The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Rating:
Summary: Very Realistic!
Review: Within the first few chapters Charlie touches upon every issue ever brought on to a teenager. He is very clear while explaining his views and experiences with drugs, sex, music, family, and death. I liked how the author threw in names of good songs(the mix tape), movies (The Rocky Horror Picture Show), and books. I've looked into some of them that I haven't heard before and all are just as good as Charlie said.

Rating:
Summary: a contrived plot; read Catcher in the Rye instead
Review: I, too, read this book over the course of a few hours. It was a quick, simplistic and unfulfilling read. I found the plot to be contrived- it's as though Chbosky took every "crisis" that the evening news purports is rampant among high-schoolers, and thrust them all upon Charlie. As a current senior, I've never met anyone who has had this stereotypical high school experience. I liked Charlie, but found myself envious of him- he spends the novel reading amazing pieces of literature and I was wasting three hours on this story. I picked up this book initially because of comparisons drawn between it and Catcher in the Rye (one of my favorites), but in hindsight I realize that Holden would've called Chbosky and his novel phoney.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderfully written book with a touching story line.
Review: I first heard of this book on MTV and I loved the excerpt that they read on air. I went out the next day and bought it. I read it within a day or two, needless to say, I couldn't put it down. Charlie is a wonderful character that immediately endears himself to the reader. His first year in high school, in a way, reminded me of my own. I could realte to many things that happened to him and could empathize with the rest. After reading the book I wished that Charle was real so I could give him a hug and tell him that eventhough I can't know exactlly how he feels, I would try my hardest to help. I would surly recommend this book to anyone with an open mind and heart.

Rating:
Summary: The most incredible story
Review: This was the best book i have read in a very long time. Charlie's letters are absolutely beautiful. The book is an honest and intriguing look through the eyes of a high schooler with real highs and lows. This is the first book that has made me cry in a long time. It is a must-read for everyone. ~lindsay

Rating:
Summary: The Best Ever
Review: I just finished reading this book. It didn't take me long, it was so good. For once it seemed like it was a real teenager, and not some old person trying to figure "us" out.

Rating:
Summary: emotionally affecting
Review: I devoured this book in two days. You connect with the characters. Chbosky writes as you'd expect a high-schooler to, with more moments of extreme poignance. It makes you want to give the book to everyone you know (your own copy) because you hope everyone can experience the book like you did. The best, most emotionally affecting book I've ever read.

Rating:
Summary: See dictionary under cliche
Review: I just finished The Perks of Being a Wallflower this weekend, and I wasn't impressed. I didn't think Charlie (the narrator) was particularly likeable, nor was his story unique or moving. Although HE seemed to think he was making some incredible insights, his observations about high school life seemed pretty cliche to me, and the events in the story were as well. Charlie seems to keep pointing out "this is an insight." Also, I didn't like the technique Chbosky used of having the story take the form of letters from Charlie to an anonymous recipient--why not identify the person to whom he was writing? He hints that this will be revealed, and then it's not. I thought that would've made the end more satisfying. And why did the author feel compelled to put quotation marks around all the slang words? That bugged me--it made the use of all the pop culture terminology seem self-conscious and not realistic. Do we really need to have "magnetic poetry" explained to us? I hate when authors write as though they're conscious that their book might someday be looked back on as a piece of the decade.

Rating:
Summary: The best book ever!
Review: This book was the best book i have ever read. it is the only book that i have read that has really made me feel like i really knew the main character personally. this book really touched me in a way i cannot decribe. i guess that it just really hit home for me in a lot of ways. anyone who us a teenager should definatley read this. this book is just indescribable it is so good. i am gonna go read it again now. it took me only a few days to finish it cuz i just couldnt put it down! this is a must read!

Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: What a surprise ending. This book will mean something to everyone who went to high school. The writing was inspiring, and so unique. Who was Charlie writing to? Not knowing this made it so much easier to read, we knew that his words were not holding back, but Charlie put his heart out into what he wrote. This was an amazing book.

Rating:
Summary: ~a must read...loved it~
Review: this book was great...plain and simple...and teens who don't like it need to turn off the WB...later!