If I had to describe “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky in one sentence it would be in the words of Mr. Anderson “...it was the kind of book you made your own”. And that is exactly what I did with this story. This book changed my life in so many aspects its hard to describe just how mesmerizing this story is. So many things make this book are wonderful I couldn’t possibly tell them all but I’ll try to touch on few of the major things.
Charlie sees the world in way that’s quite amazing, he thinks far into things we as society would normally just brush off. He wonders why a person orders a milkshake and if they have some special memory to go with the milkshake. After reading this story I always have a little more somber look on life, not necessarily because its a sad book but because Charlie just accepts things the way they are. He doesn’t try to change anything, he just lets things fall into place and tries to make the people he loves happy in the process.
Sam is one of Charlie’s best friends and one of the most important characters in this book. In the beginning of their friendship Charlie quickly develops feelings for her and she teaches him about love. Before Sam, Patrick and the others Charlie had a friend named Michael but before the year before they would start high school together Michael shoots himself in the head. I think this is one of the reasons Charlie is such an introvert, he lost his best friend to suicide and that dramatically changed Charlies look on life and friends.
Once Charlie has his friends Sam and Patrick he learns to participate by going to parties, making more friends and opening up a little in the process. We have to give credit to Mr. Anderson though for giving Charlie extra books to read and giving him advice about life in general. Some might say that Charlie learned how to participate when he got his first girlfriend, I would say Charlie really learned to participate when he sat by Patrick at the football game.
If someone reads this book and says it didn’t change something about their lives I would assume they’re lying. Between how Charlie describes life, Charlie’s friends and Charlie learning how to live his life I don’t understand how this would not change a person. I made this book my own, and the next person who reads will make their own as something Charlie would say this book will go on and on.