Charlie is a freshman. And while he’s not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way 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. But Charlie can’t stay on the sideline forever. 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.
Wow talk about an emotional book. I don’t even know what to say. I feel like my experience reading this is so personal that it’s hard to review it. The way Perks is written is genius. They whole book consists of letters from Charlie to an anonymous person for both you and Charlie. Because it is written in this format you feel like Charlie is writing to you. It makes it seem that you are part of his life; you are his friend, his confidant, his shoulder to cry on, and his soundboard. You are his lifeline. And to dissect this book for you seems like betraying a friendship. Like Charlie might read it and get mad at me for exposing his secrets, but I will do my best.
The letters start at the beginning of Charlie’s freshman year of High School, naturally he has some apprehensions. As you continue to read his letters you start to learn about his personality and discover that he is painfully shy, overly perceptive, and incredibly smart. There is also something wrong, but not outwardly so, it’s something just out of reach for the reader to grasp.
Charlie talks about his friendships and family relationships. He makes new friends, seniors Patrick and Sam, who in their own way teach Charlie how to be more social. They let him into their world (which is not always a good thing), but they are really the first people to accept Charlie for Charlie. Through Patrick and Sam, Charlie is exposed to all sorts of new people and experiences that shape and mold him. Charlie also talks about his family and their dynamic. It is not that different from what a typical family appears to be, but there are some problems that he works through in the letters.
The end of the book is heartbreaking. I won’t tell you what it is for two reasons, first I don’t want to ruin the book, and second it still feels too personal to share. I strongly recommend people read this book. If you are anything like me you will cherish it like I did. I am looking forward to watching the movie to see if it has the same effect on me. I hope it does. It is not every day you can read a book that affects you the way this one will. I would recommend reading it when you are in the right mind set. This is not a beach read. This is a rainy day read.
5 Bards
Moving! 