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A review by nadjsim
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
5.0
When I first read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I was two years younger than Charlie.
It's not that I thought he was so much older and cooler, but I do remember thinking how interesting and eventful his high school experience was and wondering if mine would be anything like that.
At fourteen, I don't think I actually understood the book at all. I don't think I understood all that much about depression and trauma, or at least I don't remember it. I also don't think I've cried much when reading it, either. I think I was mostly picturing Logan Lerman and Emma Watson from the movie trailer, thinking I was so edgy, and pretending to listen to the Smiths.
Rereading this book, at twenty-five, I found myself repeating "oh, baby" at anything Charlie said and did, and crying. So much crying.
I wonder how I'd feel if the book wasn't already filled with so many of my memories and quotes I still knew by heart. And most of it, I still wonder how it is possible to be so nostalgic about something so painful.
It's not that I thought he was so much older and cooler, but I do remember thinking how interesting and eventful his high school experience was and wondering if mine would be anything like that.
At fourteen, I don't think I actually understood the book at all. I don't think I understood all that much about depression and trauma, or at least I don't remember it. I also don't think I've cried much when reading it, either. I think I was mostly picturing Logan Lerman and Emma Watson from the movie trailer, thinking I was so edgy, and pretending to listen to the Smiths.
Rereading this book, at twenty-five, I found myself repeating "oh, baby" at anything Charlie said and did, and crying. So much crying.
I wonder how I'd feel if the book wasn't already filled with so many of my memories and quotes I still knew by heart. And most of it, I still wonder how it is possible to be so nostalgic about something so painful.