4 / 5 Stars, That’s how you write an epistolary!
“Charlie, We accept the love we think we deserve.” ~Stephen Chbosky
And truer words were never spoken. This has been on my list for a long long time, I even started it once I believe ..and then I ditched it and watched the movie instead (Blasphemy!) I know I know but Miss Watson was starring in it and I was in my “oh my god Hermione is hot as hell” phase. The book is fabulous and deep and melancholic and absolutely brilliant. YA fiction has rarely surprised me, involve in the romanticized version of reality that a teenager believes and I develop a case of the “Screw that” syndrome. But Charlie is different, and oh so pure it could just kill you right there, he posses the power of empathy and perception that is lacking in almost all of humanity and this 16 year old messed up boy made me nod my head and say damn dude.
This is Stephen Chbosky first work which surprised me to no end. The novel is not too long and it never drags despite it’s epistolary style. This YA lacks the teenage angst for which I’m eternally grateful, here lies the Jesus Christ of teenage high school (no pun or disrespect intended) to motivate you, teach you empathy, and above all to make you SEE & FEEL and be OK with it. He cries a lot , I mean a lot, with which I was at first uncomfortable and then grateful because if that character didn’t cry the times he did, and all that bottled up shit would have taken him to a completely different story ark. Look at me musing an imaginary story for a character in a book, ahh this book justifies the term Fictophilia.
Now then, Friendship, Love, Forgiveness, Kindness and Letting Go, here is your ‘Exhibit A’ for all of these. These greatly explored themes in the book really made it so popular I believe and the totally lovable Charlie of-course. The clarity of thought that Charlie brings, the support that Sam and Awesomeness that Patrick brings, the siblings supportive and annoying and the mentor Bill, each fills a shade to the story that makes it a brilliant rainbow of emotions. This book did feel like that, like a cloudy sky with a drizzling weather in which the sun is playing hide and seek with us , underlined by a brilliant rainbow. Damn, see, that’s called projection, that’s how the Kid talks in the novel when he wants to explain emotions. Need I say more.
To the skeptic in me, yes sometimes it was corny, yes sometimes it was very sad, and very romanticized but none of those things should discourage you. We all need a bittersweet candy once in a while. Have a taste of this, you’ll finish it fast and the aftertaste stays with you.
True Wonderer 