"'Ello poppets!!"
I hope everyone is having an amazing, restful, SAFE and enjoyable summer thus far. Believe me, you are missed. Achingly. Terribly. Horrifically.
So, because of being the dork that I am, and also because we never got a chance to actually discuss The Perks of Being a Wallflower I thought we could do a sort of informal, online 204 reunion/book group right here on our old blog. Naturally, you are no longer under my watchful eye, therefore this is completely voluntary, not graded in any way and solely for fun--Bunje-fun as Niah and Harmonica would say.
So, without further ado....
What did you think of Perks? What did you like/dislike, who was your favorite character and why?
Also, if you have started your AP Lit summer assignment yet, tell me about the similarites you see between Holden Caulfield and Charlie. (For you fools that did NOT take AP Lit even though you should have, Holden Caufield is a character from the iconic novel The Catcher in the Rye) You can look on Spark Notes and get a feel for the character.
Is Charlie a relatable character or did you find him completely foreign?
If you have any questions or just feel like commenting, by all means "hit me up!" (I looooove my slang dictionary!)
250 words/50pts (for ol' times sake!)
14 comments:
Well, maybe I DO still have a shot at being the first to post on a blog. Although this time it's because I'm still nostalgic and bored enough that I never deleted the blog's bookmark and I still have checked it from time to time, just in case. So Bunj, we definitely should have blogs from time to time over the summer. Just to prevent any 204 withdrawal.
Anyway. As I read Catcher in the Rye, I kept looking for anything that reminded me of Perks. (I like Perks and Charlie better btw) It seemed like the author of Perks read Catcher and then wrote another using it as its inspiration. There were a few phrases that just struck me as seeming like a direct reference or something to Perks, or rather, vice versa. Both Charlie and Holden have some issues, I think, and I guess they both feel alienated from most other people. And they both have this distrust of people in general, like when Holden goes on and on about phonies and Charlie upset about how Susan had changed.
I've already read the Perks of Being a Wallflower, but I could appreciate it much better the 2nd time because I already understood the plot and could focus on the book as a whole thing. I don't really like the plot, I think. There's just something about the book that doesn't seem to set completely right. I guess some of it is hard to believe or imagine, and some is just crazy. Charlie taking LSD? It just didn't feel right. I think I also have a hard time understanding all of the characters, where they are coming from, why they did certain things. Charlie was probably my favorite character, but I'm not really sure why. I really liked the way he said things, and the interesting perspective he had on some things. he just said things and looked at the world in an either beautiful or kind of funny/quirky kind of way. Sometimes he seemed really strange though, and I could never quite get what the heck was wrong. Other parts, like when he'd describe certain feelings, I felt a kind of connection with him. You can't help but feel like Charlie's friend by the time you finish the book. But if I started to see similarities between me and Charlie, I'd get a bit upset. His reactions and passiveness were so extreme sometimes, but it was always hard to tell which part was so extreme. I think it's just that certain things repeated over and over and he never did a thing about them, like with Sue-Ellen or when Pat kissed him. I guess I would be afraid that I acted like Charlie and never knew it, because he seemed so messed up and strange without doing anything specific that seemed wrong when told from his perspective.
I miss our blogs, esp. amidst all this stupid summer work. Make sure you answer the blog too Ms. Bunje! <3
Can we stop calling it Perks? It makes me think of Percocet's and then I get uncomfortable. I never finished PBW. I still have it in my bag. I suppose I should give it back to Kristen. I will finish reading it though. I promise.
I read The Catcher in the Rye freshman year. Holden is one of my favorite book characters. Holden and Charlie are similar because they seem more … absurd? They are both immature for their age.
Catcher in the Rye was good, but I liked PBW more. PBW should be labeled as like...the "new" Catcher in the Rye. I am glad I read Catcher before starting PBW. And like Laina said, I think it's obvious that the writer of PBW is influenced by Catcher.
On a side note, I finished a few books already this summer. I re-read The Orchid Thief and finished Wikinomics. Ever since I read Anthem last year, I fell in love with Ann Rand's objectivism philosophy. I plan on reading Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead when I go away on vacation. I should be able to finish either on the beach. I'm leaning more towards Atlas Shrugged for a variety of reasons, but there is an essay contest for The Fountainhead that gives out a good amount of scholarship money. We'll see.
My response is vague and short. It's like 1:30 in the morning on 4th of July.
Perks always made me think of coffee. PBW makes me think of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Otherwise, I agree with what Mikey said. :)
lala um... I should probably start my Lit homework. And Calc 2. and Physics. and Latin (stupid Aeneid). and is there any Psych?
But anyway I don't want to discuss any book.... so Happy Hannukah
Wow. Really? Gary would. He did.
yeeeeeesh.
I love that book soo much, I think its unhealthy.
But! I came onto blogger because my email thing isn't working and I need to tell you something Bunje!
At work the other day I was talking to one of the guys I work with and he was telling me how he wants to go to school to be a chef. Then, he went on to tell me that his brothers friend went to school for it and then came right out to be Johnny Depps private chef on his yacht! Johnny is a very nice and laid back guy he said=). i thought you would appreciate knowing that!=)
Aww..I really miss the old days in AP Lang. I actually read The Perks of Being a Wallflower and it's great, I read it pretty quickly and it's really unlike any books I've ever read. I have to say my favorite character would be...Sam. In the end she sort of surprised me, she stated the most obvious thing to Charlie. He should just do what HE wants to do not what others want. He should take a stand. Well that's what I got out of her. ^^
How's everyone's summer? And Bunje how's Thailand? I wish I could have an adventure like you are. :D
I just received my AP scores in the mail, and i must say that I have extraordinary news for you Bunje. So I decided that the best way to tell you would of course be the blog! I GOT A 5! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I couldn't be happier. No words can express how much thanks you deserve for being the best teacher in the world. It's unbelievable how much you've done for me. Your efforts haven't been in vain! THANK YOU!
Oh, and I'm almost finished with Catcher in the Rye. I'll comment back in a day or two. :)
Allliiiii---you have a tenuous connection to my husband Johnny Depp!!! That is so awesome!
I will be commenting on "POBaW" vs "CITR" soon. I want to re-read some parts.
I miss you all too, RosyVu!
Court--you already know this--but you ROCK MY SOCKS!!! I am so proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
soooo....I really miss period 9/10.
Can we have a summer "get together"? That would be quite awesome!
Ok...as for Perks-
I completely and utterly fell in love with this book. Every character reminded me of someone I know and brought light to a different characteristic that I either loved or hated about myself. My favorite character was Charlie but a close second was Sam, but Charlie captured my heart with his geeky and shy persona. I can relate to Charlie a little more then anyone else in the book because during my freshman/sophomore year I was more of a wallflower then I am now (at least I think so). I never really participated; I just watched and learned from my awesome classmates and teachers (sometimes) ;-). Perks was a pretty good book to end the year. Thanks Bunj.
P.S. I hate odd numbers...Bunje, can you post 1 more blog to make it an even 40. Pleaseeeeee! :)
OK Fee--I got you. Give me a few days to come up with something brilliant and insightful.
I didn't read it...not that that should come to anyone’s surprise… but I did start reading a book!!! Great Expectations by what’s his face =)
I love Bunjeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee <33
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