Ciska's Book Chest

The authorStephen Chbosky grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the University of Southern California's Filmic Writing Program. His first film, The Four Corners of Nowhere, premiered at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival and went on to win Best Narrative Feature honors at the Chicago Underground Film Festival. He is the recipient of the Abraham Polonsky Screenwriting Award for his screenplay Everything Divided as well as a participant in the Sundance Institute's filmmakers' lab for his current project, Fingernails and Smooth Skin. Chbosky lives in New York. The synopsisStanding on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This is the story of what it’s like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed 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. Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up. The reviewI liked this story a lot. The author managed to set up a protagonist of whom you only know his personality but still you can imagine him. He is that one quiet boy in your school of which every year has one or two. He could be that boy hanging out with that group but never fitting in. He can be you even cause were we not all lost and confused in high school.Second, the language used is very beautiful. Despite the fact topics as abuse, drugs, alcohol and sex are treated as if they have a place in a normal teenagers life(as being practiced not being protested)there is still so much said about self respect and respect for others. I highlighted two sentences I that really touched me. When Charlie is talking about family life and that he considers his a good one he writes how he sees other kids too and one group he describes like “ And some of them got caught in the middle of wrong lives.” I liked that a lot cause it states that we cannot always help what happens to us. The other sentence I highlighted was “I don' know if it's better to be close with your daughter or make sure that she has a better life than you do.” This sentence really made me stop for a moment too and consider it. What would you do if you had to make that choice. It can never be an easy one. And would the first option mean you love her more or the second?There are more of these fine sentences that make you think for a moment and I liked that.Still there are a few flaws if you really think the story over most of them in the area where a very considerate boy just takes drugs and alcohol without really thinking about the consequences. Therefore 4 stars.