Buy this. Read it. Read it again. Yes, I know it's from MTV Books, but it's good, really. Trust me.I went into this already suffering from "spoilers"... I'd gone to a reading by the author last Saturday. So while the ending wasn't a surprise, it was still very touching. Reminded me a lot of [book: The boy who could make himself disappear], but I haven't read that in almost 20 years, so it's hard to compare.During the Q&A after the reading, someone asked Steve (I shook his hand, so I can call him "Steve" now) if there's anything he'd change about the book, in hindsight. He cited two things: he'd make Charlie less sexually naive in the beginning, and he'd have him cry a whole lot less. I agree; Charlie does seem a lot younger than his 15 years, and the bouts of tears (even though Steve meant them as swift bursts rather than melodramatic crying jags) could turn off a more cynical reader.One other story from the Q&A absolutely must be told... someone asked about the origins of the phrase "we accept the love we think we deserve" which appears early in the book. Steve looked blank for a few seconds (wouldn't you, if someone asked where you came up with a sentence that you wrote ten years ago?), but then brightened and told us that that sentence got the book published. Here's how:Steve was accumulating an impressive stack of rejection letters for Wallflower. During this time, he had given the manuscript to his friend & mentor to read. This friend, Christopher, was a great guy who had a terrible track record with women. Not a bad guy, just never found the right match. Christopher had the manuscript with him on a flight to LA, and when he got to that sentence, it was like a revelation. When he landed, he went straight to see Heather, this woman he'd known and admired for a while but had never asked out. Armed with that sentence ("We accept the love we think we deserve"), he decided to take a chance. Fast forward, they're now married and have two daughters.But that's not why the book got published.The book was published because Christopher told Heather what inspired him, so then she read the book, and then called her friend Eduardo, who happened to work at MTV and was looking for first-time authors.And that's why we can read The Perks of Being a Wallflower today. Because Steve knew Christopher, and Christopher loved Heather, and Heather knew Eduardo.I think Charlie would be pleased. ( )

I really loved this book in high school - even though I didn't know what the Rocky Horror Picture Show was. ( )

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is narrated by 'Charlie', the titular wallflower, who begins the novel as a somewhat shy and unpopular high school student. In the form of letters he writes to an unknown reader, the story follows Charlie as he makes friends, experiences love and life and ultimately comes to terms with his own difficult childhood.

A deeply moving coming-of-age tale, Wallflower traverses some difficult topics, including depression, suicide, drug abuse and child molestation. Yet it manages to be a sweet, charming book, with a sensitive protagonist who is easy to care about. An intelligent and honest boy, Charlie is intuitive yet awkward, which makes following his journey all the more meaningful.

Published in a series of MTV novels for young adults, this book will appeal to anyone interested in teen fiction, especially ones that delve into the more challenging aspects of growing up.

I loved this book, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone over the age of 16. Nothing new is said, or said particularly well, but the angst and hyperdrama of my teenaged years was captured beautifully, and I'll endorse anything that promotes The Smiths, a favorite band of mine.

I bought this book for my 14-year-old sister the summer before she started high school. ( )

Synopsis: Written in letter form, this book is about a teenage boy called Charlie - who is considered to be a wallflower as he prefers listening, rather than participating - and his struggle with adolescence and coming of age.
My Opinion: The ending confused me a little but I enjoyed reading the letters, seeing life through Charlie's eyes, and while he had a slightly blunt personality, The Perks of Being a Wallflower didn't bore me once. ( )