The Perks of Being a Wallflower Options

[nightsong]

I will be impressed if you take the time to actually read all of this.

Dear friend,

I am writing to you because she said you listen and understand and didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have. Please don't try to figure out who she is because then you might figure out who I am, and I really don't want you to do that. I will call people by different names or generic names because I don't want you to find me. I didn't enclose a return address for the same reason. I mean nothing bad by this. Honest.

I just need to know that someone out there listens and understands and doesn't try to sleep with people even if they could have. I need to know that these people exist.

I think you of all people would understand that because I think you of all people are alive and appreciate what that means. At least I hope you do because other people look to you for strength and friendship and it's that simple. At least that's what I've heard.

So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.

Full Excerpt

I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they're here. If they like their jobs. Or us. And I wonder how smart they were when they were fifteen. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It's like looking at all the students and wondering who's had their heart broken that day, and how they are able to cope with having three quizzes and a book report due on top of that. Or wondering who did the heart breaking. And wondering why.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower = One of my favorite books

I recommend this book to anyone who hasn`t already read it.

Did anyone else like this book/fall in love with the main character?

xo, Pauline

[xXirockhardXx]

I should check it out one day. Sounds like a good book.

[SarahxJoy]

I'll be sure to buy the book when I go to B&N next weekend.

[nightsong]

You will not regret it.

xo, Pauline

[Jenna123]

This book is really good, there are some really good quotes from there, I have them written down, but I am too lazy to post them.

[DanielleMaria05]

WOW! I so have to buy/ check out that book! It sounds soo good!








<--- 300th post on 2/27/05 (Exactly a month since I got CB) WOOT!

[Rachel]

[edit] okay im PRETTY sure there was a topic on it...i remember there being one.

but alas, i love this book. it is my favorite

[sandy_lumpy_shor...]

uhh whats the book about, i dont know if i wanna read all of that, how about just a short overview

[njgurl412]

ok now i want to borrow this book from the library ( i have no money) and hopefully they will have it so i can read the whole thing.

[Skyline Drive]

I've heard alot about it. I hope to read it soon.

I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.

I like that part ALOT

[nightsong]

okay im PRETTY sure there was a topic on it...i remember there being one.

I searched "perks" and "wallflower" before I made this, so no, I doubt there is already a topic on this.

This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course 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.

xo, Pauline

[inthemudhole]

My friend Liz read that book a few weeks ago.
Her username is sporadic.

Anywhoo, I was meaning to check that one out...but now that you mentioned it, I think I WILL check it out from the school library on Tuesday when we go back to school. :D

[william]

i'm going to barnes and noble this weekend, and since this sounds interesting, i'll check it out.

[gigiopolis]

I want to read this book really badly, but I can't seem to find anywhere that has it. Argh.

[starlette]

wow. I've never heard of it, but it sounds pretty good! It sounds like they are talking about people NOT like most of my friends. Being out of high school turns people into sluts. So sad so sad....

[misoshiru]

i heard it was really good.

[innovation]

is this a modern-day holden caulfield?

[*StanleyThePanda*]

I will look for it in B&N cause I go there every friday
and sometimes other days too.

[xquizit]

I've been meaning to read that book. It's actually on my Amazon Wishlist. One of these days, I'll go pick it up myself.

[nightsong]

is this a modern-day holden caulfield?

Yes, Charlie is a lot like the main character of Catcher in the Rye.

To those of you who have heard that this is a good book: this is indeed, a very good book.

xo, Pauline

[nevernothere]

I will be impressed if you take the time to actually read all of this. 

I read all of that... did you write that letter or is that from a book? I've never read that book.. but I like the band.

[nightsong]

The letter is from the book.

xo, Pauline

[actionrobot_go]

I read that book recently, just to see what all the hype was about. &then I fell in love, it reminds me a lot of the Catcher in the Rye.

[danishcookiez]

hm, i havent, but i will read it soon

[*bright eyes*]

I actually just finished reading it and it's my favorite book, right now that is. It was so good and I'm reading it again.

[*bright eyes*]

Btw, I think that everyone should read it because it's actually about a kid living his life and what he thinks and maybe you will find sort of a friend in him..though he's not realy. at least i did

[william]

i decided to bring this thread back to life, because i started to read this book last night. i've only read the first fifty pages, but i am definitely enjoying it. i find a lot of it pretty funny... but some of the humor is also kind of sad. i don't know how to put it into words. *goes off to read more*.

[c0oki3_m0n$tah]

wow..that book sounds pretty good. i should borrow it..
sounds like you can really relate to him/her (?) in the book. i wana read!!!!

[angelrevelation]

who's the author? maybe i'll check it out

[nightsong]

Stephen Chbosky is the author.

xo, Pauline

[angel-roh]

so the main characters always have all of these different opinions right? from reading that, she's talking about the parties about this person shouldn't sleep with that person that she should've listened. and also that she also mentioned about the teacher. how smart they were when they 15. hehe. While I was reading that, it got me thinking. "all she talk about is her opinion? ooo she has same thought as me. hmm i should maybe check out this book at the library, or do they have it out hehe"

[jordanriane]

Highly overrated book.

[nightsong]

so the main characters always have all of these different opinions right? from reading that, she's talking about the parties about this person shouldn't sleep with that person that she should've listened. and also that she also mentioned about the teacher. how smart they were when they 15. hehe. While I was reading that, it got me thinking. "all she talk about is her opinion? ooo she has same thought as me. hmm i should maybe check out this book at the library, or do they have it out hehe"

.... Um, I have no idea what you have just said. Care to rephrase?

Highly overrated book.

Why`s that?
What didn`t you like about this book?

xo, Pauline

[Flaunted]

this is one awesome book,
pauline i must meet you.

[jordanriane]

What didn`t you like about this book?

How it was written; it was slow to get into, and well, I just don't understand all the hype about it. And the most annoying part was how it wasn't until the end of the book that he finally psychoanaylized himself. It might've been a little better if he did it throughout the book. That, and I don't know, the book just wasn't... it lacked depth, metaphors, and everything else I normally like a book to have.

[*tweeak*]

i shall add to my already way too long list of books to read

[Rachel]

so the main characters always have all of these different opinions right? from reading that, she's talking about the parties about this person shouldn't sleep with that person that she should've listened. and also that she also mentioned about the teacher. how smart they were when they 15. hehe. While I was reading that, it got me thinking. "all she talk about is her opinion? ooo she has same thought as me. hmm i should maybe check out this book at the library, or do they have it out hehe"

umm its written from a guys point of view first off...and secondly, w-tee-eff did you just say?

[william]

i'm down to the last thirty pages. i've really enjoyed it so far. you really feel like you can connect with charlie (at least i did). hopefully i can finish it tonight.

[jordanriane]

That's why most people end up liking this book, because the character is easily relatable.

[william]

so i finished this just over a day ago, and i loved it. i gave it to one of my friends to read immediately. i'm surprised no one else has mentioned they were shocked by the ending.. i sat there for about a minute sinking it in. i felt so bad about the aunt, then you learned what she did.. for some reason that really hit me hard. i have one question though (SPOILER ALERT!): why when he was about to have sex with sam did he realize what his aunt did to him, but it never occurred to him when he and mary elizabeth were doing it? the only logical answer i could think of was that he loved sam and he loved his aunt, and didn't really love mary elizabeth.. but that doesn't seem right. anyone have a better answer for me?

edit: haha, it just dawned on me that him and mary elizabeth just made out, not had sex. disregard my prior question.

[*tweeak*]

i just reserved it from the library

[*tweeak*]

alright, i dont meet to double post, but i finished it last night, so i have to bring the thrread back

How it was written; it was slow to get into, and well, I just don't understand all the hype about it. And the most annoying part was how it wasn't until the end of the book that he finally psychoanaylized himself. It might've been a little better if he did it throughout the book. That, and I don't know, the book just wasn't... it lacked depth, metaphors, and everything else I normally like a book to have.

i kind of agree. i didnt particularly enjoy the way it was written. personally, i like correct grammar, especially if throughout the book the narrator is being prided on his ability to read and write. the was he didnt use adverbs was immature (and i dont mean that he neglected them in the sense that good writers dont use them because youre supposed to be able to desribe things without them) and many sentences were choppy and incomplete.

i didnt at all find it hard to get into, though. i intended to just read the first couple of pages, then put it down, but i immediately got attached and read half of it that night and the rest the next day. i do think that the relization was a little too abrupt, though. i was wondering where the hell that came from

i'm down to the last thirty pages. i've really enjoyed it so far. you really feel like you can connect with charlie (at least i did). hopefully i can finish it tonight.

er, i actually found that i couldnt relate to him much.

[learninghowtofal...]

I read this book before and it's really good. I reccomend it.

[Ington]

Wow, Pauline, this sounds like a wonderful book. I'm going to read it.

[Brneydgrl]

Yeah, I read that book, i love it.

the guy who wrote the book is from Pittsburgh, PA, like me so the parts where he writes about the tunnel and the city I love. I know PGH isn't as big as NY City or something like that, but it's so cool that you'll drive through this tunnel at night, and then all of a sudden the city appears infront of you. it really is a beautiful city you have to be from PGH to know what I mean.

[racoons > you]

i'll giv eit a go.. i needa good book

[WhiteLadyOfRohan]

Sounds like a book I might enjoy

[LUNACY _ FRiNG3 ...]

well, i know this thread is from a while back, but i was searching for something a 'perks'. first off, i just finished reading it, and it is my favorite book, of all time.
but as much as i liked it, i was still partly confused by the ending of it. i read it a few times, and i have an idea of what happened, so if someone could clarify, it would be great.

[Eryi]

I like this book a lot. I read the book this year.
There were things I wouldn't of expected, especially from Charlie's Aunt.

[synthase]

awww..it sounds so good and REAL!
def. have to check this one out!

[william]

well, i know this thread is from a while back, but i was searching for something a 'perks'. first off, i just finished reading it, and it is my favorite book, of all time.
but as much as i liked it, i was still partly confused by the ending of it. i read it a few times, and i have an idea of what happened, so if someone could clarify, it would be great.

i don't remember the exact details, but basically the aunt who died molested charlie at least a couple of times when she was still alive.

[LUNACY _ FRiNG3 ...]

that's what i thought had happened; aunt helen molesting charlie, but i wasn't really sure if i was reading it wrong, or what. i'm not sure how much i loved the ending, it seemed kind of unnecassary in some ways. but i guess it's all in how you look at it.

[Saeglopur]

If it's like Catcher In The Rye, I am going to read it. I am going to Barnes & Noble and buy that book... I think it's worth buying. (And I shall buy Catcher In The Rye)

[Rachel]

i don't remember the exact details, but basically the aunt who died molested charlie at least a couple of times when she was still alive.

! WILLLLIAM <33333333

[hi-C]

Moved to Books

[Tribal J_Rome]

Alright, finished way faster than expected. I thought it was great and I liked the way it was written. I kinda wish there was a sequel to it, I hate when good things come to an end.

-edit-

i don't remember the exact details, but basically the aunt who died molested charlie at least a couple of times when she was still alive.

Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat explains the end. I was still confused too until I read what you said and then re-read those last pages and I get it now. I guess I didn't pay attention to the fine detail. -slaps forehead-

[*This Confession*]

yes
its a very nice book
i made a forum
because i didn't ever see yours

eh oh well

[ll_SimplyxSweet_...]

i'm one of the few who think this book was highly overrated also. before i read this book, i was so hyped up to finally get my hands on a good book that a lot of people have enjoyed. but after finishing it, all i could think was "that was a complete waste of my whole day." (i read it in a day) to me, the book was just plain immature. i know that Charlie is sick and all but still, his naive-ness really bothered me. i guess i was looking for more depth, and a more bolder theme to this book. but i never found it. also, the ending was really confusing. because the problem came up so suddenly. i wish that Chbosky could have worked on bringing up the problem thoughout the whole book.

now i'm being forced to read Catcher In The Rye for school and i'm really not looking forward to it.

[*This Confession*]

haha
i agree with the post before me as well
there wasen't any real depth
and the end i think just plain sucked.
but i found it to be a good book in some parts.

although i liked the poem he put in the book because i knew it before......

[x__rilind]

i actually just bought and read this book, because I had heard so many people talk about it and reccomend it, and I actually really enjoyed it.

i though it played out very well as a 'diary' type thing (yes, i realise it was letters, but it was the idea), and really seemed fairly realistic to me, in terms of the characters and the way they were portrayed and reacted to the events around them.

[*This Confession*]

i actually just bought and read this book, because I had heard so many people talk about it and reccomend it, and I actually really enjoyed it.

i though it played out very well as a 'diary' type thing (yes, i realise it was letters, but it was the idea), and really seemed fairly realistic to me, in terms of the characters and the way they were portrayed and reacted to the events around them.

yea,
i really liked the ending the most..
you should read the Catcher in the Rye if you enjoyed this book

or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the night-time
that book is awesome to me..
i have no idea really why.

[x__rilind]

yea,
i really liked the ending the most..
you should read the Catcher in the Rye if you enjoyed this book

or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the night-time
that book is awesome to me..
i have no idea really why.

i have read Catcher in the Rye, and I quite enjoyed that one as well. I've never heard of the other book though. is it a similar idea?

[kill.t3h.r0cK]

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is such an incredible book! I also love The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night Time and Catcher in the Rye. ^__^ Those definitely have to be my favorites of all time.

Catcher in the Rye, however irked me. Holden Caulfield is about one of the best literary characters of all time and I just don't like him. Hah, I'm quite a horrible person.

[DisneyPrincessKa...]

I read this the summer before freshman year and loved it
Then i read it again after freshman year, it meant a lot more then.
It's such a great book.
Reading it again sometime things summer :)

[oXMuhNirvanaXo]

I wanna get this book now.

[freeflow]

I think I might buy it this weekend or next I heard it was good.

[*This Confession*]

i have read Catcher in the Rye, and I quite enjoyed that one as well. I've never heard of the other book though. is it a similar idea?

hmm somewhat.
its about this autistic [sp?] kid
that doesn't understand human emotions.
but in the beginning of the book he finds this dog dead.
and thats how the title came out it
I made a topic in the books section
that explains it..

http://www.createblog.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=133449

[Rachel]

^Haha wow, definently thought you were talking about Catcher In The Rye for a second and I was verrry confused.

[magnificentmike]

My friend let me borrow it but I never got around to reading it. But a lot of my friends think it's a really good book.

[NERDFACE™]

I absolutely fell in love with this book.

but it was different.
like I wasn't all "ohmyfrickinggosh....that was so good" like I usually am just after I finish.
no.
I was like "eh.it was okay."
but later on today,
as I thought about it more,
and I thought about the ending,
I realized how much I could relate to him.
and how I loved the way it was written.
I may read it again,but I'm not sure.

I found it very interesting how he didn't seem mad at his aunt for doing the things that she did to him.Most other stories,I would suppose that the character would seem mad.But not Charlie.He didn't even blame her for doing the things that she did to him.and I respect that,even though I probably shouldn't.

I also thought it was cute how he wore his emotions on his sleeves,although I don't think I would like to know someone like that.

.....haha.
I think I do.
how very ironic.

[Danielle-Son]

One of my favorite books. I read it around Christmas last year. I think I'll read it again
It really does have alot of awesome quotes, and it's an inspiring book, IMO.

[*Freaky Krazer*]

I wouldn't compare this one with Catcher in the Rye. Though their concept is the same, I love perks a whole lot more. Catcher in the Rye brought up a lot of stuff but the way Holden said it made me want to strangle him since he was so whiny about it. I was like, "damn... whiny ass kid" the whole time I read the book.

As for perks of being a wallflower, I was so inspired. Charlie was totally different. He was a wallflower in a way and I loved how he talked about things. Like the other person said you can quote so many good lines from it and the chapter when he talked about being infinite with Patrick and Sam was just.. it was awesome.

[joiedevie]

i read it and it's now one of my favorites. charlie and his insights are awesome.

[Siena Jade]

I thought it was a pretty good book. But Charlie seemed to have one tone throughout the book. Maybe it was purposefully. He didn't seem to get really excited or really angry or things like that. Maybe I just didn't read into it enough. I checked out his favourite song, "Asleep" by The Smiths - great, great song =).

[monxcheri]

i`ve just recently heard about this book. it was recommended by a lot of people, and it looks interesting. i might read it.

[*Infinite.*]

Wow, I'm kind of surprised people are still reading this book. Its just been out for such a long time -shrugs-

Just my opinion though, books a million has it on their teen book club for this month or next month

[ParanoidAndroid]

i don't remember the exact details, but basically the aunt who died molested charlie at least a couple of times when she was still alive.

NO. Charlie was saying his aunt helen was molested by someone in the family. it wasn't Charlie who was molested. it was the aunt! That was why she had lots of problems in life and had to move in with her sister, Charlie's mom. What happened in the end was right after Sam went home from the college program, they went to the tunnel and drove while Charlie climbed at the back of the pick-up truck. You'd get the meaning if you this if you read and understood the whole book. Then he summed up at how he wasn't so afraid of starting sophomore year and how he was looking forward to more things now.

[bowl_of_oranges]

NO. Charlie was saying his aunt helen was molested by someone in the family. it wasn't Charlie who was molested. it was the aunt! That was why she had lots of problems in life and had to move in with her sister, Charlie's mom. What happened in the end was right after Sam went home from the college program, they went to the tunnel and drove while Charlie climbed at the back of the pick-up truck. You'd get the meaning if you this if you read and understood the whole book. Then he summed up at how he wasn't so afraid of starting sophomore year and how he was looking forward to more things now.

hey. um thats all true. but pretty much very confused as well. aunt helen was molested, which we later (towards the end) find out messed her up a bit. this led to her molesting charlie, which he blanked out. when he's with sam (the night before she went to uni) he has flashbacks to being molested by his aunt helen, this then leads to him going into hospital, where he starts to process everything that happened. right at the end when he's going through the tunnel with patrick and sam, he's happier because now he understands and can resolve his issues. i haven't read the book in a while so i may have some of the timing or whatever wrong. but that's definately the basic outline.


also:

haha
i agree with the post before me as well
there wasen't any real depth
and the end i think just plain sucked.
but i found it to be a good book in some parts.

although i liked the poem he put in the book because i knew it before......

yea,
i really liked the ending the most..
you should read the Catcher in the Rye if you enjoyed this book

or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the night-time
that book is awesome to me..
i have no idea really why.

does nobody find this odd?

[lovescream]

hey. um thats all true. but pretty much very confused as well. aunt helen was molested, which we later (towards the end) find out messed her up a bit. this led to her molesting charlie, which he blanked out. when he's with sam (the night before she went to uni) he has flashbacks to being molested by his aunt helen, this then leads to him going into hospital, where he starts to process everything that happened. right at the end when he's going through the tunnel with patrick and sam, he's happier because now he understands and can resolve his issues. i haven't read the book in a while so i may have some of the timing or whatever wrong. but that's definately the basic outline.
also:
does nobody find this odd?

LOOL yeah that is odd.

and I never read ANYTHING about Charlie getting molested.. I really don't remember anything about charlie being the one molested..

I just finished the book about 1-2 weeks ago so it's quite still fresh on the plate.
It was a really good book. I was interested in reading it the entire time. I read some of the comments and I agree with most of them. This book was very inspiring and had many inspiring quotes. I loved Charlie's way of thinking. He was just incredibly unique. Not your average freshman, but overall, definitely not your average high schooler.

[Danielle-Son]

I'm reading it again

I totally forgot about the "special brownies" part.

[bowl_of_oranges]

LOOL yeah that is odd.

and I never read ANYTHING about Charlie getting molested.. I really don't remember anything about charlie being the one molested..

I just finished the book about 1-2 weeks ago so it's quite still fresh on the plate.
It was a really good book. I was interested in reading it the entire time. I read some of the comments and I agree with most of them. This book was very inspiring and had many inspiring quotes. I loved Charlie's way of thinking. He was just incredibly unique. Not your average freshman, but overall, definitely not your average high schooler.

yeh it wasnt really just said right out. but it's definately what happened. i've gone and got my copy of the book now to quote. which probably makes my life kinda sad. but i can deal with that. sooooo..the second from last letter, just after hes been with sam,

'when i fell asleep i had this dream. my brother and sister and i were watching television with my Aunt Helen. everything was in slow motion. The sound was thick. And she was doing what Sam was doing. That's when i woke up. '

a little bit further on in the same letter 'Except maybe my Aunt Helen. But she's gone. And even if she were here, I don't think I could talk to her either. Because I'm starting to feel like what i dreamt about her last night was true. And my phychiatrist's questions weren't weird after all.' (his phychiatrist had been asking him alot about his childhood)

so thenn. in the very last letter, he's been in hospital for two months in between. His doctor asks his questions about his aunt helen.

'i don't really want to talk about the questions and the answers. But i kinda figured out that everything I dreamt about my aunt Helen was true. And after a while, I realised that it happene every Saturday when we would watch the television.'

that's what he's talking about when he says 'the hardest part was sitting in the doctor's office when the doctor told my mom and dad what had happened. i have never seen my mother cry so much. or my father look so angry. Because they didn't know it ws happening when it was.' and again when he says

'the time it started to feel like everything was going to be alright was when my sister and brother stayed after my parents had left...they asked me a lot of questions about Aunt Helen because i guess nothing had ever hapened to them...It was at that time that things started to get clearer becasue there was nobody to hate anymore after that.'

so then all his friends and family come visit him and help him get better and he sort of starts to feel better because he knows what happened now, he understands what it was that i guess kinda led to his depressive episodes in the past, and feels like he has closure. i agree with whoever it was before that said they admired how he wasn't mad about it. he says
'i'm not the way i am because of what i dreamt and remembered about my aunt helen. That's what i figured out when things got quiet. And i think it's important to know. It made things feel clear and together....So, I guess we are who we are for alot of reasons. And maybe we'll never know most of them. But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we cans till choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.'

i guess i could be wrong, but that's the only solution i have to how it ended. if i've compleeeeetely misunderstood (which, kinowing me is highly likely) then feel free to hunt me down or whatever.

[ParanoidAndroid]

What the hell I'm reading this book again. When he was with Sam the night before she left, I thought the flash backs were of Charlie and his aunt watching SNL late at night..but yeah I guess Jannette cleared it up..but I NEVER saw that line about how Sam was doing the same thing she was. I thought he ended up going to the hospital because he was extremely depressed about her death and blamed himself for her death.


aaaah I need to be careful about what I read I feel extra bad for Charlie now... after all of this he still loved his aunt.

[x_curse_of_the_c...]

i just read the book its so freaking awesome. i love it.

[oxyscritto]

I wanted to read this book long ago! But I can't seem to find it anywhere.

[W0RD]

yeh it wasnt really just said right out. but it's definately what happened. i've gone and got my copy of the book now to quote. which probably makes my life kinda sad. but i can deal with that. sooooo..the second from last letter, just after hes been with sam,

'when i fell asleep i had this dream. my brother and sister and i were watching television with my Aunt Helen. everything was in slow motion. The sound was thick. And she was doing what Sam was doing. That's when i woke up. '

a little bit further on in the same letter 'Except maybe my Aunt Helen. But she's gone. And even if she were here, I don't think I could talk to her either. Because I'm starting to feel like what i dreamt about her last night was true. And my phychiatrist's questions weren't weird after all.' (his phychiatrist had been asking him alot about his childhood)

so thenn. in the very last letter, he's been in hospital for two months in between. His doctor asks his questions about his aunt helen.

'i don't really want to talk about the questions and the answers. But i kinda figured out that everything I dreamt about my aunt Helen was true. And after a while, I realised that it happene every Saturday when we would watch the television.'

that's what he's talking about when he says 'the hardest part was sitting in the doctor's office when the doctor told my mom and dad what had happened. i have never seen my mother cry so much. or my father look so angry. Because they didn't know it ws happening when it was.' and again when he says

'the time it started to feel like everything was going to be alright was when my sister and brother stayed after my parents had left...they asked me a lot of questions about Aunt Helen because i guess nothing had ever hapened to them...It was at that time that things started to get clearer becasue there was nobody to hate anymore after that.'

so then all his friends and family come visit him and help him get better and he sort of starts to feel better because he knows what happened now, he understands what it was that i guess kinda led to his depressive episodes in the past, and feels like he has closure. i agree with whoever it was before that said they admired how he wasn't mad about it. he says
'i'm not the way i am because of what i dreamt and remembered about my aunt helen. That's what i figured out when things got quiet. And i think it's important to know. It made things feel clear and together....So, I guess we are who we are for alot of reasons. And maybe we'll never know most of them. But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we cans till choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.'

i guess i could be wrong, but that's the only solution i have to how it ended. if i've compleeeeetely misunderstood (which, kinowing me is highly likely) then feel free to hunt me down or whatever.

.. Charlie did not get molested by his aunt Helen. What you have here is a prime example of misunderstanding or misanalysis or what have you.

“When I fell asleep I had this dream. My brother & sister & I were watching television with my Aunt Helen. Everything was in slow motion. The sound was thick. And she was doing what Sam was doing. That's when I woke up.”

This is nothing but a dream. Nothing but a dream. This is where you tripped into the your misunderstanding or misanalysis or what have you. & the following is where you started falling.

“Except maybe my Aunt Helen. But she's gone. And even if she were here, I don't think I could talk to her either. Because I'm starting to feel like what I dreamt about her last night was true. And my phychiatrist's questions weren't weird after all.”

I understand, kinda, where the misunderstanding is comin' from. But, on the other hand. I don't. In saying that he is starting to feel that what he dreamt were true he is not saying, “What I dreamt last night was true.” & no, what he said does not imply that it may be true. Take a look back at the previous quote, yeah, the one where he said that his sister & brother were watching television with his Aunt Helen. Sister & brother being the key words. Now, do you honestly believe that his brother & sister would allow their aunt to molest their brother while they sat & watched television? I kinda hope not. But, hey, if you believe that these types of things would go on with their approval, go for that mindset! It's okay.

“I'm not the way I am because of what I dreamt & remembered about my aunt Helen. That's what I figured out when things got quiet. And I think it's important to know. It made things feel clear and together ... so, I guess we are who we are for alot of reasons. & maybe we'll never know most of them. But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we cans till choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.”

I do believe you slurred together dreamt & remembered & automatically gave them a strict relevance. Well, you shouldn't have. What he dreamt is separate from what he remembered. He dreamt a completely fictional circumstance, he remembered his aunt Helen & staying up & watching television with her, & that she always bought him two presents, instead of one. I kinda don't like how you over-analyzed & misinterpreted what was being said. But, words are words, & you may interpret them however you wish. So, keep that mindset & I'll keep mine! Just thought I'd, uh, contribute my change.

[bowl_of_oranges]

to word guy

'the time it started to feel like everything was going to be alright was when my sister and brother stayed after my parents had left...they asked me a lot of questions about Aunt Helen because i guess nothing had ever hapened to them...It was at that time that things started to get clearer becasue there was nobody to hate anymore after that.'


and to you this means what exactly? and just to clarify i'm not asking to be picky, i genuinely want to know what you think. and i realise i could easily be wrong. except for that i think you're wrong. also because you keep using metaphors for what appear to be purely pretentious reasons and this makes me sad inside.

and i don't know but maybe you havent read the book in a while or maybe you've never really taken it in. so maybe go read it through with an open mind before you reply?

[Joss-eh-lime]

i didnt enjoy the book...because it had no real ending or plot. maybe thats why many love it


could someone just clearly answer this question?

what was the memory he had blocked out of his mind that the doctor helped him remember?
i had the impression his aunt was raped every saturday? im not sure.

[W0RD]

to word guy

'the time it started to feel like everything was going to be alright was when my sister and brother stayed after my parents had left...they asked me a lot of questions about Aunt Helen because i guess nothing had ever hapened to them...It was at that time that things started to get clearer becasue there was nobody to hate anymore after that.'
and to you this means what exactly? and just to clarify i'm not asking to be picky, i genuinely want to know what you think. and i realise i could easily be wrong. except for that i think you're wrong. also because you keep using metaphors for what appear to be purely pretentious reasons and this makes me sad inside.

and i don't know but maybe you havent read the book in a while or maybe you've never really taken it in. so maybe go read it through with an open mind before you reply?

Honestly, I did not know what “pretentious” meant. I looked it up, & I now I know. & sorry you think that. Better yet, I'm sorry it made you sad inside. Kinda.. eh, I'm really not. But, sorry seems like the appropriate thing to say. & maybe his brother & sister were asking him questions about aunt Helen because they knew he had been closer to her than they had. Maybe? & who did he have left to hate? Sean, who he got into a fight with, never confronted him again. Craig made amends with Sam, & Brad made amends with Patrick. & most importantly, he's made amends with himself. As some guy said a bunch of posts before my initial post, he didn't “psycho-analyze” himself until the end of the book, well.. his last letter. In this analyzation, he came to accept that he was not the direct cause of his aunt Helen's death. He came to accept that Sam would be leaving, & he'd have to deal with that. In his analyzation, he came to realize things change, & no matter what it said, these changes will continue regardless.

& uh, define what it means to read with an open mind. If reading with an open mind means that I should train myself to believe that the possibilities of what is being said is endless, I will have to say I chose to read with a closed mind. You can only go so far with analyzing a books meaning. Or, what is being portrayed. Well, I think so. So.. how about you read it again. & try to be a filter, rather than a sponge.

[brokenxwingsx]

Mmmm. I ADORED this book. One of my favorites.

[BlankCanvas]

Honestly, I did not know what “pretentious� meant. I looked it up, & I now I know. & sorry you think that. Better yet, I'm sorry it made you sad inside. Kinda.. eh, I'm really not. But, sorry seems like the appropriate thing to say. & maybe his brother & sister were asking him questions about aunt Helen because they knew he had been closer to her than they had. Maybe? & who did he have left to hate? Sean, who he got into a fight with, never confronted him again. Craig made amends with Sam, & Brad made amends with Patrick. & most importantly, he's made amends with himself. As some guy said a bunch of posts before my initial post, he didn't “psycho-analyze� himself until the end of the book, well.. his last letter. In this analyzation, he came to accept that he was not the direct cause of his aunt Helen's death. He came to accept that Sam would be leaving, & he'd have to deal with that. In his analyzation, he came to realize things change, & no matter what it said, these changes will continue regardless.

& uh, define what it means to read with an open mind. If reading with an open mind means that I should train myself to believe that the possibilities of what is being said is endless, I will have to say I chose to read with a closed mind. You can only go so far with analyzing a books meaning. Or, what is being portrayed. Well, I think so. So.. how about you read it again. & try to be a filter, rather than a sponge.

Words, i agree with bowl_of_oranges. I've read this book, i love this book and i have no doubt in my mind that Charlie was molested by his Aunt Helen. She, too, was molested. There can be no question in my mind as to whether he was or not. It is understandable to have missed it when reading the book, which many posters have admitted to doing, but they listened and acknowledged the help that others offered. This lead them to realise the terrible truth; Charlie was molested. The continuous quotes offered up by bowl_of_oranges leaves no other option or explanation. I do, however, appreciate that you have stood by what you believe in and look forward to reading further posts on this subject. Oh and i thought it was really sad when bowl_of_oranges said it made them feel sad inside

[HakunaMatata]

OOOOKAY.

So after much delay and procrastination (redundancy ftw!), I finally read the book. I think it was a very memorable book, but not a very good one. I hated, absolutely hated the ending. I thought it was terrible that the author would have Aunt Helen of molested Charlie - that's just dumb. Yes, it fits because she was molested when she was younger and blah blah blah, but it was just so inconsistent - with the brother and the sister in the house? Really??

Oh, and the writing style bugged me, too. It just got annoying. My friend said that it really is like how a friend would write to you, but I'm sorry, maybe it's just me, but I know absolutely no one who writes like that. Really.

The name Patrick irked me, too. At the beginning, Charlie says he'll use generic names, not the real ones. And yet Patrick already has a nickname - Patty. I don't mind the nickname Nothing, that's fine, but it just seems really weird to me that the author could be "using generic names" and yet Patrick, which isn't his real name, already has a nickname?

But but but, I will say that the book made me sob. I think what's great about the book is that it has great insight, the best parts of the book for each person are the parts they can relate to. When Charlie is describing the memories of Aunt Helen, Chobsky did they very very well, and I cried at nearly every Aunt Helen moment [except for the her molesting Charlie thing].

And, as Tina pointed out in another thread, there were very cute amusing moments.

"Masturbation is when you rub your genitals until you have an orgasm. Wow!"

[Joss-eh-lime]

^ that masturbation thing wasn't cute to me at all...it was disturbing.

[iDecay]

Hhahaha, Kaycee. That was the most memorable thing to me from the book.


WAIT WAIT WHAT? Where in the book did it say aunt Helen molested Charlie? I think I was half asleep when I read the book and couldn't re-call that.

And umm, as for how good the book was.. It was alright. I personally didn't like Charlie's character and would not want to meet someone like him.

[blacknailpolish]

OK, so apparently we have a whole "molested by his aunt v. not molested by his aunt" debate going here, which I'm thinking is just plain stupid, but it also makes you think about the authors writing style, doesn't it? A lot of people are saying "I never saw that part, when did that happen?" and that is probably just because they didn't pay attention or didn't get it or any number or reasons. The author clearly left the ending up to a lot of interpretation, because it's just vague enough for us to be having debates. Am I right?

I do believe, however, that the aunt molested charlie, and I don't think its worth having a debate about, but that's just me. Again, the ending of the book was pretty non-specific, so there are a lot of ways you can look at it (and magically make the whole thing a metaphor.... *cough*)

I really did like the book, though, and charlie has some great taste in music if I do say so.

[yupimchuck]

so i do read a lot but normally when i see a book or hear of one i remember the book or at leats little pieces


and i have read perks of being a wallflower, but i just really cant remember what its about

i know i loved it when i read it but.. it just wont come back to me

[ParanoidAndroid]

OK, so apparently we have a whole "molested by his aunt v. not molested by his aunt" debate going here, which I'm thinking is just plain stupid, but it also makes you think about the authors writing style, doesn't it? A lot of people are saying "I never saw that part, when did that happen?" and that is probably just because they didn't pay attention or didn't get it or any number or reasons. The author clearly left the ending up to a lot of interpretation, because it's just vague enough for us to be having debates. Am I right?

I do believe, however, that the aunt molested charlie, and I don't think its worth having a debate about, but that's just me. Again, the ending of the book was pretty non-specific, so there are a lot of ways you can look at it (and magically make the whole thing a metaphor.... *cough*)

I really did like the book, though, and charlie has some great taste in music if I do say so.

If Charlie wasn't molested by his aunt then what are they talking about when the Doctor told Charlie's family and how upset they were for not knowing what that certain thing happened? It's reasonable but at the same time you could speculate it as some sort of hallucination.

and what about this?

i don't really want to talk about the questions and the answers. But i kinda figured out that everything I dreamt about my aunt Helen was true. And after a while, I realised that it happene every Saturday when we would watch the television.

[*Insurmountable*]

hey. um thats all true. but pretty much very confused as well. aunt helen was molested, which we later (towards the end) find out messed her up a bit. this led to her molesting charlie, which he blanked out. when he's with sam (the night before she went to uni) he has flashbacks to being molested by his aunt helen, this then leads to him going into hospital, where he starts to process everything that happened. right at the end when he's going through the tunnel with patrick and sam, he's happier because now he understands and can resolve his issues. i haven't read the book in a while so i may have some of the timing or whatever wrong. but that's definately the basic outline.


also:







does nobody find this odd?

lol maybe I should have clarified I read it again and ended up liking it xD

I don't have this book anymore though, I sent it to this girl in las vages and she never sent it back because aparently liked it so much >_> I don't think its worth to go out and buy it again.

Our book store here decided to put this book on the summer reading list as well and their supposed to have a "discussion" about it, I don't think anyone showed up though.. (another besides books-a-million, thought I should say that since I said in my other post that it was in the teen club thing there xD )

[smileeetina]

I've been wanting to read this book for the longest time now. I'll make sure to buy it ASAP!

[*Moderator*]

^ Same here. My friend recommended it to me and she showed me a portion from the book. It had me hooked.

[omgomgKATHY]

I read this book like 2yrs ago, it was really awesome. You actually feel like you know Charlie (main character). Everyone should go to their nearest bookstore and buy it right now!