*Spoilers*
*I apologize for its length
Pages: 0-Finished
Prompt: Pretend you get to create the music soundtrack for what you’ve been reading. What five songs would you include? Write an explanation for each song: why would you include it, how does the song connect to events.
If the author were here, what would you say and ask him/her?
Today, June 12th of 2014, I decided to do something productive, besides reading. We are just BARELY about two weeks into our beautiful break and I have managed to read four books. I think that says something about me. As my family sits in the kitchen watching the games for the World Cup between Brazil and Croatia, I sit with my laptop, on my lap, typing my thoughts on a book I read. What is this book you may ask? Well, it is The Perks of Being A Wall Flower by Stephen Chbosky. During the school year I managed to read fifty of its pages, then I procrastinated due to other work and pure idleness. When I was finally able to read it I then had to return it to the library. (Convenient, isn't it?)
In this blog I have decided to create a five song sound track for the book. The first on the list is:
1. "Asleep" by The Smiths
"Sing to me
I don't want to wake up
On my own anymore
Don't feel bad for me
I want you to know
Deep in the cell of my heart
I really want to go"
Throughout the reading we begin to understand that Charlie hasn't had an easy life. Of course he had his family and sister but he faced a trouble with himself. An inner conflict due to past events. Those being the death of his friend Michael who committed suicide, and his Aunt Helen who died when he was younger. Ever since this he combats the turmoil that would be the thoughts and the emotional pain he felt at moments. Charlie adds this song to a playlist he made for a friend he recently met. In my opinion I felt that it was a signal from Charlie to Patrick, who received the track, to simply let him know, in a way, what he faced. The song helps encompass the idea of what Charlie goes through.
2. "Miss You" by Ed Sheeran
"Shock, horror, I'm down,
Lost, you're not around
There's a lump in my chest
That sends cold through my head, and
My mind shuts sound out
I'm on auto-pilot,
And my tongue's gone silent"
The song in a way is rather upbeat and doesn't seem very upsetting. For a moment I decided to take away the music and focus on the lyrics. In a way they remind me of the moments that Charlie feels ill in the book. When speaking of his problem he says, "I feel like a big fake because I've been putting my life back together and nobody knows. It's hard to sit in my bedroom and read like I always did. It's even hard to talk to my brother on the phone." The song lyrics describe how Charlie feels unwell as if he couldn't understand everything going around him but his mom helps him through those moments. His mother is there to calm him down.
3. "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World
"It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride.
Everything (everything) will be just fine, everything (everything) will be alright (alright)"
In my opinion this song perfectly describes Charlie's last letter to us from the book. He says, "please believe that things are good with me, and even when they're not, they will be soon." I think this shows that though you maybe in the middle of a problem there will always be a resolution to it and despite how bad things may be, things will get better whether it be immediately or you might just have to wait.
4. "Give Me Love" by Ed Sheeran
"Give me love like her,
'Cause lately I've been waking up alone,
Paint splattered teardrops on my shirt,
Told you I'd let them go,"
"Give a little time to me or burn this out,
We'll play hide and seek to turn this around,
All I want is the taste that your lips allow,"
I think the song song "Give Me Love" perfectly describes the situation between Charlie and Sam. Charlie has feelings for Sam, but in a way Sam can not return those feelings. Despite this Charlie still wishes for Sam to be happy and to be with him. Yet, Charlie cares so much for Sam that he is willing to let her be happy on her own or with someone else.
5. "Afire Love" by Ed Sheran
"Things were all good yesterday
But then the devil took your breath away
And now we're left here in the pain
Black suit, black tie, standing in the rain
And now my family is one again
Stapled together with the strangers and a friend
Came to my mind, I should paint it with a pen
Six years old, I remember when"
I choose "Afire Love' by Ed Sheeran for the reason that the song itself is dedicated to the loss of a family member. The writer of the song, Ed Sheeran, tell us that the song was a tribute to his late grandfather who died with Alzheimer's. Which is something relatable to my family, my great grandmother died while she had the disease. Despite this, in the case of the book it would describe the effect of Charlie's Aunt's death upon him. Reason being that Charlie lost his aunt on his birthday which leads him to believe in a way her death was his fault. Yet during the time after her death, his family was close as they reunite to mourn the loving daughter, sister, and best friend of Charlie and his family.
Though I may be publishing my blog almost two months after reading the book, (it is currently August 2nd) I have been able to keep a vivid memory of things I questioned while reading the book. So, if I were to meet the magnificent writer, Stephen Chbosky, I would more than likely as him the following questions:
*What inspired you to write this novel that so accurately describes life as a teenager? Do you have any connections to the main character, Charlie?
*Do you feel that by keeping Charlie's identity and the identity of the other characters hidden, made the story more relatable? If not, what did you hope to achieve by hiding the identity of the characters?
*You originally wrote and published this novel in 1999, did you ever think that it would be so relatable to teens 15 years later?
*In the book Patrick, Charlie's friend, describes Charlie as a 'wallflower.' Patrick then says, "You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand." Would you agree with Patrick's definition? If not what is your definition of a wallflower?
*Finally, this is not so much a question, but an appraisal. A thank you. A statement of admiration. If this blog were to ever cross your path, which is rather unlikely, I would like you to know how extraordinary your novel is. I feel that to often when The Perks of Being A Wallflower is mentioned people immediately say, "It's so sad," or "It made me cry, it's so depressing." I on the other hand in a way disagree. There is no other way to describe this book unless you say "life." Simply because heartbreak, confusion, and despair are all part of being a teenager. These feelings could almost be described as privilege that we must face during our adolescence. While being a teenager you are so wrapped up in these emotions that you sometimes feel alone, as if nobody was there for you. As if you were the only one feeling that way. The Perks of Being A Wallflower completely contradicts that. It proves that you are not alone that people everywhere have been through the same troubles as you. Along with the fact that even if you are still feeling alone, despite everything, things will get better if you allow them to. After reading the The Perks of Being A Wallflower never have I ever felt so, I'm not sure how to explain it, but maybe loved. Yes, loved and cared for. I felt that I have carried on this blog for long enough, but thank you Mr. Chbosky. Thank you for one of the greatest reads I have ever experienced.
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