Review: Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I never heard of this book until it was announced that Emma Watson was going to star in the film. After seeing the film, which was really good, I wanted to read it! It still took me about half a year to buy it and actually start reading. I have to say that I was disappointed that I knew what was going to happen. I couldn't stop reading it nonetheless. I felt such a bond with Charlie, the narrator of the story. I could recognise myself in him. I must confess that I really love him. For those who do not know what the book is about, here is the summary: 

Charlie is a freshman.

And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

source: www.goodreads.com

The story is told by letters Charlie has written. Normally I do not like those kind of stories a lot, but the way the are written is so amazing. It reads so easily! It has a colourful cast of very likeable characters. I didn't dislike a single one of them.  The pacing is very fast which is great but I sometimes have the feeling that certain events deserve a bit more attention. Seeing that these are letters written by Charlie, a plausible explanation would be that he did not think them as important or interesting as I did. Charlie is supposed to be 15/16 years old during the book but I find that quite hard to believe. He might be very smart, but the way he handles things and how he writes, make him seem a couple of years older. That did, however, not ruin the book for me. This is actually a book I would recommend everyone to read, unless you really don't like stories about teenagers. I give this book a well deserved 5/5.

source: google images