The Perks of Being A Wallflower
Stephen Chbosky
First Impressions:
I was recommended this book by a friend, saying it was one of her all-time favorite books, and I remember seeing the movie a few years ago, but the book so far is certainly one that I'm sure will become one of my favorites too. So far we have been introduced to the main character Charlie, a freshman in high school who "never really stood out". Although he is in 9th grade as well he is not someone I can relate to, having a completely different view of thing that I would have. Even so, he is created so the readers like, and sympathize with him, and his feelings. In the first couple of pages, we are intimately introduced to him and his family, and what the past may have looked like for an interesting back story. All of the "chapters" are written as letters to an anonymous person always introduced as "Dear Friend" we know literally nothing about this person and why Charlie chooses to write to them. In the beginning of the book, he talks about how he does not want the person to know who he is and has in fact even changed names of the people.
//Below I will write a letter to the same "friend" from Charlie's point of view regarding an important aspect of the book: the many secrets he has. Secrecy is one of the main themes in the book and altogether I find it interesting that he pours these secrets out to someone it seems he has never met. I will explore what secrecy means to him, and how these many secrets will impact his life.//
My Letter:
September 12th, 1992
Dear Friend,
I am a good secret keeper. Now, you may not think this because of everything I have told you about my friends and families life, but I really am. You don't really count either because you don't know who I am. You probably don't care enough to do anything either, but that's alright, that's why I choose to write to you. This whole letter thing is our own secret.
Anyways maybe I'm so good at secrets because they seem to make up my entire life, the framework of it even. I'm also afraid of what would happen if I open up about everything I know. Right now I'm participating, I'm being happy, I don't want to ruin that. People constantly tell me, Charlie "this is our secret" and "don't tell" and I suppose I don't because as you've seen every time I slip something to someone my life seems to crumble a little. Like that time I told Bill about my sister's boyfriend hitting her, my sister "hated me", that sure shocked me... and it scared me.
I think its hard to watch someone continue on with their life when you know that little extra part about them. It's hard to watch them pretend their secret doesn't matter, but you know it does, to you and to them. That's how it is with Patrick. He keeps his relationship with Brad quiet and only our little group knows. He always smiles and makes jokes at school, even when we walk past Brad. How can he pretend that their relationship means nothing? At school, it's like their worlds don't remotely overlap but in private we all know it hurts him that the person he loves won't even accept him back. I could never imagine just being okay with that. I know how much it affects him, and it makes me sad that my best friend puts up with all of this heartbreak. Quite honestly what can I do about it, though? Brad is in 12th grade too, and I never talk with him. Just one more thing that really upsets me, and I still have to keep quiet.
Is that what friendship means, though? Hurting just as much as the one who as been hurt? I've never really had a real friend so I wouldn't know. All I know is that as long as I've got my friends and family, I've got their secrets. Their problems are now my problems, which I hope I'll be able to help. You know how much Sam and Patrick and my family mean to me. I don't ever want to lose them. Okay, I have to stop writing this letter now because it's late and I've got another essay for Bill on This Side of Paradise by Fitzgerald due tomorrow. I forgot to mention that book, its good, ill tell you more next time. Good night.
Love always,
Charlie
//Because such a big part of the book talks about music, with wonderful connections I went ahead and made my own playlist on Youtube of my favorite songs. Charlie will often make tapes to give to other people as a present and even some titled about driving in his car so he can supposedly o back and remember how he felt when listening to the same songs. I also mentioned This Side of Paradise by Fitzgerald because he talks about this book and I think it is going to be my next read. It will be my second Fitzgerald after The Great Gatsby. Charlie doesn't have any big emotional attachment more so than any other book mentioned, but it did, in fact, remind me of my goal to read more classics.//
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