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Monday 3:14pm, October 15, 2007
FF BOOK CLUB’s first meeting! posted by Keith

Welcome to the first offish meeting of the FF Book Club. Thanks for coming! I’ve baked us some cookies and we’re gonna chat up Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower! Many of you have commented how much this book has meant to you over the years and first I want to say thanks so much for sharing it with me. It’s everything you said it would be: funny true beautiful sad hopeful real.

I think this book does such a magical job of capturing moments of life that are rather difficult to describe: the electricity of making new friends, the heightened rush of first-time experiences, those late-night drives where no one need say a word. The book had such a dreamy quality to me…

What were some of your favorite parts? I really love on page 69 when Sam gives Charlie the typewriter. Sam has written on a piece of paper, “Write about me sometime.” And Charlie simply types, “I will.” I love that. Oh! And I loved that part on page 17 when Charlie discovers his dad crying after the series finale of M*A*S*H… Soooo cute. Also, can I say I was kinda shocked about the ending? Did not see that coming. What did you think of that?

Lastly, I don’t think any discussion of Perks would be complete without us talking about mix tapes. For fun I dug one out that a friend made me during my freshman year of high school, way way WAY back in 1986. I really think Charlie would have LOVED it! Here’s the track list of side B:

Dear Prudence, Siouxsie & the Banshees
Make Up with Me, Let’s Active
Sleep Comes Down, The Pyschedelic Furs
All Cats Are Grey, The Cure
Back to the Old House, The Smiths
God to Rust, Get Smart!
Do You Wanna Hold Me? Bow Wow Wow
Thieves Like Us, New Order
Kooks, David Bowie

The neat thing is my friend Nadine gave it to me in 1986 but I had never realized that she had written me a note on the inside fold of the tape insert. I only discovered it a few years ago. Written in pencil, she mostly apologizes for taking so long to make it and wishes me the best but it has this spooky deep quality to me. Having been hidden so long, it’s like a message from the past. One of the things she writes is, “Hold on to youth.” Girl, I am trying!

i have to admit that i didnt read the book =/ but i was too busy reading for school and stuff to read it! but i do think its really cool that you found that mixtape from ‘86 (which was practically yesterday!) i love that it has siouxsie and the banshees and bow wow wow and david bowie!! and that note is cool, hold on to youth!
comment by cver — October 15, 2007

this book is so amaze! my friend matt and i were both reading it on the flight to utah - we were both freaking out! the book club is the best idea ever!!! i even get dressed up for it!!!!
comment by Jen — October 15, 2007

This has been my favorite book for many years <3!
comment by Elizabeth Sorensen — October 15, 2007

this book is so amazing, it inspired me so much. i especially love charlie’s passion for music and the love he has for his friends. =D
comment by Lidia — October 15, 2007

Hey! i didnt read the book just for the book club but i read it about a year ago and let me tell you, it is my alltime favorite book.I have re read it about 12 times since then. It has so much meaning and it really changed the way i look at life and my friends and even my family. I think Charlie is just like me in his choices. not that i am a wallflower but that i can do what i feel and noone can judge me cause it doesnt really matter. and just reading the book makes ME feel infinite.
comment by Natalie — October 15, 2007

So my favorite line is “So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be.” Totes life-changing! And trés deep!
comment by Jewlie — October 15, 2007

I read this book last year and loved it. It says it is a lot like The Catcher and the Rye, but nothing compares to that amoazing peice of lierature. Overall this book was lif changing. I am so happy you picked this. xoxo
comment by Lindsey — October 15, 2007

I must say, my favorite parts about the book are when Charlie comments on things that we never would have thought about. I personally couldn’t have described infinity like he did, or how it feels to be a kid again. I like how in the end, he says something along the lines of “And i’ll believe the same thing about you.” I think the book is great.
comment by Julia — October 15, 2007

One of my most favorite parts of “Perks” is when they’re doing Secret Santas for Christmas and Charlie gives Patrick watercolors, a harmonica, and magnetic poetry, and says that he thinks everybody should have them. I think that’s actually really good advice, because we should all own things that make us happy. Among my other favorite parts are when he and his friends do the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and simply just when they spend time together. And it always touches me when Charlie, Sam, and Patrick drive through the tunnel and they feel “infinite”.
comment by katie — October 15, 2007

This book seriously got me into reading when I was in highschool. Everyone should read this book!!!
comment by Natasha — October 15, 2007

Hey Peeps!! I’m so glad to see that everyone LOVED the book…unfortch my hotel here in LaLaLos Angeles lied to me when it said that it had wireless internet…so I’m just popping in quick whilst stealing USC internets

In any case I’ll have my comments up tomorrow or Weds, sorry for the delay! xoxoxoxoxox, Bee
comment by Bee — October 15, 2007

I read this last year, around Thanksgiving, it was so amazing. I’ve been waiting for Chbosky to come out with something new ever since.
comment by Hayleigh — October 15, 2007

Thanks Keith and the FF Book Club for turning me on to this great book! It was one of those books that when I finished it, I was actually sad to leave the characters behind, especially Charlie. I found myself wondering how his sophomore year went and if he really did “participate” in life more, like he said he was hoping to. My favorite parts — and the ones I identified most with — were (1)Charlie’s need to buy each of his friends and family members “the perfect gift.” (Like the M*A*S*H videocassette for his father.) I have spent countless hours in malls and shopping online doing the exact same thing! And (2) the sense of loneliness Charlie had when his older friends were all graduating and going off to college. His letters during that time had such a bittersweet tone to them: he was happy and excited for his friends but sad and a little nervous for himself to be left behind. I remember dealing with the same feelings back in high school and was impressed how well Stephen Chbosky captured them here. Anyway, sorry this is so long, but I just loved the book and can’t wait to see what is in store for next month!
comment by Jim — October 15, 2007

I liked this book better when it was called “The Catcher in the Rye.” “Perks” was okay but I finished it wondering, “That’s it?” Was there a plot, somewhere in there? He grows out of his shell, he makes friends, does some drugs and now they’re all gone. But maybe the reason I found it so disappointing was because it was a real slice of life, even being fictional. And sometimes life really is just disappointing.
comment by Faith — October 15, 2007

i jjust read this for English in the begining of September and i love it so much! It gives you a “feeling” inside after reading it and its just awesome.
comment by kate — October 15, 2007

I loved it! Thanks for getting me to finally read it. “And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.” <3 my favorite part.
comment by Rana — October 15, 2007

I read this for the first time in like tenth grade for English. I loved it. Rereading it, the end seems obvious (he was emotionally stunted in a pretty normal family); but at the time, it threw me for a loop. I’ve always kind of resented the comparison people have made with this book to ‘The Catcher in the Rye’. Catcher in the Rye is like ‘The Great Gatsby’; it is usually the favorite book of people who don’t really read, and know about these books from various English classes. Perks is another favorite too; and sometimes people discover it through classes; but it feels more realistically accessible to our lives today. Charlie airs on the immature side; his word choice is a little too precious, and his lack of knowledge about sexuality is not likely (until the end, of course). But all in all, I love this book. Mt favorite scene is the Secret Santa scene as well, and also when they take Charlie to the diner for the first time. A lot of bonding all over the country happens between friends late at night at 24 hr. diners. Real and sweet. (Sorry this is so long!)
comment by Elizabeth — October 15, 2007

I read this book last year. It was wonderful, adorable, and fresh… Not only is it now one of my favorite books, but it was a great break from all of the sci-fi novels my school forces me to read.
comment by Mercedes — October 15, 2007

I read this book a few years ago and then when I saw you guys were bookclubbing it, I picked it up again for a serious re-read. Reading the book again really made me disillusioned and sad. I like the letter format and I could relate to Charlie as a wallflower, but on the whole, besides the Aunt Helen thing, it sounds like a fantasy–a wallflower instantly befriends “cool” people and outgrows his wallflowerness? I don’t know, I just don’t know how believable I find that to be. Everybody’s mentioning their favorite scene as the Secret Santa, but my favorite is the Homecoming Game where Charlie pretends he hasn’t seen Patrick and Sam in ages–it makes me laugh. Anyways, it’s a great book to read in high school, but I think for me, it’s just going to sit back on my shelf and collect dust.
comment by rosey — October 15, 2007

I havn’t read the book yet and despite how cute it sounds, it’s kind of hard to relate to it if I ever get around to reading it, I live in Miami, if I were to ever give someone a typewriter or mention the Rocky Horror Picture Show, they’ll just be like “Que?”
comment by Jessica — October 15, 2007

So i read it a little before summer annnd I loooved it!! I cried during the poem and I cried at the end. My favorite parts: (1)the infinite moment, god it was soo great i can’t even describe how much i love it! (2)the poem that he reads to mary elizabeth.(3)the entire conversation that his family has while driving in the car and his brother and sister are arguing about his brother’s girlfriend. its just funny all the comments that charlie adds in. so i love the book and it remanins my favorite! i love the dialogue. “We accept the love we think we deserve.” “I hate you.” “I love you.” “You’re a freak, you know that? Everyone says so. They always have.” “I’m trying not to be.” Patrick actually used to be popular before Sam bought him some good music. I really think that everyone should have watercolors, magnetic poetry, and a harmonica.
comment by Gracie — October 15, 2007

i absolutely love the perks of being a wallflower. i’ve read it three times and i’m still in love with it. i like all the different relationships in the book and the fact that it was written thru letters. my favourite parts are when charlie walks in on patrick and brad, when sam tells charlie that love is more than just putting people’s lives ahead of his, but i really don’t like the ending. i thought it was completely unnecessary to give charlie’s favourite person a huge flaw.
comment by Sarah — October 16, 2007

i recently read this book so it was a bit unusual for me to see it here. but nevertheless, i loved it. charlie is the most interesting character and he reminds me so much of my brother.he is a very different character with a distinct personality. he is quirky, emotional and honest about his feelings, he is open to people he knows. enough said. i love the book.
comment by cristal — October 16, 2007

slightly disturbing but AWESOME nonetheless
comment by Heidi — October 16, 2007

I SWEAR he was writing those letters to me. It made me cry.. I would write more but the bell is going to ring in… 6 minutes. I’ll come back. But he was writing to me. And what a sweet little boy he was. I have a Sam too, only his name is John. And he never loves me like Sam loves Charlie. And he never will. But I LOVED this book. I read it on the train to Oktoberfest, and it was beautiful. OH! 4 minutes.. I’d better go. <3
comment by Katie — October 18, 2007

Unfortunately, I did not get time to re-read this book, but I remember being pretty much waylayed by it a few years back. And I remember downloading the song “Send Me to Sleep” by The Smiths because it was mentioned in the book–great song. I hope I got the title right.
comment by Tommy — October 19, 2007

Wow. That book has meant so much to me. I am so similar to Charlie in so many ways that when I read that book I can completely understand him. I think exactly like him and because of that, the book makes me feel less alone during times in which I need cheering up. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the perfect remedy to anytime I am sad and it has helped me out a lot.
comment by Morgan — January 11, 2008

I loved the book. I actually felt hollow inside after reading it. My favourite part is where they go through the tunnel and Charlie’s in the car. The infinite moment I think it’s called, it’s a while since I’ve read Perks. I was shocked to learn that Perks was banned in I think 17 countries though… I love the quote “We accept the love we think we deserve” — excellent. Perks is one of those books you read and go “Yeah that was awesome” then come back ten years later and love it even more!!
comment by Bibilou — January 19, 2008

THis is my favourite book, though i don’t think i’ve read anything since… ’cause i keep reading it over. i’ve made 16 other people read it, really think it’s a book to be shared, y’know ? I’m not sure if i have a favourite part, maybe when Charlie and Patrick are telling stories, not sure why… I hope there isn’t a movie, i really don’t want the book to be ruined.. :p Eee, think i’ll go read it again now!

comment by Amy Crum — June 2, 2009

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