Las ventajas de ser invisible (The Perks of Being a Wallflower)

Por Stephen Chbosky y Vanesa Perez-Sauquillo

EL BESTSELLER #1 DEL NEW YORK TIMES

Vivir al margen ofrece una perspectiva única. Pero siempre llega el momento de entrar en escena y ver el mundo desde dentro.



Vivir al margen ofrece... una perspectiva única. Pero siempre llega el momento de entrar en escena y ver el mundo desde dentro.

Las cartas que escribe Charlie son íntimas y únicas, desternillantes y devastadoras. Puede que no sepamos dónde vive, ni a quién escribe pero, poco a poco, iremos conociendo su mundo a través de ellas: la vida en el instituto, las primeras citas, las cintas de varios, los dramas familiares y los nuevos amigos. Un mundo en el que solo es necesario dar con la canción perfecta mientras conduces para sentirte infinito.

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: MTV Books
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 26 feb 2013
• ISBN: 9781476732466

Stephen Chbosky

Stephen Chbosky's first novel, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER has sold 2.8 million copies in North America alone. In the twenty years since, Stephen has become a prominent screenwriter and director. In 2012 he wrote and directed the film adaptation of PERKS. In 2017 he directed and co-wrote the screenplay of the unexpected hit adaptation of WONDER. He also penned the live action adaptation of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

Vista previa del libro

Parte

1

25 de agosto de 1991

Querido amigo:

Te escribo porque ella dijo que escuchas y comprendes y que no intentaste acostarte con aquella persona en esa fiesta aunque hubieras podido hacerlo. Por favor, no intentes descubrir quién es ella porque entonces podrías descubrir quién soy yo, y la verdad es que no quiero que lo hagas. Me referiré a la gente cambiándole el nombre o por nombres comunes porque no quiero que me encuentres. Por la misma razón no he adjuntado una dirección para que me respondas. No pretendo nada malo con esto. En serio.

Solo necesito saber que alguien ahí afuera escucha y comprende y no intenta acostarse con la gente aun pudiendo hacerlo. Necesito saber que existe alguien así.

Creo que tú lo comprenderías mejor que nadie porque creo que eres más consciente que los demás y aprecias lo que la vida significa. Al menos, eso espero, porque hay gente que acude a ti en busca de ánimos y amistad. Por lo menos, eso he oído.

Bueno, esta es mi vida. Y quiero que sepas que estoy al mismo tiempo contento y triste y que todavía intento descubrir cómo eso es posible.

Intento pensar que mi familia es una de las causas de que yo esté así, sobre todo después de que mi amigo Michael dejara de ir al colegio un día la primavera pasada y oyéramos la voz del señor Vaughn por el altavoz:

—Chicos y chicas, lamento informaros de que uno de nuestros estudiantes ha fallecido. Haremos una ceremonia por Michael Dobson en la asamblea escolar de este viernes.

No sé cómo se extienden las noticias por el colegio ni por qué a menudo no se equivocan. Quizá fuera en el comedor. Es difícil de recordar. Pero Dave, el de las gafas raras, nos dijo que Michael se había suicidado. Su madre estaba jugando al bridge con una de las vecinas de Michael y oyeron el disparo.

No me acuerdo demasiado de lo que pasó después de aquello, salvo que mi hermano mayor vino al colegio, al despacho del señor Vaughn, y me dijo que parara de llorar. Luego, me rodeó los hombros con el brazo y me dijo que terminara de desahogarme antes de que papá volviera a casa. Después fuimos a comer patatas fritas a McDonalds y me enseñó a jugar al pinball. Incluso bromeó con que gracias a mí se había librado de las clases de la tarde y me preguntó si quería ayudarlo a arreglar su Chevrolet Camaro. Supongo que yo debía de estar hecho un desastre, porque hasta entonces nunca me había dejado arreglar su Camaro.

En las sesiones de orientación, nos pidieron a los que apreciábamos de verdad a Michael que dijéramos algunas palabras. Creo que temían que algunos intentáramos matarnos o algo así, porque los orientadores parecían muy tensos y uno de ellos no paraba de tocarse la barba.

Bridget, que está loca, dijo que a veces pensaba en el suicidio cuando ponían anuncios en la tele. Lo decía sinceramente, y esto desconcertó a los orientadores. Carl, que es muy amable con todo el mundo, dijo que estaba muy triste, pero que nunca podría suicidarse porque es pecado.

Uno de los orientadores fue pasando por todo el grupo hasta que al final llegó a mí:

—¿Tú qué piensas, Charlie?

Lo extraño de esto era que yo no había visto nunca a este hombre porque era un «especialista», y él sabía mi nombre aunque yo no llevara ninguna tarjeta identificativa, como se hace en las jornadas de puertas abiertas.

—Pues . . . a mí Michael me parecía un chico muy simpático, y no entiendo por qué lo hizo. Por muy triste que me sienta, creo que no saberlo es lo que de verdad me preocupa.

Acabo de releer esto y no parece mi forma de hablar. Y mucho menos en ese despacho, porque todavía seguía llorando. Todavía no había parado de llorar.

El orientador dijo que sospechaba que Michael tenía «problemas en casa» y que creyó que no tenía a nadie con quien hablar. Tal vez por eso se sintió tan solo y se suicidó.

Entonces empecé a gritarle al orientador que Michael podía haber hablado conmigo. Y me puse a llorar con más fuerza todavía. Intentó calmarme diciendo que se refería a algún adulto, como un profesor o un orientador. Pero no funcionó, y al final mi hermano vino a recogerme al colegio con su Camaro.

Durante el resto del curso, los profesores me trataron de forma especial y me pusieron mejores notas, aunque yo no me había vuelto más listo. Si te digo la verdad, creo que los ponía nerviosos.

El funeral de Michael fue raro porque su padre no lloró. Y tres meses después abandonó a la madre de Michael. Al menos, eso nos contó Dave a la hora de comer. A veces pienso en ello. Me pregunto qué pasaba en la casa de Michael cuando se acercaba la hora de la cena y los programas de televisión. Michael no dejó una nota, o al menos sus padres no se la dejaron ver a nadie. Quizá fueran los «problemas en casa». Ojalá lo supiera. Podría hacer que lo echara mejor de menos. Podría darle un triste sentido a lo que hizo.

Lo que sí tengo claro es que esto hace que me pregunte si yo tengo «problemas en casa», pero me parece que un montón de gente lo tiene mucho peor que yo. Como cuando el primer novio de mi hermana empezó a verse con otra chica y mi hermana estuvo llorando durante todo el fin de semana.

Mi padre dijo:

—Hay gente que lo tiene mucho peor.

Y mi madre se quedó callada. Y eso fue todo. Un mes después, mi hermana conoció a otro chico y empezó a poner música alegre otra vez. Y mi padre siguió trabajando. Y mi madre siguió barriendo. Y mi hermano siguió arreglando su Camaro. Bueno, hasta que se fue a la universidad a principios del verano. Juega al fútbol americano en el equipo de Penn State, pero necesitaba subir las notas este verano para poder jugar al fútbol.

No creo que en nuestra familia haya ningún hijo favorito. Somos tres, y yo soy el más pequeño. Mi hermano es el mayor. Es buenísimo jugando al fútbol y le encanta su coche. Mi hermana es muy guapa, es cruel con los chicos, y es la hija mediana. Yo ahora saco sobresaliente en todo como mi hermana y por eso me dejan en paz.

Mi madre llora un montón con los programas de la tele. Mi padre trabaja un montón y es un hombre honrado. Mi tía Helen solía decir que mi padre era demasiado orgulloso como para tener la crisis de los cuarenta. Todavía no comprendo a qué se refería, porque acaba de cumplir los cuarenta y no ha cambiado nada.

Mi tía Helen era mi persona favorita del mundo entero. Era la hermana de mi madre. Sacaba sobresaliente en todo cuando era adolescente, y solía darme libros para leer. Mi padre decía que esos libros eran un poco antiguos para mí, pero me gustaban, así que acababa encogiéndose de hombros y me dejaba leer.

Mi tía Helen estuvo viviendo con nuestra familia durante los últimos años de su vida porque algo muy malo le había ocurrido. Entonces nadie me decía qué había pasado, aunque yo siempre quise saberlo. Cuando tenía más o menos siete años, dejé de preguntar sobre el tema porque un día estuve insistiendo, como siempre hacen los niños, y mi tía Helen se echó a llorar desconsoladamente.

Entonces fue cuando mi padre me dio una bofetada y dijo:

—¡Estás hiriendo los sentimientos de tu tía Helen!

Como no quería hacerlo, paré. La tía Helen le dijo a mi padre que no me pegara delante de ella nunca más, y mi padre repuso que aquella era su casa y que haría lo que le diera la gana, y mi madre se quedó callada y mis hermanos también.

No recuerdo mucho más después de eso porque empecé a llorar a lágrima viva y al cabo de un rato mi padre hizo que mi madre me llevara a mi cuarto. No fue hasta mucho tiempo más tarde que mi madre se tomó unas cuantas copas de vino blanco y me contó lo que le había pasado a su hermana. Algunas personas verdaderamente lo tienen mucho peor que yo. Y tanto que sí.

Creo que ahora debería irme a dormir. Es muy tarde. No sé por qué te he contado todo esto. Te he escrito esta carta porque mañana empiezo el instituto y estoy bastante asustado.

Con mucho cariño,

Charlie

7 de septiembre de 1991

Querido amigo:

No me gusta el instituto. La cafetería se llama «Centro de Nutrición», que ya es raro. Hay una chica en mi clase de Literatura Avanzada que se llama Susan. En el colegio era muy divertido estar con ella. Le gustaban las películas, y su hermano Frank le grababa unas cintas buenísimas de música que compartía con nosotros. Pero este verano le han quitado los braquets y está un poco más alta, más guapa, y le ha crecido el pecho. Ahora se comporta como una tonta por los pasillos, sobre todo cuando hay chicos cerca. Y me da pena, porque Susan no parece tan feliz como antes. Si te digo la verdad, no le gusta reconocer que está en la clase de Literatura Avanzada, y tampoco saludarme por los pasillos.

Cuando Susan estuvo en la reunión de orientación sobre Michael, contó que Michael una vez le dijo que era la chica más guapa del mundo, con braquets y todo. Después, le pidió que «diera una vuelta con él», lo que en cualquier colegio se consideraba como dar un gran paso. En el instituto lo llaman «salir con alguien». Y se besaron y hablaron de películas, y ahora lo echa terriblemente de menos porque era su mejor amigo.

Es curioso, además, porque los chicos y las chicas normalmente no se hacían mejores amigos en mi colegio. Pero Michael y Susan sí. Un poco como yo y mi tía Helen. Perdón. «Mi tía Helen y yo». Es algo que he aprendido esta semana. Eso y a sistematizar mejor las normas de puntuación.

Estoy callado la mayoría del tiempo, y solo un chico llamado Sean pareció fijarse en mí. Me esperó a la salida de la clase de Educación Física y me dijo cosas muy inmaduras como que iba a darme un «remojón», que es cuando alguien te mete la cabeza en el váter y tira de la cadena para hacer que tu pelo dé vueltas. Él también parecía bastante infeliz, y se lo dije. Entonces se enfadó conmigo y empezó a pegarme, y yo me limité a hacer las cosas que me había enseñado mi hermano. Mi hermano es un gran luchador.

—Ve a por las rodillas, la garganta y los ojos.

Y eso hice. Y le hice bastante daño a Sean. Y entonces se echó a llorar. Y mi hermana tuvo que salir de su clase de último curso avanzado y llevarme a casa en coche. Me hicieron ir al despacho del director Small, pero no me castigaron ni nada porque un chico le contó al director Small la verdad sobre la pelea.

—Sean empezó. Fue en defensa propia.

Así fue. Pero no logro comprender por qué Sean quería hacerme daño. Yo no le había hecho nada. Soy muy bajito. Es verdad. Pero supongo que Sean no sabía que podía pelear. La verdad es que podría haberle hecho mucho más daño. Y quizá debería habérselo hecho. Se me ocurrió que tal vez tendría que hacerlo, si Sean persiguiera al chico que le dijo al director Small la verdad, pero Sean nunca fue a por él. Así que todo quedó olvidado.

Algunos chicos me miran raro por los pasillos porque no adorno mi taquilla, y soy el que le dio la paliza a Sean y no pudo parar de llorar después de hacerlo. Supongo que soy bastante sensible.

Me he sentido muy solo últimamente porque mi hermana está ocupada haciendo de la mayor de la familia. Mi hermano está ocupado siendo jugador de fútbol en Penn State. Después del campamento de entrenamiento, su entrenador le dijo que iba a ser suplente y que, cuando empiece a asimilar el sistema, será titular.

Mi padre confía de verdad en que llegue al fútbol profesional y juegue con los Steelers. Mi madre simplemente se alegra de que vaya gratis a la universidad, porque mi hermana no juega al fútbol y no hubiera habido dinero suficiente para enviarlos a los dos. Por eso quiere que yo siga esforzándome mucho, para conseguir una beca.

Así que en eso estoy, hasta que haga algún amigo por aquí. Esperaba que el chico que dijo la verdad pudiera hacerse amigo mío, pero creo que solo lo hizo porque era lo correcto.

Con mucho cariño,

Charlie

11 de septiembre de 1991

Querido amigo:

No tengo mucho tiempo porque mi profesor de Literatura Avanzada nos ha mandado un libro para leer y me gusta leer-me los libros dos veces. Por cierto, el libro es Matar un ruiseñor. Si no lo has leído, creo que deberías hacerlo, porque es muy interesante. El profesor nos ha encargado que leamos solo unos cuantos capítulos de momento, pero no me gusta leer los libros así. Ya voy por la mitad, y eso que acabo de empezar.

De todas formas, la razón por la que te escribo es porque vi a mi hermano por televisión. Normalmente no me interesan demasiado los deportes, pero esta era una ocasión especial. Mi madre empezó a llorar, y mi padre la rodeó con el brazo, y mi hermana sonrió, cosa rara porque mis hermanos siempre se pelean cuando él está por aquí.

Pero mi hermano mayor ha salido en la televisión y, hasta ahora, ha sido lo mejor de las dos semanas que llevo en el instituto. Lo echo de menos muchísimo, lo que es extraño, porque nunca hablábamos demasiado cuando estaba aquí. Tampoco lo hacemos ahora, para serte sincero.

Te diría en qué posición juega, pero como te conté, me gustaría mantenerme en el anonimato contigo. Espero que lo comprendas.

Con mucho cariño,

Charlie

16 de septiembre de 1991

Querido amigo:

He terminado Matar un ruiseñor. Se ha convertido en mi libro favorito del mundo, pero por otro lado, siempre pienso eso hasta que leo el siguiente libro. Mi profesor de Literatura Avanzada me ha pedido que lo llame «Bill» cuando no estemos en clase, y me ha dado otro libro para leer. Dice que tengo una gran habilidad para leer e interpretar el lenguaje, y ha querido que haga una redacción sobre Matar un ruiseñor.

Se lo he mencionado a mi madre y me ha preguntado por qué Bill no había recomendado que pasara mejor a la clase de Literatura de Segundo o de Tercero. Y le conté que Bill dijo que esas eran básicamente las mismas clases aunque con libros más complicados y que aquello no me ayudaría a mejorar. Mi madre dijo que no estaba muy segura de eso, y que ya hablaría con él en la jornada de puertas abiertas. Después, me pidió que la ayudara a fregar los platos, cosa que hice.

Francamente, no me gusta fregar los platos. Me gusta comer con los dedos y sobre servilletas, pero mi hermana dice que es malo para el medio ambiente. Es miembro del club del Día de la Tierra en el instituto, y ahí es donde conoce a los chicos. Todos la tratan muy bien, y no me lo acabo de explicar, salvo quizá por lo guapa que es. Ella se porta muy mal con ellos.

Hay un chico que lo tiene particularmente difícil. No te diré su nombre. Pero te lo contaré todo sobre él. Tiene el pelo castaño muy bonito, y lo lleva largo, recogido con una coleta. Creo que se arrepentirá en el futuro cuando eche la vista atrás. Siempre está grabándole cintas de varios a mi hermana de temas muy específicos. Una se llamaba «Hojas de Otoño». Incluyó muchas canciones de The Smiths. Incluso coloreó a mano la carátula. Después de que terminara la película que había alquilado y de que él se marchara, mi hermana me dio la cinta:

—¿Quieres esto, Charlie?

Tomé la cinta, pero me sentí raro porque él la había hecho para ella. Aunque la escuché. Y me gustó muchísimo. Hay una canción llamada Asleep que me gustaría que escucharas. Le hablé a mi hermana de ella. Y una semana después me dio las gracias porque cuando este chico le preguntó por la cinta, le dijo exactamente lo que yo había dicho sobre la canción Asleep, y a este chico le emocionó mucho cuánto había significado para ella. Espero que esto quiera decir que se me dará bien ligar cuando llegue el momento.

Pero debería ceñirme al tema. Eso es lo que mi profesor Bill me dice que haga, porque escribo más o menos como hablo. Creo que por eso quiere que escriba esa redacción sobre Matar un ruiseñor.

El chico al que le gusta mi hermana siempre es respetuoso con mis padres. Por eso a mi madre le cae muy bien. Mi padre piensa que es un blando. Creo que esa es la causa de que mi hermana haga lo que hace con él.

Una noche le estuvo diciendo cosas muy crueles sobre que él nunca se había enfrentado al matón de la clase cuando tenía quince años, o algo parecido. Para serte sincero, yo estaba viendo la película que él había alquilado, así que no le estaba prestando mucha atención a su pelea. Se pelean todo el rato, por lo que supuse que al menos la película sería diferente, aunque no lo fue porque era una segunda parte.

En todo caso, después de que ella se metiera con él durante más o menos cuatro escenas de la película, que creo que fueron diez minutos o así, él se echó a llorar. A llorar a mares. Entonces volví la cabeza y mi hermana me señaló.

—Para que veas, hasta Charlie le plantó cara al matón de su clase. Ya ves.

Y el chico se puso coloradísimo. Y me miró. Después, la miró a ella. Y levantó la mano y le cruzó la cara con una buena bofetada. Buena de verdad. Me quedé helado, porque no podía creer lo que había hecho. No era propio de él pegar a nadie. Era el chico que grababa cintas temáticas de varios, con las carátulas pintadas a mano, hasta que pegó a mi hermana y paró de llorar.

Lo más raro es que mi hermana no hizo nada. Solo se quedó mirándolo en completo silencio. Fue extrañísimo. Mi hermana se pone como loca si te comes un tipo de atún que no debes, pero aquí estaba este chico pegándole, y ella no dijo ni mu. Solo se volvió más dulce y amable. Y me pidió que me fuera, cosa que hice. Después de que el chico se marchara, mi hermana me dijo que estaban «saliendo», y que no le contara a mamá ni

Comentarios para Las ventajas de ser invisible (The Perks of Being a Wallflower)

[marie2830-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This book is simply amazing. The writing is beautiful, and extremely unique. Charlie's thoughts are so innocent, but not naive. More like brutally honest. I can honestly say that this book has changed the way i think, and it made tears stream down my cheeks.

[msaucier818 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I had to read this book for school as a part of the summer book reading program at my high school. I have to run a group discussion for it tomorrow with a group of 15 students - none of whom I have met. The story itself was up and down for me. I liked the main character as I felt like he was this smart kid who could never figure out how to act socially. The down parts were far too many though. This short book fit in about every teenage issue you could find from drugs, to abortion, to kids being molested, to fathers hitting children, to racist grandfathers, to boyfriends hitting girlfriends, to casual straight and homosexual sex - all of this in a quick 200 pages. I have no issues with any of these things being in the novel, but it was overwhelming and depressing to read them page after page. I am a bit terrified to have a discussion about these issues with teenagers I have never met, so let's hope for the best!

[micahmom2002 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

teen boy recounting his freshman year experiences both inside and outside of school through a series of letters to a stranger. Quick read.

[bibleblaster · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

This was a surprisingly effective coming of age story and a gripping "listen." It has some melodramatic elements; packs a lot of "issues" into a fairly short space; yet communicated, for me, some of the emotional intensity of adolescence and the moments of magic and menace. Being an intensely shy, withdrawn kid myself (lo, those many years ago), I related to the call to "participate!" Still have to tell myself that, actually...

[pathogenik-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

yes, it was amazing. And you have to read the last 20 pages or so to see why. It got very emotional at the end. From the first page, I connected with Charlie, I thought he was a she! Yes, until later it was that I realized that it was a boy. I was enjoying reading it. But the ending gripped me, I even started shaking a bit, and held back my tears. Not everyone might feel that way, because not everyone can connect to what the characters went through, but I believe that many would. And this is a great book, I am VERY glad I have read it :)

[ariana723 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

If I could force every single human being to read a book it would be this one. One of my favorite books of all time, Chbosky captured the essence of being a teenager, even though this book was written years ago I could still relate to it. I remember reading it 2 years ago in my junior year and to this day, I still can't seem to put it down.

[nichi_1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I won't write a review about this book, because if I wrote anything honest about it, it would end up being too personal to post it on the internet.

[grlintrrptdrdng · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

When I first started The Perks of Being a Wallflower I didn't expect to like it. It's about people in high school and the turmoil of emotions they go though, been there done that, I've moved on. I ended up really enjoying the book because even though I have passed that age I can still remember what it was like from reading the book. I felt I was a lot like Charlie, a lurker/observer watching everyone else live life in high school. I felt Charlie was overly naive but I will give the writer the benefit of a doubt and assume it's a different time period and a different person, maybe some kids were that naive. I liked that the book was written in forms of letters, made it more personal, but it also included actual dialogue so it was a good mixture. I felt I had a good sense of Patrick and Sam from the way Charlie described them and his emotions towards them. The character the reader gets to know the best is of course Charlie. I normally don't like when authors describe their characters by listing what kind of music and books he likes, but it works for The Perks of Being a Wallflower because many teenagers feel that is what defines them. I liked how the beginning of the book did wrap into the end, it made it more of a story because before that happened there didn't really seem to be much of a plot other than seeing Charlie's world from his perspective for a year. With that said I wished that played a bigger role because it wasn't a big part of the plot that popped up here and there and "explains" why Charlie was a wallflower who didn't participate. I did feel that the book tried to be a little too deep with a message. Overall a good book and a fast read that I feel like many people will enjoy even if they aren't high school aged because everyone remembers those times, whether or not you were a wallflower back then there is still something relatable to it. I'm surprised this was turn into a movie, I don't know how well it will transfer over but I do look forward to seeing it.

[lynleys-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Brilliant. It took a movie adaptation for me to read the book. I haven't watched the movie yet. It's got 8.1 on IMDb, so I'll definitely watch that at some stage.

'Perks' reminds me of a slightly lesser known book I fell in love with a couple of years ago: 'Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You' by Peter Cameron, which I take every opportunity to tell everyone about. Both of these YA novels are about the inner lives of slightly troubled, slightly aimless teenage boys -- pre Green-lit both of them but just as good as a John Green novel. I'm about to read The Fault In Our Stars actually, which I have been saving, but I don't know if I can cope with the emotions of that right after this one.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower probably resonates with me because I'm around the same age Charlie would be now. So this was a trip back to the 90s, in which case I'm guessing this is the book which started a sub-genre within YA. I wasn't fortunate enough to be reading this kind of stuff during my own high school years, but I wish I had been. Did it even exist?

[kidsilkhaze · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I will always love this book if for no other reason than turning me onto "Asleep" by The Smiths. I love this song possibly even more than Charlie does, if that's possible. I also like the book. Charlie is a freshman in high school, writing letters to someone, telling of his first year and life, as he navigates high school and family and the recent suicide of his best friend. Also, I just love Charlie. I totally would have lusted after him quietly and angst-riddenly all through high school. That said, I really didn't like the ending, but I don't want to say anything on that, because it would ruin it.

[virago77 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

So after reading this book, I am glad I held off on watching he film adaptation because I wanted to read the book first. This was a smart choice on my part, because although I have still yet to see the film, I just don't know if the film will hold up to the book. Not to say that the movie will be bad, but I just don't think it will be as good.

I will explain as much as possible without spoiling the book.

Some people might find the fact that the entire story took place in a series of letters from Charlie to a friend, but I found it very interesting. This story was a...well I can't say roller coaster, because while it had ups and downs, it wasn't the type of ups and downs you would experience in a roller coaster type novel. This was more of a journey with dips and bumps. It was somewhat coming-of-age, but more so a journey in finding the truth and becoming whole. Figuring out who you are and who you want to be. It was about just being.

Charlie was this wonderfully innocent and naive character that you just routed for. You wanted to see him happy; you wanted to hug him most of the time. And on the rare occasion you wanted to shake him and ask how it was that he didn't know these things. But in truth, there are a lot of people like Charlie who live in their own world, and just don't know things that their peers know, things that one would assume someone of their age and intelligence should know. But there were so many other things that he did know that were really important to his character.

I feel like I related to Charlie in so many ways, but in other ways I was just like everyone else, thinking, "You should know this!" or "You should act this way."

The end of the book was surprising and really unexpected, but not in a bad way. I really enjoyed the journey of Charlie, so much so that I only put the book down because I started reading it late and I was just too tired to finish.

[eidzior_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I continue to fail at finding what exactly the "perks" of being a wallflower were for Charlie.

[a.happy.booker · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an undeniably realistic view of one boy's day to day life and his journey to understand himself and find his place in the world. I enjoyed how the book was written as a series of letters addressed "Dear Friend" which felt like an intimate conversation, as if Charlie was speaking directly to the reader. I thought Charlie was charming, engaging, and endearing as he struggled stop being an observer and begin being an active participant in his own life. This was an enjoyable coming of age story that addresses some common issues faced by teenagers such as sex, drugs, and suicide, and presents them in a very genuine way. There were also some things I didn't like about the book, but ultimately, I found it to be an entertaining read and one that I am happy to have had the opportunity to read.

[kassilem · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I've heard wonderful things about this book. Lots of people have raved about it. I found I liked it well enough but it wasn't anything phenomenal. I thought there was a little too much in the book for one year of high school; it had every teenage issue present: drugs, sex, pregnancy, homosexuality, depression, suicide, bullying, abusive relationships, etc. I ended up being halfway invested in the characters; never made it fully to totally invested. I am excited to find the movie and watch it after reading this, just to see how it differed from a different perspective. This format was letters; maybe it could have come off more powerful if it had been written as a first person or third person perspective? Who knows. It was an 'ehh' book for me.

[snapsandreads · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Shy, awkward but highly intelligent Charlie tries to cope up and blend in the wild and outrageously crazy days of teenage life and growing up.

[catalogthis · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

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.

[ollie7ox · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Having no idea what precisely to expect when I read this book it was stunning. The blunt way Charlie explained things and his experiences were all very different from myself but I felt a connection with Charlie, Sam, and Patrick. Soon I really felt like I knew Charlie, and understood him. It almost feels like you're there with Charlie and watching him grow up and mature and learn lessons. I know this book is good because it made me cry more than once and I felt so strongly for Charlie when it was over.

[howifeelaboutbooks · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I would have liked this book more if I read it when I was 14. It definitely captures some of the teenage experiences and mindsets, but the writing was pretty stilted. I pictured it as a 35 year old dude trying to write as a teenager more than a teenager writing it himself, so that took me out of the story a lot.

[phoenixcomet · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Charlie is in high school. He starts out friendless, and then becomes friends with Nobody (Patrick) and Sam, half-siblings. The book takes the form of letters written to an anonymous person whom Charlie can tell his story and the story of those around him which involve high school angst, mental health, sex, and drugs. It's a fast read and engaging and also was banned in many places.

[kaethe_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

It's a bit too much. Too much happens, too many momentous events, too many great books read and pondered. It suffers from that adult-writing-a-precocious-kid voice. Nonetheless, it was a good read.

We're never explicitly told what problem Charlie has with people, but I'm assuming it's something on the spectrum.

[thedivineoomba · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

This is a weird one for me - I'm reading this as a 40 something adult, and I found it both pretension, but sad. Would I have liked this if I read it in my teens? I don't think so. But, I can see the appeal. We have a kid named Charlie - whose best friend committed suicide the last year before senior high. He's also battling his own demons, ones that are slowly revealed as the book is read. But, I can relate to him. He doesn't fit in, but he's not a target for a bully, so he's more invisible that anything else.

As for the teenagers he surrounds himself, they all have their own battles. His new friends expose him to music - a lot of bands these bands I think might be a bit too new, he also sees art films, plays, gets a bit on the drug scene. However, this almost feels like college rather than high school, and at times, I didn't get high school vibes from this.

As for Charlie, the reason this book works is because he is an observer, he just wants to please his friends, luckily for him, they are watching out for him. Also, the relationships feel real and there is depth to most of the characters. Even Charlies Football star brother, a character who only appears a few times, is more than a standard stereotype.

So overall, I'm glad I read it. Its well written, but at times, overly pretentious. And I can certainly see why it sits on certain lists, both good and bad.

[rawknee36 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This book is not overly profound or anything but it still hurts just the same. I was not expecting to relate to Charlie, our main character, so much. It felt as though somebody had opened my head and started writing what they saw in a way that actually made sense...kinda. I'm not saying that Charlie and I are the same person or that I agree with all his actions but our minds are frighteningly similar in a way that feels uncomfortable for me. It took me a hot minute to recover from this book for the simple fact that I saw so much of myself reflected back at me. I may revisit this in a couple years to see if that sentiment still rings true but for now I will tuck this book back into the ever growing mind file I have dubbed : Things that give me a tummy ache.

[stiina.sild · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

One of the best books I have ever read. Five stars isn´t enough.

[abiiharrisonn · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

so far, this is one of the best coming of age books i’ve read. the story is told so well by charlie. i was thinking of quotations or certain scenes i could highlight in this but there are just so many that i thought were done perfectly!!

[lara335 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

A sensitive, observant boy writes letters about his days to make sense of them, as he navigates adolescence and breakdown. Chobosky creates a character both obtuse and emotionally intelligent. Couldn’t quite suspend disbelief that this was a real human rather than an author’s sentimental creation.

[grammapollyreads · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Even though I raised several teenagers, I had never read this book before. Now I can see why some parents may have concerns about this book being read by middle school or younger children. However, I think that this book when read by high school students could be the basis for diverse curriculum topics. After all, by high school, most students have been exposed in some way to all of the controversial topics in this book. In addition, it provides another framework for discussing all of these under the umbrella of a "coming of age" story. These stories have always walked the edge of "acceptable" topics because of the desire to shelter children as long as possible from the world.

[eomalley_2 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Since Stephen Chbosky’s début novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is premiering in theaters on September 20th, I thought it was time I read the book and see what to expect. What I found was a novel that spoke to me on all levels and is destined to be one of my favorites.

The story is told from the point of view of 15-year-old “Charlie” in the form of letters to a “Dear Friend.” In the first letter, Charlie explains that he is writing to this person because he has heard he/she is very understanding and, though they do not know each other personally, he feels the “Dear Friend” is someone he can talk to. He also explains that he is changing the names of everyone involved so that everything he discusses can remain anonymous. He then proceeds to write letter after letter detailing his first year of high school and his family life – the highs and the lows – to this friend and we are drawn into a story about the pangs of adolescence. Touching on such hot-button topics as abortion, drug use, homosexuality, suicide and mental illness, Charlie tells us how high school senior Sam and her stepbrother Patrick took him under theirs wings and showed him how to become a part of life – not just a wallflower on the fringes.

From the first letter to the last, I found myself relating to Charlie in a way I have never done with another character. I was irresistibly drawn into his world and could feel all of it on the deepest level. Chbosky has done an amazing job with the narration, making everything feel immediate, real and personal. This book is all about emotion for me; I don’t really have a picture of any of the characters in my head, yet I feel like I know them all. I recognize bits of them in people from my own school days – the football players, the outcasts, the popular kids, etc. And that one teacher who stands out to you, the one who took an interest and encouraged you in some manner that you have never forgotten, that teacher is here as well. For Charlie, it is his English teacher Bill giving him The Great Gatsby, Hamlet, and other classics; for me it was my second grade teacher Mrs. Frank. She was the one who let me borrow an entire box of mystery books – Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Judy Bolton – that she was saving for her own daughter, thereby encouraging my love of books that has continued to this day.

Beyond the characters, though, are the situations that Charlie describes in his letters, touching delicately on some extremely serious matters. Starting with the suicide of his friend Michael just before leaving middle school for high school, to seeing his sister’s boyfriend hit her, and discovering that Patrick is having a secret relationship with the school’s star quarterback – Charlie is witness to everything. He is also dealing with issues of his own, from first love (Sam) to clinical depression and everything in between. Through it all, Charlie tries to see the bright side of things and to point out the good as well as the bad – the holiday dinners with the traditional arguments and breakdowns, the quiet moments of a family contentedly watching TV together, that all-important “I love you” in the midst of an argument, etc. The epilogue had me both in tears and smiling as he assured his “Dear Friend” that there was no need to worry about him – he would be okay no matter what. Charlie grows through this novel from a shy introvert with no real friends, to a young man who is beginning to “participate” in life – building friendships, trying new things, even dating. It is a funny, heartbreaking and beautiful coming-of-age tale.

I found it fascinating to see Charlie’s friends and family through his eyes, and to see their strengths and weaknesses right along with him. There is a naiveté and innocence to Charlie that shines brightly, even as he struggles with his feelings for Sam and tries to be supportive to everyone around him as their relationships develop or implode. Supporting others and trying not to hurt their feelings brings its own problems, however, which Charlie discovers first-hand while trying to navigate the pitfalls of his first romantic relationship. The backlash that Charlie encounters (and writes about) gives us our first solid look at his depressive tendencies, so that when an even more serious mental break occurs late in the book it is not a total shock – unlike the secret it reveals.

Reading Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower turned out to be an incredible experience for me. I found myself relating deeply with the character of Charlie, and struggling along with him as he tried to come out of his shell and participate in life. The pangs of adolescence and learning to live in the moment are at the heart of this tale, and I highly recommend it to anyone who ever felt – even for a second – like they were living life on the sidelines instead of in the middle of the dance.

[clamagna_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I really wanted to like this book. And it isn't that the story was bad. It really wasn't. But this is an epistolary novel - and the letters are written by a 15-year-old boy named Charlie who clearly has some issues socializing - like maybe he has Aspergers or something. And Charlie writes like he is about seven years old. It was, at times, painful to read. I've taught many children with autism spectrum disorder who are even younger than Charlie is, and my 11-year-old niece has Aspergers - but none of these kids writes the way Charlie writes in this novel. His writing is far too childlike. His teacher calls him gifted - tells him how bright he is - but Charlie can barely express himself, writing in clipped sentences too simple for anyone more than half his age to have written. He is supposed to be writing essays about all these novels he is reading - these are extra assignments given to him by the teacher who thinks Charlie is so brilliant - but Charlie's writing, as evidenced by his letters, is just awful. While I was interested in the story itself and determined to read the whole novel to find out what happened to all the characters, I have to admit that by the time I was a little past half-way through it, I couldn't wait for it to be over. I heard so many good things about this novel, but I just didn't happen to be as impressed with it as a lot of other people were. I hear the movie is very good - I have a feeling I may enjoy it more than the novel, which is not usually the case for me.

[Abby · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

AMO ESTE LIBRO❤️

[javiera Bascuñan · Calificación: 1 de 5 estrellas]

Cancelé la suscripción para poder leer ilimitadamente y ahora no puedo leer el libro por mi pais?