Happy Monday and welcome to Mention Monday, in which I recommend a book that I really enjoyed. Mention Mondays are a part of my Daily Post; to learn more about it, click here.
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 mix 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 he 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.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.-Goodreads summary
For most of my Mention Mondays, I like to avoid overly hyped books for many reasons: one, they’ve been hyped, and we all understand that we “need” to read them; two, they tend to be not worth its recognition; and three, I prefer recommending lesser hyped books. However, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of the few insanely hyped books that completely shocked me.
Most importantly, I adored our main character, Charlie. Frequently, books’ protagonists are nervy and fearless individuals, who do not even blink at the thought of danger. While I think these characters are admirable, they can be extremely unrelatable to me, the reader. You see, I’m quite shy and introverted. The thought of being in a dangerous situation makes my heart race faster than an Olympic runner’s. However, Charlie was a breath of fresh air in the character department. Like me, he is introverted. Due to his quiet demeanor, he begins noticing how this debilitates many opportunities in his life. With the help of friends, Charlie comprehends that while being a wallflower does have its perks, its okay to occasionally live life on the dance floor.
Overall, I adore how alike Charlie and me are. A person once said, “We read to know that we are not alone.” While I have had countless individuals jab at my demeanor, Charlie (and Chbosky) reminded me that I’m okay!
I truly think this book is fantastic and would recommend it to anyone struggling with the acceptance of themselves.
I apologize for being like every other wallflower claiming that you need to read this book; but you really need to!
*What are some books that you’d recommend?*
Currently Reading: The Book Thief and am 69% into it.
Find me on Goodreads.
Find me on Tumblr.
The Bookshelf Blogger 