn’t. We are also brought into the world of his family which is also a little messed up at times. His world explores girls, drugs, dating, but most importantly trying to fit it and still be true to yourself. Charlie is an unusual kid, who has special adventures through high school, and trying to find himself.

In life there are many issues about fitting in and being a part of something. When Charlie makes these friends who are sort of different from everyone else, who are also seniors it changes him. For once in his life he feels like he can actual feel and think the things he wants to without being put down for them. Charlie has never really been accepted for who he is, he has also sort of just been well a wallflower. Sometimes it’s really hard to find yourself and who you are at such a young age. It’s even more difficult to be trying to figure yourself out, but at the same time fit in. Kids every so often choose to be something they’re not to fit in, instead of being who they are to make a difference. Charlie suddenly found himself in a new light with people that loved him for him. He found people that let him in. That was really powerful to see.

In the book you watch Charlie become and try all these different things but he still manages to stick to his friends and himself. Even though he is kind of a funny kid who is reading constantly, and is very young spirited in a way, he still is doing all these things, like kissing, drugs, girls. I think all these experimental things have to do with identity. Identity also has a lot to do with “fitting in” and being accepted. When do you really know who you are? Sometimes you might wonder to yourself are there people out there like me? Are there people out there who will let me in because I am me? Even now I do feel accepted and I do have friends, but there are always times when I feel like wait, like who am I? I am a different person from all these other people, but still somehow we manage to come together as one and accept each other. I think other people are also definitely apart of your identity. In the story Charlie makes these friends who are like him in some ways and not like him in other ways. After he makes these friends they become some of the most important people in his life. In a way they help make up who Charlie is now.

Another idea in this book and the world that relates to the idea of fitting in and identity, is change. As you get older you change emotionally, physically, and mentally. When you do different things when you get older like drugs and dating ect. it makes up the kind of person you are in that moment. When you were a child and you sang and danced and played in the playground, that was what made up the kind of person you were then. I wonder do you lose those old things? Do the new things and experiences take place of the old you, or do they just add on? Charlie is trying all these things he never knew or thought about, and he approaches them in a very child like manner. I wonder does the fact he tried new things and made new friends change him as a person, or do they jus make up more of him. I think you are still the old you in a way but you are also someone new and different who has done new things and had cool new experiences. I think all of the memories in your life, and the kind of books you read, and the music you listen to, and the friends you make, whether it’s now in the moment or back then make up your whole you-your whole identity.

Charlie changes from kid to teenager to kid again and back to teenager. It’s so interesting to see Charlie go through the things he does with the people he does it with. Even though he is still young he is old in some ways. But he is also very childlike in others. I loved this book with all my heart. It’s really heartfelt, sad, and happy. You watch Charlie find himself and his people, while learning to do that for yourself along the way.