Apr 11, 2006
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
September 13, 1992
Dear Friend,
I guess that last letter wasn't really going to be my last letter. I knew it wasn't, so I don't know why I wrote "if this does end up being my last letter."
So far this school year is lonely. I thought maybe the skinny kid that lockered next to me last year might say hi to me this year, but so far he has not. Sam and Patrick would say hi, I know they would. I really wish they were here this year. My sister, too--I miss her a lot. There aren't any new boyfriends around the house anymore to observe or wish that I could watch TV with. It is really cloudy today too, I think it might thunderstorm.
I just finished the book The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. Guess how I picked the book? My new advanced English teacher (whom I call Mr. Talsted, not by his first name like Bill) suggested it to me. Seems that Bill and Mr. Talsted had a talk about me, and that I'll probably be doing a lot of essays and stuff like last year. That's okay though. I'll still visit Bill.
The Sun Also Rises has made think of some things that I don't know what to do about. Maybe nothing. But I often wonder whether I hide my own emotions instead of dealing with them. Like missing Sam and Patrick. I try to forget that they're gone and just pretend that they'll be in school tomorrow. They're just playing hooky today.
But since I wonder if I'm burying my emotions away, what do I do if I have no place left to bury them? Maybe the place that I bury them will get too full and I won't be allowed to ever even think that I have emotions. Or maybe I should just face my emotions?
My mind is running too fast right now. I'm not sure if I'm going to like all the books Mr. Talsted wants me to read. It's thundering out now. What a gloomy day.
Love always,
Charlie
20:40 Posted in Notebook | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
Comments
Kristi,
I like this letter by Charlie for a couple reasons. First of all, when I read it I felt like I was hearing Charlie’s voice. The thought patterns reminded me of how Charlie thinks in the story. His thoughts go from being clear and focused to seeming disorganized and frazzled. Also, your letter by Charlie, like the letters he writes himself, focuses a lot on how he feels about things. Charlie comes across as an extremely emotional person throughout the story and I think this letter does a good job of capturing that aspect of his personality.
Second, books are such a big part of Charlie’s life and I’m glad that this letter alludes to that fact. I wonder if Chbosky was trying to comment on the idea that books can offer a safe-haven for troubled people like Charlie. I think it’s fitting that Charlie says he’s reading a book by Hemmingway in this letter. Hemingway had his fair share of troubles and maybe that’s something, which Charlie knows about and can relate to?
Finally, I like your idea of pairing Charlie with a new teacher who can act like his mentor in ways. Throughout the story I felt like Bill was a really good influence in Charlie’s life and I’m glad that this letter connects Charlie to another good teacher.
I like the fact that Charlie says it’s thundering as he writes this letter. Thunder is very symbolic of the idea that Charlie’s feelings often overwhelm him suddenly and with a lot of power. In a way, thunder is a good way to describe the unrest in Charlie’s life.
Overall, I really like this letter by Charlie. It’s amazing to think that Charlie wrote such powerful letters and that nobody might have seen them.
Ryan
Posted by: Ryan | Apr 11, 2006
The comments are closed.