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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I will admit that I have made it a goal to read as many classics as possible. Fortunately enough, I took a break from all that dense writing, and read this book instead. There is a lot I want to say about this book. though I do not know if I will find the words to say it. It's not that "there are no words to describe it", it is just that I do not know enough/the right words for it.
This book was very heavy on the mind. It was raw, direct, real, dark. This book actually made me feel thoroughly depressed, and I did not want to get out of bed. This is because Charlie, the main character, talks about life in a way that hits you very deep in your heart. This book did not make me feel anything for the characters, it made me feel like them. Although we all live different lives, this book connects you to the characters and to all others who've read it, as if we were "part of an infinite family." Despite its darkness and the heavy feelings it brought me, I feel like that is the true beauty of the book; that it binds us all emotionally. Even for those who feel estranged, much like Charlie, those who feel like they will never find their place in the world, like they will never belong, this book makes you feel like you belong. You belong not only to the characters of the book, but to the world around you, somewhere, in some way, you do. I would not describe this book as "insightful", it was just so raw.
I hated the way I felt when I read this book, and I thought about not finishing the book. But I am thankful I did, because the ending is fortunately a happy one. The kind of happy ending you need when you read such a book.
I am on the fence about whether or not I recommend this book. I would not want anyone to feel the way I did when I read this. At the same time though, this book made me realize important things that others deserve to know and feel. In the end, I felt good, "infinite" as they say, but Lord, what a rodeo.
This book was very heavy on the mind. It was raw, direct, real, dark. This book actually made me feel thoroughly depressed, and I did not want to get out of bed. This is because Charlie, the main character, talks about life in a way that hits you very deep in your heart. This book did not make me feel anything for the characters, it made me feel like them. Although we all live different lives, this book connects you to the characters and to all others who've read it, as if we were "part of an infinite family." Despite its darkness and the heavy feelings it brought me, I feel like that is the true beauty of the book; that it binds us all emotionally. Even for those who feel estranged, much like Charlie, those who feel like they will never find their place in the world, like they will never belong, this book makes you feel like you belong. You belong not only to the characters of the book, but to the world around you, somewhere, in some way, you do. I would not describe this book as "insightful", it was just so raw.
I hated the way I felt when I read this book, and I thought about not finishing the book. But I am thankful I did, because the ending is fortunately a happy one. The kind of happy ending you need when you read such a book.
I am on the fence about whether or not I recommend this book. I would not want anyone to feel the way I did when I read this. At the same time though, this book made me realize important things that others deserve to know and feel. In the end, I felt good, "infinite" as they say, but Lord, what a rodeo.
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've been meaning to read this book for the longest time; my parents bought me a copy when the movie was first released in 2012, but it has been sitting on my bookshelf at home since then. I am so sad it took me so long to read this, but I am so glad I finally did.
When it comes to this book, by looking at reviews and hearing about it from people that have read it, I feel like you either love it or hate it. For those who know me, you know [b:The Catcher in the Rye|5107|The Catcher in the Rye|J.D. Salinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398034300l/5107._SY75_.jpg|3036731] is one of my favorite books of all time, and this book reminded me a lot of it. The way it's a coming-of-age story told in a first person perspective played a big role in it, but all the different things they go through seem really similar, although very different overall. What I love about these kind of books is that they are sooo relatable. Definitely not about all the different experiences the characters themselves live through, but the story in general. It always feels good to read a book that makes you feel a part of something, and makes you feel understood - and that's what these books feel like to me.
However, I totally understand the point of view of the people that hated this book - the writing style is very unique (I definitely agree it seems like it was written by an 8 year old instead of a freshman in high school), the heavy topics it mentions are very superficially touched upon, and the characters were all very flawed. But if I'm gonna be completely honest, all those reasons made me love the book even more. For me, all the characters (especially Charlie) were so likeable and real, and not because of how amazing they are or anything like that, but because of how human and real they seemed. The style of writing through Charlie's head was got me into the story at first and I loved reading passages where his thoughts just run wild and he's talking about a bunch of different things at the same time.
The heavy topics it talks about (TW: suicide, death, rape, violence, abortion, drugs, homophobia, incest, child molestation, fights, etc etc) were touched with no depth, and I know lots of people complained about it, but for how the story was written (letters written by a sensible freshman high schooler) this makes total sense. It seemed like the goal of talking about all those things was not to actually make the story about them, but scattering them around the context of Charlie's lives as he lived them.
Overall, I loved this book and to be honest I can't wait to reread it already.
“We accept the love we think we deserve.”
“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.”
“There's nothing like deep breaths after laughing that hard. Nothing in the world like a sore stomach for the right reasons.”
“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 can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.”
“I think that if I ever have kids, and they are upset, I won't tell them that people are starving in China or anything like that because it wouldn't change the fact that they were upset. And even if somebody else has it much worse, that doesn't really change the fact that you have what you have.”
“He's a wallflower. You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.”
____________________________________________________________
“Once on a yellow piece of paper with green lines
he wrote a poem
And he called it "Chops"
because that was the name of his dog
And that's what it was all about
And his teacher gave him an A
and a gold star
And his mother hung it on the kitchen door
and read it to his aunts
That was the year Father Tracy
took all the kids to the zoo
And he let them sing on the bus
And his little sister was born
with tiny toenails and no hair
And his mother and father kissed a lot
And the girl around the corner sent him a
Valentine signed with a row of X's
and he had to ask his father what the X's meant
And his father always tucked him in bed at night
And was always there to do it
Once on a piece of white paper with blue lines
he wrote a poem
And he called it "Autumn"
because that was the name of the season
And that's what it was all about
And his teacher gave him an A
and asked him to write more clearly
And his mother never hung it on the kitchen door
because of its new paint
And the kids told him
that Father Tracy smoked cigars
And left butts on the pews
And sometimes they would burn holes
That was the year his sister got glasses
with thick lenses and black frames
And the girl around the corner laughed
when he asked her to go see Santa Claus
And the kids told him why
his mother and father kissed a lot
And his father never tucked him in bed at night
And his father got mad
when he cried for him to do it.
Once on a paper torn from his notebook
he wrote a poem
And he called it "Innocence: A Question"
because that was the question about his girl
And that's what it was all about
And his professor gave him an A
and a strange steady look
And his mother never hung it on the kitchen door
because he never showed her
That was the year that Father Tracy died
And he forgot how the end
of the Apostle's Creed went
And he caught his sister
making out on the back porch
And his mother and father never kissed
or even talked
And the girl around the corner
wore too much makeup
That made him cough when he kissed her
but he kissed her anyway
because that was the thing to do
And at three a.m. he tucked himself into bed
his father snoring soundly
That's why on the back of a brown paper bag
he tried another poem
And he called it "Absolutely Nothing"
Because that's what it was really all about
And he gave himself an A
and a slash on each damned wrist
And he hung it on the bathroom door
because this time he didn't think
he could reach the kitchen.”
____________________________________________________________
When it comes to this book, by looking at reviews and hearing about it from people that have read it, I feel like you either love it or hate it. For those who know me, you know [b:The Catcher in the Rye|5107|The Catcher in the Rye|J.D. Salinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398034300l/5107._SY75_.jpg|3036731] is one of my favorite books of all time, and this book reminded me a lot of it. The way it's a coming-of-age story told in a first person perspective played a big role in it, but all the different things they go through seem really similar, although very different overall. What I love about these kind of books is that they are sooo relatable. Definitely not about all the different experiences the characters themselves live through, but the story in general. It always feels good to read a book that makes you feel a part of something, and makes you feel understood - and that's what these books feel like to me.
However, I totally understand the point of view of the people that hated this book - the writing style is very unique (I definitely agree it seems like it was written by an 8 year old instead of a freshman in high school), the heavy topics it mentions are very superficially touched upon, and the characters were all very flawed. But if I'm gonna be completely honest, all those reasons made me love the book even more. For me, all the characters (especially Charlie) were so likeable and real, and not because of how amazing they are or anything like that, but because of how human and real they seemed. The style of writing through Charlie's head was got me into the story at first and I loved reading passages where his thoughts just run wild and he's talking about a bunch of different things at the same time.
The heavy topics it talks about (TW: suicide, death, rape, violence, abortion, drugs, homophobia, incest, child molestation, fights, etc etc) were touched with no depth, and I know lots of people complained about it, but for how the story was written (letters written by a sensible freshman high schooler) this makes total sense. It seemed like the goal of talking about all those things was not to actually make the story about them, but scattering them around the context of Charlie's lives as he lived them.
Overall, I loved this book and to be honest I can't wait to reread it already.
“We accept the love we think we deserve.”
“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.”
“There's nothing like deep breaths after laughing that hard. Nothing in the world like a sore stomach for the right reasons.”
“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 can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.”
“I think that if I ever have kids, and they are upset, I won't tell them that people are starving in China or anything like that because it wouldn't change the fact that they were upset. And even if somebody else has it much worse, that doesn't really change the fact that you have what you have.”
“He's a wallflower. You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.”
____________________________________________________________
“Once on a yellow piece of paper with green lines
he wrote a poem
And he called it "Chops"
because that was the name of his dog
And that's what it was all about
And his teacher gave him an A
and a gold star
And his mother hung it on the kitchen door
and read it to his aunts
That was the year Father Tracy
took all the kids to the zoo
And he let them sing on the bus
And his little sister was born
with tiny toenails and no hair
And his mother and father kissed a lot
And the girl around the corner sent him a
Valentine signed with a row of X's
and he had to ask his father what the X's meant
And his father always tucked him in bed at night
And was always there to do it
Once on a piece of white paper with blue lines
he wrote a poem
And he called it "Autumn"
because that was the name of the season
And that's what it was all about
And his teacher gave him an A
and asked him to write more clearly
And his mother never hung it on the kitchen door
because of its new paint
And the kids told him
that Father Tracy smoked cigars
And left butts on the pews
And sometimes they would burn holes
That was the year his sister got glasses
with thick lenses and black frames
And the girl around the corner laughed
when he asked her to go see Santa Claus
And the kids told him why
his mother and father kissed a lot
And his father never tucked him in bed at night
And his father got mad
when he cried for him to do it.
Once on a paper torn from his notebook
he wrote a poem
And he called it "Innocence: A Question"
because that was the question about his girl
And that's what it was all about
And his professor gave him an A
and a strange steady look
And his mother never hung it on the kitchen door
because he never showed her
That was the year that Father Tracy died
And he forgot how the end
of the Apostle's Creed went
And he caught his sister
making out on the back porch
And his mother and father never kissed
or even talked
And the girl around the corner
wore too much makeup
That made him cough when he kissed her
but he kissed her anyway
because that was the thing to do
And at three a.m. he tucked himself into bed
his father snoring soundly
That's why on the back of a brown paper bag
he tried another poem
And he called it "Absolutely Nothing"
Because that's what it was really all about
And he gave himself an A
and a slash on each damned wrist
And he hung it on the bathroom door
because this time he didn't think
he could reach the kitchen.”
____________________________________________________________
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t have a strong opinion on this book.
The writing is very detached, which fits the main character. But it also makes it hard to care about the characters or issues in the book. I got used to the style of writing after a while, but I also never got attached to the characters. I wish the book was a bit more plot-based to distract from this. The book had some good messages and some nice teenage moments, and there were some red flags, such as the insane amounts of drugs. The book contains a lot of issues without addressing them. It mostly was boring.
Overall, I just feel indifferent. 2.5/5, rounded up.
The writing is very detached, which fits the main character. But it also makes it hard to care about the characters or issues in the book. I got used to the style of writing after a while, but I also never got attached to the characters. I wish the book was a bit more plot-based to distract from this. The book had some good messages and some nice teenage moments, and there were some red flags, such as the insane amounts of drugs. The book contains a lot of issues without addressing them. It mostly was boring.
Overall, I just feel indifferent. 2.5/5, rounded up.
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think it’s crazy that it’s taken me twelve years to even open a book that was popular in 2012. Apparently it came out in 1999. It’s one of those books that are so good I feel the need to write the author a letter, and I might.
Charlie is so important of a character. I don’t think I’ve ever read a male character to empathetic and gentle. I fell in love with his ability to look at situations as a whole. I’m very relatable to him in this way. I’m also relatable to him in the sense that I often catch myself not participating in life. It’s hard to notice these moments, even while being aware of them. I think the love Charlie has for his aunt despite herabuse was incredibly important for people like me to read about. It’s hard not to love your abuser when they are so kind to you, when they are part of your family. Dying suddenly only complicates things even worse because of lack of closure and clarity . I have dreams too. I wonder if I'll end up in the hospital too .
I like to think that Charlie is doing well for himself. That maybe he writes essays or edits books or owns a small publishing company. I hope he’s happy. I know he will be. I can’t believe I forgot that we are all infinite. I will try not to forget again.
Charlie is so important of a character. I don’t think I’ve ever read a male character to empathetic and gentle. I fell in love with his ability to look at situations as a whole. I’m very relatable to him in this way. I’m also relatable to him in the sense that I often catch myself not participating in life. It’s hard to notice these moments, even while being aware of them. I think the love Charlie has for his aunt despite her
I like to think that Charlie is doing well for himself. That maybe he writes essays or edits books or owns a small publishing company. I hope he’s happy. I know he will be. I can’t believe I forgot that we are all infinite. I will try not to forget again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated