Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • The European Super League is announced
    • REVIEW: An Evening with Sally Wainwright
    • Love & Loyalty: The Best Mothers in Literature
    • REVIEW: An Evening with David Olusoga and Adam Rutherford
    • Podcasts Prevail During Lockdown
    • 10 Ways to Improve Your Revision
    • REVIEW: Beauty Subscription Boxes
    • Managing Your Mental Health in Lockdown
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      A guide to the recent Dutch elections

      April 8, 2021

      FCA warning : Young Investors at Risk

      April 5, 2021

      What?! Bangor University burned down two weeks ago?!

      April 1, 2021
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      REVIEW: An Evening with Sally Wainwright

      April 18, 2021

      Love & Loyalty: The Best Mothers in Literature

      April 17, 2021

      REVIEW: An Evening with David Olusoga and Adam Rutherford

      April 17, 2021
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      10 Ways to Improve Your Revision

      April 16, 2021

      REVIEW: Beauty Subscription Boxes

      April 16, 2021

      Managing Your Mental Health in Lockdown

      April 16, 2021
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      How 3D printing can revolutionise medicine

      April 15, 2021

      #DanceYourPhD- Scientists explain their thesis through interpretive dance

      April 8, 2021

      A guide to the recent Dutch elections

      April 8, 2021
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      The European Super League is announced

      April 19, 2021

      Formula 1’s ‘Drive to Survive S3’ is released

      April 7, 2021

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      March 23, 2021
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Bangor University Feminist Society

      March 30, 2021

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      March 17, 2021

      LGBT History Month in Bangor

      March 4, 2021
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Arts & Culture»Books»The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
    Books

    The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

    LJ TaylorBy LJ TaylorNovember 14, 2012No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    To me there are three types of readers. There’s the book lovers who will read every book ever because reading is everything. Then there’s the forced to read readers who have to read things for classes. And then there’s me; I’ll only read something if I have a prior vested interest in the book or topic of the book. The only things I’ve read in the last few years have been novelisations of video games. So when I heard that Perks was being made into a movie starring both Logan Lerman and Emma Watson I thought I’d give it a go.

    The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, is, to put it simply, a 224 page masterpiece. From suicide to drug use, homosexuality to abuse, it bravely covers pretty much every topic that could form adolescence. And Chbosky tackles each one with ease.

    The book, written as a series of letters to the anonymous ‘Dear Friend’, chronicles fifteen-year old Charlie’s first year of high school. After his only friend, Michael, commits suicide, Charlie is left with no friends and feeling even more outcasted than before. He hopes that if he can only make a friend he will be able to put his past behind him and finally begin to ‘participate’.

    Chbosky’s understanding of the teenage mind is evident, all of Charlie’s worries and doubts are those that I daresay most of us are familiar with. There’s a whole other layer to Charlie though, one that even the most talented of writers would struggle with. Chbosky secures himself as a more than talented writer with his deep understanding of his character and the many layers of Charlie that he writes.

    Starting high school turns out to be good for him when he meets two seniors; Patrick and his step-sister Sam. The two warm to Charlie and let him into their world of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, parties and drugs. However, the sudden falling out with his new friends sends Charlie all the way back to where he started, an outsider once more. He finds himself getting more and more immersed in the books that his teacher, Bill, gives to him to read. Charlie is a thinker and the characters in his books all influence the way he thinks in different ways. Not able to talk to his family or friends he finds that the books are the only thing he has. The books and the letters.

    Each of Charlie’s experiences build up to the book’s shocking and heart-wrenching finale in which he makes a shocking discovery about himself that explains exactly why he’s the way he is.

    Stephen Chbosky’s timeless novel is brilliant in every way. While we don’t know or understand Charlie at first we immediately want things to be better for him. As the story continues you can’t help but fully assume the role of the ‘friend’ that Charlie is so in need of.

    If, like me, you don’t find a lot of time for books and don’t really have the attention span, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is definitely something worth giving a go. I was hooked instantly and by the end of the day had finished it. Though I desperately wanted more. Luckily, the movie adaptation is now out in the UK and you can read about it on our Film page.

    2012 adaptation books emma watson ezra miller issue226 logan lerman perks perks of being a wallflower reviews stephen chbosky
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    LJ Taylor

    Senior Editor

    Related Posts

    Love & Loyalty: The Best Mothers in Literature

    April 17, 2021

    REVIEW: An Evening with David Olusoga and Adam Rutherford

    April 17, 2021

    Top 3: Books from Ireland

    April 10, 2021

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Related/Similar Articles
    • February 2021: The Best Book Releases
      February 2021: The Best Book Releases
      February 13, 2021
    • REVIEW: Girl, Woman, Other
      REVIEW: Girl, Woman, Other
      December 19, 2020
    • Top 3 Page Turners for Long Journeys
      Top 3 Page Turners for Long Journeys
      December 12, 2020
    • Being Single on Valentine’s Day
      Being Single on Valentine’s Day
      February 12, 2021
    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.