[puddledancer]

I read this book last year, and over the past couple of day my younger sister read it because a teacher gave it her.

She finished it and asked me why I thought the ending would blow her mind.

I had to explain the story to her and realised that although to me it seems explanatory she took a different meaning, what that was I'm not quite sure, but has anyone else struggled to understand what happened in the book?

[Pi!]

Took me several reads before I understood what happened. Disturbed me quite a bit when it hit me.

[puddledancer]

I did have to re-read the ending to accept it rather than get it, but I think it's one of the best books out there because of now disturbing it is.

[ChloeBazingaa]

I understood it the first time I read it and I'm confused as to why it would take people a while to figure it out :s I'm excited for the movie of it though, I only hope they don't ruin it.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Daydreamer18]

I'm a bit confused as to what you're all going on about by 'working it out'. Maybe that means I didn't quite 'get it' myself?!

Anyone care to explain? With spoiler tags, obviously..

[+ polarity -]

Sounds like I'll have to read it now.

[tidie1012]

I've read it a long time ago, and somehow I've lost the book so I can't re-read it. I thought the ending was quite clear with what happened during his childhood was revealed...but I can't remember that part clearly now, so I might be wrong. And definitely can't wait for the movie!

[megan.c]

(Original post by Daydreamer18)
I'm a bit confused as to what you're all going on about by 'working it out'. Maybe that means I didn't quite 'get it' myself?!

Anyone care to explain? With spoiler tags, obviously..

Same!
I thought I'd understood, but maybe I haven't - someone please clarify!

[minimarshmallow]

(Original post by megan.c)
Same!
I thought I'd understood, but maybe I haven't - someone please clarify!

Jumping on this bandwagon (without the negative connotations). I feel like I've missed something.
Problem being I sent my copy home with my mum for her to read so couldn't re-read it until tomorrow.

[.Scout.]

I feel like I've missed something crucial...? Some one update me with what happened? It's bee years since I read it, I just remember not being overly impressed with the book as a whole...

[puddledancer]

(Original post by megan.c)
Same!
I thought I'd understood, but maybe I haven't - someone please clarify!

(Original post by Daydreamer18)
I'm a bit confused as to what you're all going on about by 'working it out'. Maybe that means I didn't quite 'get it' myself?!

Anyone care to explain? With spoiler tags, obviously..

Heres what wikipedia has to say, I'd write it myself but I'd end up on a tangent and confusing you lol. I've put a spoiler on what you want to find out yourself.:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Per...g_a_Wallflower

The story explores topics such as introversion and the awkward times of adolescence. The book also touches briefly on drug use and Charlie's experiences with this.[3] As the story progresses, various works of literature and film are referenced and their meanings discussed.

The story takes place in a suburb of Pittsburgh during the 1991–1992 school year, when Charlie is a high school freshman. Charlie is the titular wallflower of the novel. He is an unconventional thinker, and as the story begins he is shy and unpopular.

"Charlie" is the alias of the adolescent narrator of the novel, who is about to begin his first year of high school. The novel is presented through letters that Charlie writes to an anonymous friend, who is just someone he heard about and decided he could confide in. Charlie begins the year shy and awkward, but he soon makes friends with two seniors, Sam, and her step-brother Patrick. Throughout the story, Sam, Patrick, and Charlie's teacher Bill introduce him to many new experiences and the letters he writes show his growth. Bill gives Charlie many books to read, which influence the way he thinks greatly. Sam and Patrick introduce Charlie to friends, music, and drugs. Charlie soon falls in love with Sam, but feels guilty whenever he has romantic or sexual thoughts about her. He begins dating Mary Elizabeth instead, but ruins their relationship when he kisses Sam. Patrick advises Charlie to stay away from their friends for a bit, while everyone is angry with him. Charlie is very upset with himself, and feels like an outcast once again. The only connection he has to his friends is Bob, who sells Charlie marijuana. Bob reveals that Patrick had a falling out with his secret boyfriend Brad after Brad's father caught them together. Soon afterwards, Charlie witnesses Brad calling Patrick a faggot at lunch, Patrick loses his temper and attacks Brad. Brad's friends then team up on Patrick, and Charlie comes to his defense. Using a chair, Charlie manages to fend off the mob. Charlie is forgiven by all is friends after this. Near the end of the school year, Charlie grows depressed because all his friends are graduating. The night before Sam leaves for school, she and Charlie begin having sex, but Charlie suddenly has a panic attack and has to stop. His state of mind grows worse, and he is checked into a mental hospital.

Plot Twist

In the hospital, Charlie realizes that he was molested by his Aunt Helen, and that he had been suppressing the memory.

The novel ends with Charlie writing his last letter to his friend, saying that he hopes to be less of a "wallflower" in the next school year, and plans on being more outgoing.

(Original post by .Scout.)
I feel like I've missed something crucial...? Some one update me with what happened? It's bee years since I read it, I just remember not being overly impressed with the book as a whole...

I loved the book and how personal it seems with the way Charlie is writting to someone he can trust.

(Original post by tidie1012)
I've read it a long time ago, and somehow I've lost the book so I can't re-read it. I thought the ending was quite clear with what happened during his childhood was revealed...but I can't remember that part clearly now, so I might be wrong. And definitely can't wait for the movie!

The trailer looks absolutly amazing.

[M'Ling]

Am I the only one who found the book entirely average?

[.Scout.]

Ok wow...I 100% missed that plot twist. I never even had suspicions that that happened!

[.Scout.]

(Original post by M'Ling)
Am I the only one who found the book entirely average?

Yeah I did. I know it's aimed at teenager but I just found the book to be quite childish and irritating.

[puddledancer]

(Original post by .Scout.)
Ok wow...I 100% missed that plot twist. I never even had suspicions that that happened!

My sister did too she was beyond surprised when I explained it lol.

[M'Ling]

(Original post by .Scout.)
Yeah I did. I know it's aimed at teenager but I just found the book to be quite childish and irritating.

Precisely. When he says something like "in that moment I swear we were infinite", the reader was obviously intended by the author to feel as though they've just read the most jarring and spiritual phrase ever written. In truth, I don't really think it makes much sense, and found the whole book a big cliché, as though written in one summer by a Year 11 at a creative writing conference.

No disrespect for people who do like it - I just think there's a lot of better-written, and more original, books out there.

[megan.c]

(Original post by puddledancer)
Heres what wikipedia has to say, I'd write it myself but I'd end up on a tangent and confusing you lol. I've put a spoiler on what you want to find out yourself.:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Per...g_a_Wallflower







I loved the book and how personal it seems with the way Charlie is writting to someone he can trust.





The trailer looks absolutly amazing.

Oh yeah! I got that, just got paranoid people might have been talking about something else!

[Daydreamer18]

(Original post by puddledancer)
Heres what wikipedia has to say, I'd write it myself but I'd end up on a tangent and confusing you lol. I've put a spoiler on what you want to find out yourself.:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Per...g_a_Wallflower

Ah, I did get that! From the way everyone else was going on I was thinking there was something else to be worked out that I'd missed. Thanks though!

(Original post by M'Ling)
Am I the only one who found the book entirely average?

Nope, I did too. Very underwhelmed.

[sarahthegemini]

From reading the wikipedia link about it, I really want to read the book now.

[roarosaurus]

(Original post by M'Ling)
Am I the only one who found the book entirely average?

And in that moment, I swear we were sick of that quote.


(I didn't come up with that joke, but it actually made me LOL when I first read it.)

I didn't have any trouble 'getting' the plot twist when it was revealed, but it did surprise me. I kind of want to re-read the ending now, to see how other people might have interpreted it.