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A review by weaverwrites
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It has 2 stars because 1) I did feel things/I wasn't bored (low standard there?) and 2) I like Bill (and Charlie's relationship with him) even though there isn't much to him because of Charlie's perspective.
Other than that... I didn't care about most of the characters. Charlie felt 12, not 16. His perspective (combined with the epistolary style which I generally don't care for anyway) felt so limiting. I feel like this book could have said so much more, or made me care about the things it had to say, if it were from anyone else's perspective.
Maybe I've outgrown YA (though this could have been middle grade without all the drugs and sex... which also just felt unnecessary, I guess?).
I knew the spoiler going in, but it felt shoved in at the end for shock value, as if Charlie's story wouldn't matter without it.
Other than that... I didn't care about most of the characters. Charlie felt 12, not 16. His perspective (combined with the epistolary style which I generally don't care for anyway) felt so limiting. I feel like this book could have said so much more, or made me care about the things it had to say, if it were from anyone else's perspective.
Maybe I've outgrown YA (though this could have been middle grade without all the drugs and sex... which also just felt unnecessary, I guess?).
I knew the spoiler going in, but it felt shoved in at the end for shock value, as if Charlie's story wouldn't matter without it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide