Dubie's Book List: "Perks Of Being A Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky

I just finished reading the Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I abosulely loved this book. It's the kind YA that would have made feel so understood if I had read it between the ages 14 and 16. The protagonist, Charlie, drips with this unapologetic sensitivity. He feels everything very intensely and he allows himself to. He is rather withdrawn and is pulled out of his shell by some friends who encourage to stop watching life from the sidelines and actually participate. And when he does, things start to change. This includes recalling some painful experiences that Charlie has suppressed. By acknowledging these memories, he starts to come to terms with and to imagine his existence beyond them.

One of my favourite parts of Perks was the books recommended to Charlie by his teacher, Bill, who notices and decides to nurture his literary potential. 

• On The Road by Jack Kerouac
• Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
• The Stranger by Albert Camus
• This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
• A Separate Peace by John Knowles
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Hamlet by William Shakespeare
• Walden by Henry David Thoreau
• The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Now, this is definitely a deeply Eurocentric and largely male list. A far cry from my heavily Afro-diasporic and female-authored book list. Still several of these books are among my favourites. Some I have to yet to read. Part of the beauty of literature is reading writing by people whose experiences and opinions differ vastly from my own. Looking forward to reading and rereading some of these. 

Another part I loved from this book was the music. Probably because the music featured can so often be found on my playlists. From the Billie Holiday to The Smiths to Moody Blues. I have not seen the movie for this show yet, but I can only imagine that the soundtrack is beyond dope.

"Asleep" by The Smiths 

So if you are looking for a new summer read, this would a nice, light but sensitive read.

Image c/o Google