Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

180 reviews

solliereads's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I think this might be one of the most beautifully and brilliantly written coming-of-age stories that I've ever read, and I truly believe that it will haunt me for the rest of my life. 

I loved the format of a story being told through letters to a mysterious person, whom we never discover the identity of, I feel like it gives the story a truly unique feeling to it that wouldn't be the same if it was written through a typical narrative. Charlie's complexity unfolded like the petals of a flower, delicately and with grace, and his story really moved me - when I reached the halfway point, I found myself physically unable to put the book down until I'd finished it, and even then I was left wanting more. In a good way. This book both spoke to the teenage version of myself inside of me who is still longing for acceptance and a space just to be, and the adult version of myself who found both of those things. 

Thank you, Charlie, for your story and thank you, Chbosky, for letting me be a listener to it.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Drug use, Alcohol, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse

isab3lla_'s review against another edition

emotional 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

mysafe_place's review

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was the second time that I've read the book and I think it was good that I did since I read it differently now, in some way. I believe that anyone who was the "quiet kid" in school or still is should definitely read it and will recognise themselves in it. It is written in a simple manner and that makes it easy to understand but at the same time there is just enough room for interpretation. The whole concept of Charlie writting to someone (the reader) makes it way more personal and that was what I think makes the book so special, so poignant, what makes this book stand out. Without this concept it would have been rather basic as I imagine. 
I did love it and really enjoyed reading it. Totally recommend! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Mental illness

Moderate: Abortion, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Rape, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Violence, and Addiction

Minor: Addiction, Eating disorder, and Car accident

sillih28's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Homophobia, Drug use, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Death, Rape, and Toxic relationship

singalana's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Kirjan luettuani nukuin yön yli, enkä siltikään oikein tiedä mitä siitä ajattelisin. Se on sekä etäinen että intiimi, toiveikas mutta synkkä ja monella muullakin tapaa hyvin dualistinen.

Stephen Chbosky on ehkä paremmin tunnettu elokuvaohjaajana. Elämäni seinäruusuna on hänen ensimmäinen kirjansa, jonka elokuvasovituksen hän myös ohjasi. Elämäni on kirjeromaanin muodossa kerrottu kehitysromaani, joka käsittelee aikuistumista, perheen ja ystävien merkitystä, sekä nimenomaisesti “seinäruusuna” olemista ja ulkopuolisuuden kokemusta.

Elämäni seinäruusuna kertoo 15-vuotiaan Charlien elämästä yhden vuoden ajalta. Charlien ystävä Michael on tehnyt itsemurhan, ja jokin saa Charlien kirjoittamaan kirjeita tuntemattomalle “ystävälle”. Kirjeissä Charlie kuvailee elämäänsä ja hänelle tapahtuneita asioita. Charlie kertoo perheestään, ihmissuhteestaan erääseen opettajaan, yksinäisyydestään ja siitä, kun hän löytää tiensä kaveriporukkaan. Charlie kertoo alkoholista, huumeista ja toisten ihmisten ongelmista. Vaikka hän kertoo hyvin intiimeistä asioista, jotenkin hänen oma elämänsä tuntuu jäävän etäiseksi. Kirjan lopussa Charlie vihdoin kertoo mahdollisen syyn sille, miksi hän on “seinäruusu”.

Charlien hahmo jää tosiaan etäiseksi, mutta lopussa lukija saa käsityksen siitä, miksi Charlie on mieluummin ollut tarkkailijan roolissa. Vaikka Charlien suhde hänen sisaruksiinsa ja vanhempiinsa on välillä koetuksella, Charlien perhe vaikuttaa aidolta ja rakastavalta. Charlien ystävillä on omat ihmissuhdekiemuransa. Tärkeimpiä Charlien ystäviä ovat sisaruspari Sam ja Patrick. Kolmikon välinen ystävyys on elämänmakuista, sotkuista ja sydäntä lämmittävää.

Kirja on monimutkaisempi kuin itä päältäpäin näyttää, ja sen tapahtumissa on paljon sulateltavaa. Kuitenkin Elämäni seinäruusuna antaa vilauksen siitä, miten elämämme on monimutkainen verkko ihmissuhteita, joista jokaisen taustalla on omat vaikuttimensa ja menneisyyden painolastinsa. Kuten tämä kirjakin, elämä ja ihmissuhteet ovat sotkuisia, mutta on parempi osallistua elämään, kuin jäädä sivustakatsojaksi. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Alcohol, Car accident, Drug use, Homophobia, and Child abuse

Minor: Death, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, and Toxic friendship

joeynystrom's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Suicide

laylawren's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Grief, Sexual violence, Drug use, Suicide, Sexual assault, Rape, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Outing, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Grief, Rape, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Mental illness

Minor: Toxic friendship, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Incest, Abandonment, Car accident, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Hate crime, and Toxic relationship

cadybooks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Incest, Sexual assault, Vomit, Death, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pedophilia, Car accident, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Abortion, Grief, Drug use, Alcohol, Cursing, Mental illness, Rape, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

_rosy_'s review against another edition

dark inspiring 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Physical abuse, Death, and Toxic relationship

lenorayoder's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I first read this book in high school and remember loving it. I decided to grab it from the library again because I was in the mood for something pensive and kind of sad and wanted to see if it held up as an adult. Boy, does it. This book is fantastic. Though the impact is different from when I was Charlie's age, this book is still so influential and offers so much with both its content and style. Weirdly, reading this book makes me feel inspired to write and like when I do so it will be better for having read this. Not that you could tell from the quality of this review!

I think this is one of those books you should definitely read at least once as a teen. As an adult I was definitely reacting differently to some moments -

for the love of god, why would you give a kid who's obviously having mental/emotional difficulties LSD! Even as a high school senior, you should know that's a no no

- but Chbosky and Charlie still draw me in. This book really elicits emotional reactions, and is best enjoyed on a quiet evening by yourself so you can really take your time to read between the lines and feel.

It's kind of ridiculous how many content warnings I just applied to this book, but I also think that's one of the reasons this is an important read for teens. That this book is written in the form of letters helps lower the intensity of these subjects/make them easier for the reader to handle, but things still get pretty emotional. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug use, Rape, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Moderate: Violence, Child abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death, and Homophobia

Minor: Abortion, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Car accident, Incest, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Gun violence