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The Perks of Being a Wallflower [Paperback]

Stephen Chbosky (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (972 customer reviews)
List Price: CDN$ 15.50
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Book Description

Release Date: Feb 1 1999
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.

Since its publication, Stephen Chbosky’s haunting debut novel has received critical acclaim, provoked discussion and debate, grown into a cult phenomenon with over two million copies in print, spent over six months at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and inspired a major motion picture.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a story about what it’s like to travel that strange course through the uncharted territory of high school. The world of first dates, family dramas, and new friends. Of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Of those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

Frequently Bought Together

The Perks of Being a Wallflower + The Fault in Our Stars + Looking for Alaska
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  • The Fault in Our Stars by John Green Hardcover CDN$ 13.72

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What is most notable about this funny, touching, memorable first novel from Stephen Chbosky is the resounding accuracy with which the author captures the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood. Charlie is a freshman. And while's he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He's a wallflower--shy and introspective, and intelligent beyond his years, if not very savvy in the social arts. We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of undisclosed name, age, and gender, a stylistic technique that adds to the heart-wrenching earnestness saturating this teen's story. Charlie encounters the same struggles that many kids face in high school--how to make friends, the intensity of a crush, family tensions, a first relationship, exploring sexuality, experimenting with drugs--but he must also deal with his best friend's recent suicide. Charlie's letters take on the intimate feel of a journal as he shares his day-to-day thoughts and feelings:

I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they're here. If they like their jobs. Or us. And I wonder how smart they were when they were fifteen. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It's like looking at all the students and wondering who's had their heart broken that day, and how they are able to cope with having three quizzes and a book report due on top of that. Or wondering who did the heart breaking. And wondering why.
With the help of a teacher who recognizes his wisdom and intuition, and his two friends, seniors Samantha and Patrick, Charlie mostly manages to avoid the depression he feels creeping up like kudzu. When it all becomes too much, after a shocking realization about his beloved late Aunt Helen, Charlie retreats from reality for awhile. But he makes it back in due time, ready to face his sophomore year and all that it may bring. Charlie, sincerely searching for that feeling of "being infinite," is a kindred spirit to the generation that's been slapped with the label X. --Brangien Davis

From Publishers Weekly

A trite coming-of-age novel that could easily appeal to a YA readership, filmmaker Chbosky's debut broadcasts its intentions with the publisher's announcement that ads will run on MTV. Charlie, the wallflower of the title, goes through a veritable bath of bathos in his 10th grade year, 1991. The novel is formatted as a series of letters to an unnamed "friend," the first of which reveals the suicide of Charlie's pal Michael. Charlie's response--valid enough--is to cry. The crying soon gets out of hand, though--in subsequent letters, his father, his aunt, his sister and his sister's boyfriend all become lachrymose. Charlie has the usual dire adolescent problems--sex, drugs, the thuggish football team--and they perplex him in the usual teen TV ways. [...] Into these standard teenage issues Chbosky infuses a droning insistence on Charlie's supersensitive disposition. Charlie's English teacher and others have a disconcerting tendency to rhapsodize over Charlie's giftedness, which seems to consist of Charlie's unquestioning assimilation of the teacher's taste in books. In the end we learn the root of Charlie's psychological problems, and we confront, with him, the coming rigors of 11th grade, ever hopeful that he'll find a suitable girlfriend and increase his vocabulary.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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I am writing to you because she said you listen and understand and didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars I feel Infinite Jun 5 2012
By iReview
Format:Paperback
So, I started reading this book at midnight and despite how tired my eyes were, I couldn't put it down until I finished. Despite the unusual structure, the situations and characters were so realistically portrayed that brought me to tears. The author touches on subjects that have, in recent years, gained a lot of exposure. One might expect this book to be filled with cliches about the agony of growing up. The special quality of the unintentional humour of the dialogue and the raw expression of emotion is what really made this book. Beware; however, this is not a story just for "light reading", as Bill would say, it's "very easy to read, but difficult to read well". But honestly, once you start, you can't stop.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars If You Loved The Catcher in the Rye, You'll Enjoy The Perks of Being a Wallflower Aug 10 2012
By casey13
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really liked this book. It reminded me of The Catcher in the Rye, which is a favourite of mine. It was easy to relate to Charlie. I liked the style of the book, appreciating that it was written as a collection of letters from Charlie to the reader, who is referred to as a friend who listens. I would recommend this book.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Could not stop reading! Nov 4 2012
By A. LaBar
Format:Paperback
Charlie is a character who the reader adores from the beginning. This book is a must read. Would make a great holiday or birthday gift.
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Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Perks of Being a Wallflower - A Coming-of-Age Film for the Ages!
Great movie. It was moving and funny and sad all at the same time. The performances were first rate - especially Ezra Miller. - He was amazing!
Published 3 days ago by Diane M Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Came in perfect condition, and quite a read! Written in a relaxed style that really endears it to its target audience.
Published 11 days ago by Scott Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars A novel you should never pass up.
I read Perks for the first time a few years ago and fell madly in love. You're going to go for a roller coaster of emotions if you deiced to pick up this beautiful book and read... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Tay
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
This book was a great read. An accurate and honest look at the mind of a teenager.

Very poignant, especially for the times.
Published 29 days ago by Directorofstyles
4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing read!
I was a kid growing up in the 90's and I can relate. A wallflower myself. Short and sweet. Read this along with your favorite indie music.
Published 3 months ago by Mazamil A Majeed
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book. Great condition.
The book arrived ahead of schedule and in perfect condition! I read this book about 10 years ago when I was in high school, and I loved it back then. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Tarce
5.0 out of 5 stars I feel infinite
This book is a good read. Talks about what teens go through but its not cheesy or forced or obvi if you know what I mean. Read more
Published 5 months ago by pickey_reader 101
4.0 out of 5 stars Poor Charlie
This is ideal for those who cannot seem to get inside the heads of their middle schoolers/high school aged kids. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Who the hell is Natalie Varios
5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, it's cliche
We get it.

The book is built on cliches. It quotes banned books. It talks about cheesy moments. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Corinne Heart
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
A friend referred this book to me, and I was reluctant at first, but I followed through with it when I was bored in a local bookstore. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Rachael
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