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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated The Perks of Being a Wallflower in Books
Jun 6, 2018
(This review can be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).
Okay, so I'd been wanting to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky since I heard about the film. Everyone went on about how great the book was, and I knew that I had to read it. There was one major thing that bothered me, but on the whole I loved it!
Charlie is a freshman in high school and is a little bit of a geek. This is the coming of age of Charlie as he writes letters to unknown friend. Together, we experience the highs and lows of one year of his life in which he does a lot of firsts and finds out some important information about himself.
I like the title of this book. I really do. Our main character is a big time wallflower, and he does discover that it has its perks. Therefore, the title really explains the books. I also think it's quite an original title and an interesting sounding one at that.
The cover of this book is quite simple yet it just kind of works. I think that if there would've been more on the cover, it would've lost its appeal.
Chbosky did an excellent job with the world building. Reading this book, it took me back to my high school days. I thought the author did a great job in capturing the essence of high school kids. I also love how the narration of the story was told through letters.
I thought the pacing was spot on. I would've finished this book in less than a day if real life hadn't have got in the way! I devoured every word, and I couldn't wait to find out what Charlie would experience next.
As for the dialogue, I thought it did sound like a bunch of teenagers talking to one another which is was supposed to. However, the way Charlie spoke bugged me a bit. His dialogue (both internally and to the other characters) made him sound like he was either really young or a bit slow. Perhaps this was done on purpose, and I'm missing the point completely. There are references to sex, drugs, and the like so please keep this in mind when deciding if this is the book for you as I know some people might not like reading about that. As for swear words, I think there may've been only one, but it wasn't a bad swear word.
As stated in the previous paragraph, I felt that the character of Charlie seemed to be either slow or really young. I'm not saying that he was a poorly written character because he wasn't. He just came across as too naive on most things to feel believable a lot of the time. He is meant to be 15 year old, yet he acts, speaks and thinks more like a 10 year old. Maybe this was just me, but that really bugged me! However, I did love Sam and Patrick. I loved how feminine and sweet Sam came across as, and I loved how big of a personality Patrick had. I would have to say that Patrick was probably my favourite character in the book.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower was definitely an enjoyable read for me. I think if Charlie would've acted more like his age, it would've been a tad bit better.
I'd recommend this book to everyone aged 14+ that enjoys reading about the ups and downs of life as well as those adults who want to remember their high school years.
Okay, so I'd been wanting to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky since I heard about the film. Everyone went on about how great the book was, and I knew that I had to read it. There was one major thing that bothered me, but on the whole I loved it!
Charlie is a freshman in high school and is a little bit of a geek. This is the coming of age of Charlie as he writes letters to unknown friend. Together, we experience the highs and lows of one year of his life in which he does a lot of firsts and finds out some important information about himself.
I like the title of this book. I really do. Our main character is a big time wallflower, and he does discover that it has its perks. Therefore, the title really explains the books. I also think it's quite an original title and an interesting sounding one at that.
The cover of this book is quite simple yet it just kind of works. I think that if there would've been more on the cover, it would've lost its appeal.
Chbosky did an excellent job with the world building. Reading this book, it took me back to my high school days. I thought the author did a great job in capturing the essence of high school kids. I also love how the narration of the story was told through letters.
I thought the pacing was spot on. I would've finished this book in less than a day if real life hadn't have got in the way! I devoured every word, and I couldn't wait to find out what Charlie would experience next.
As for the dialogue, I thought it did sound like a bunch of teenagers talking to one another which is was supposed to. However, the way Charlie spoke bugged me a bit. His dialogue (both internally and to the other characters) made him sound like he was either really young or a bit slow. Perhaps this was done on purpose, and I'm missing the point completely. There are references to sex, drugs, and the like so please keep this in mind when deciding if this is the book for you as I know some people might not like reading about that. As for swear words, I think there may've been only one, but it wasn't a bad swear word.
As stated in the previous paragraph, I felt that the character of Charlie seemed to be either slow or really young. I'm not saying that he was a poorly written character because he wasn't. He just came across as too naive on most things to feel believable a lot of the time. He is meant to be 15 year old, yet he acts, speaks and thinks more like a 10 year old. Maybe this was just me, but that really bugged me! However, I did love Sam and Patrick. I loved how feminine and sweet Sam came across as, and I loved how big of a personality Patrick had. I would have to say that Patrick was probably my favourite character in the book.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower was definitely an enjoyable read for me. I think if Charlie would've acted more like his age, it would've been a tad bit better.
I'd recommend this book to everyone aged 14+ that enjoys reading about the ups and downs of life as well as those adults who want to remember their high school years.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated My All American (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
The new film My All American is directed by Angelo Pizzo and released by
Clarius Entertainment. It stars Finn Wittrock as Freddie Steinmark,
Sarah Bolger as Linda Wheeler, Aaron Eckhart as Darrell Royal, Robin
Tunney as Gloria Steinmark, Michael Reilly Burke as Fred Steinmark, Rett
Terrell as Bobby Mitchell, and Juston Street as James Street.
Based on true events, and coinciding with the release of the recently
published biography, Freddie Steinmark: Faith, Family, Football, this
film is a heartwarming tale of the grit and determination that one boy
has from the time he is small all the way through college.
The determination to push through any obstacle, and any challenge thrown
his way was the hallmark of Freddie Steinmark and forever etched him
into the hearts of his fellow players, his coach Darrell K Royal, and
his family.
At only five feet nine inches tall, and 150 pounds, Freddie had to work
harder, practice longer, run faster and be altogether tougher than any
of his other team mates just to be noticed.
The movie follows Freddie through his career starting with pee-wee
football practice, to being drilled by his dad for extra practice after
his school day was done in high school, to tryouts for University of
Texas Longhorns. His high school sweetheart Linda Wheeler applies to and
is accepted at University of Texas and follows him to college.
I don’t generally like football. It annoys me that it takes so long for
the game to be played (hello…. its supposed to be four QUARTERS…. a
quarter is 25 minutes. So a game should be just over an hour and a
half…. right? Nope, it never ever is only an hour and a half long….)
HOWEVER, I really enjoyed watching this movie!
It was funny, it was inspiring, it was sad. It tugged on my heartstrings
and made me wonder how, exactly, a parent goes about raising a kid with
that much drive and “want to”.
It is completely family friendly and I will be making another trip to
the theatre to watch it with my 7 year old son, and my friends son who
is 8 and her daughter that is 6, as well.
The movie shares a great message and good lessons that all children
should learn.
The ending is sad, and might upset some younger children, but since it
is a true-to-life movie, it had to follow actual events.
Clarius Entertainment. It stars Finn Wittrock as Freddie Steinmark,
Sarah Bolger as Linda Wheeler, Aaron Eckhart as Darrell Royal, Robin
Tunney as Gloria Steinmark, Michael Reilly Burke as Fred Steinmark, Rett
Terrell as Bobby Mitchell, and Juston Street as James Street.
Based on true events, and coinciding with the release of the recently
published biography, Freddie Steinmark: Faith, Family, Football, this
film is a heartwarming tale of the grit and determination that one boy
has from the time he is small all the way through college.
The determination to push through any obstacle, and any challenge thrown
his way was the hallmark of Freddie Steinmark and forever etched him
into the hearts of his fellow players, his coach Darrell K Royal, and
his family.
At only five feet nine inches tall, and 150 pounds, Freddie had to work
harder, practice longer, run faster and be altogether tougher than any
of his other team mates just to be noticed.
The movie follows Freddie through his career starting with pee-wee
football practice, to being drilled by his dad for extra practice after
his school day was done in high school, to tryouts for University of
Texas Longhorns. His high school sweetheart Linda Wheeler applies to and
is accepted at University of Texas and follows him to college.
I don’t generally like football. It annoys me that it takes so long for
the game to be played (hello…. its supposed to be four QUARTERS…. a
quarter is 25 minutes. So a game should be just over an hour and a
half…. right? Nope, it never ever is only an hour and a half long….)
HOWEVER, I really enjoyed watching this movie!
It was funny, it was inspiring, it was sad. It tugged on my heartstrings
and made me wonder how, exactly, a parent goes about raising a kid with
that much drive and “want to”.
It is completely family friendly and I will be making another trip to
the theatre to watch it with my 7 year old son, and my friends son who
is 8 and her daughter that is 6, as well.
The movie shares a great message and good lessons that all children
should learn.
The ending is sad, and might upset some younger children, but since it
is a true-to-life movie, it had to follow actual events.
Jas (13 KP) rated 13 Reasons Why - Season 1 in TV
Aug 21, 2017
The series was created with close attention to the book it was based off of, this is always important to me. The casting was spot on and it was gripping and emotional from the first episode. (1 more)
This series is realistic in the way that it portrays teenage lives (I work in a high school and it's all about he said/she said and who is sleeping with who), but it also shows the negative impacts of people's actions (in the most extreme sense).
A lot if people are saying that the depiction of Hannah is not realistic, but I can't comment on that because I have never known someone who was suicidal. People are also worried about teenagers getting the wrong idea about suicide (that it is glorified). (1 more)
Some parents are concerned that the series (and book) deal with situations that are too sensitive for certain children.
tonidavis (353 KP) rated Before I Fall in Books
Jul 7, 2017
Before i watch the film on Netflix today
This is a great High school story what would you do different if you had only one day. I loved the concept and the execution was brilliant. This book has just been made into a film and finally on Netfix today. Personally I cant wait to see if they have done it justice. I hope so film review will be up in a day or two. As a whole im a fan of Lauren Oliver I love Replica having two stories in one book where you had to flip the book to read the others story was amazing. Delirium I had a harder time getting into purely because i had read Matched the day before and the story and characters where so similar it was hard to differentiate between the two. However Before I fall is my favorite of all her stories.
Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated Special Topics in Calamity Physics in Books
May 25, 2018
I loved, loved, loved this book! 5 STARS!
Blue Van Meer is a young girl studying at Harvard who decides to write about her life. Kind of a brainiac, and a bit odd, she starts with some tidbits of her childhood. Her mother died when she was very young, so she was raised primarily by her eccentric father who is a professor that moved her around a lot, from place to place. But most of the book takes place in Blue's high school years, particularly her senior year where she meets and befriends her teacher Hannah Schneider and joins an elite group of eccentrics, named the Bluebloods. And then, there is a murder.
Its a great mystery, a definite page-turner and you see how this murder has impacted Blue's life, and my goodness, it just gets better and better as you read on. I'm a big fan of Pessl's now!
Blue Van Meer is a young girl studying at Harvard who decides to write about her life. Kind of a brainiac, and a bit odd, she starts with some tidbits of her childhood. Her mother died when she was very young, so she was raised primarily by her eccentric father who is a professor that moved her around a lot, from place to place. But most of the book takes place in Blue's high school years, particularly her senior year where she meets and befriends her teacher Hannah Schneider and joins an elite group of eccentrics, named the Bluebloods. And then, there is a murder.
Its a great mystery, a definite page-turner and you see how this murder has impacted Blue's life, and my goodness, it just gets better and better as you read on. I'm a big fan of Pessl's now!
Sleepyside’s annual Memorial Day parade is interrupted when a fire starts a few blocks away from Main Street. When Trixie’s friend’s father is accused of burning down his own store, Trixie knows she must solve the crime.
This is the first of the rarer final five in the series. Some fans really dislike them, and I do see their point. The characters are weaker than in earlier books. And, at least in this one, Trixie has to have the solution to the mystery pointed out to her – a solution I found obvious the first time I read it in high school. And yet, I must confess I still find the book fun. Definitely not top of the list, but a fun, quick visit with old friends.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-mystery-of-memorial-day.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is the first of the rarer final five in the series. Some fans really dislike them, and I do see their point. The characters are weaker than in earlier books. And, at least in this one, Trixie has to have the solution to the mystery pointed out to her – a solution I found obvious the first time I read it in high school. And yet, I must confess I still find the book fun. Definitely not top of the list, but a fun, quick visit with old friends.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-mystery-of-memorial-day.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated The Diva Runs Out of Thyme (A Domestic Diva Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Sophie Winston is hosting Thanksgiving for her family and facing off against her high school rival, domestic diva Natasha Smith, in a stuffing contest. The last thing she needs is to find a dead body while out grocery shopping. Worse yet, the police think she is a suspect when they find her picture in the dead man’s car. What is happening?
I’ve heard lots of good about this series, and it is obviously well deserved. The large cast of characters are so well developed I never had a hard time keeping them straight. The plot starts out strongly, but it does get bogged down in the middle before reaching a wonderful climax. I’m certainly curious to see where Sophie goes from here.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/06/book-review-diva-runs-out-of-thyme-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I’ve heard lots of good about this series, and it is obviously well deserved. The large cast of characters are so well developed I never had a hard time keeping them straight. The plot starts out strongly, but it does get bogged down in the middle before reaching a wonderful climax. I’m certainly curious to see where Sophie goes from here.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/06/book-review-diva-runs-out-of-thyme-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated The Perks of Being a Wallflower in Books
Jul 12, 2018
This year I have challenged myself into reading novels that are not the typical novel that I would have picked up. This was one of those novels that I just never really thought I needed to read. The characters are very developed and the main character was very realistic to me. I found myself enthralled by the characters and how it is true to high school friendships.
This book deals with some mature topics and can be a trigger for anyone who has been sexually abused. I thought that this book dealt nicely with the character's faults and his significant life problems. This was nothing like I expected. By the end of the novel I felt kind of numb and on the verge of tears.
I think this is a very powerful novel. I am glad that I gave this book a chance. I would definitely recommend this book.
This book deals with some mature topics and can be a trigger for anyone who has been sexually abused. I thought that this book dealt nicely with the character's faults and his significant life problems. This was nothing like I expected. By the end of the novel I felt kind of numb and on the verge of tears.
I think this is a very powerful novel. I am glad that I gave this book a chance. I would definitely recommend this book.
David McK (3557 KP) rated Superman: Birthright in Books
Jan 30, 2019
It's funny, but while - like, I'm sure, most people out there - I may know (of) the origin of the Man of Steel, I've never actually seeing it written down anywhere.
Thinking about it, I think that knowledge comes from the Christopher Reeve Superman films, and the more recent TV series Smallville.
That TV series was still running when this graphic novel series was released.
This goes back to Superman's earliest days in Metropolis, with a brief flash-back to his high school Smallville days, to present a new take on the origin of the character - Jimmy Olsen? Check. Ma and Pa Kent? Check. Perry White? Check. Lois Lane? Check. Lex Luthor? Also check!
As such, I found this an interesting take on the character, with some dynamic action sequences and some stand-out visuals (Clark Kent soaring over a herd of stampeding Zebra's, for instance).
Thinking about it, I think that knowledge comes from the Christopher Reeve Superman films, and the more recent TV series Smallville.
That TV series was still running when this graphic novel series was released.
This goes back to Superman's earliest days in Metropolis, with a brief flash-back to his high school Smallville days, to present a new take on the origin of the character - Jimmy Olsen? Check. Ma and Pa Kent? Check. Perry White? Check. Lois Lane? Check. Lex Luthor? Also check!
As such, I found this an interesting take on the character, with some dynamic action sequences and some stand-out visuals (Clark Kent soaring over a herd of stampeding Zebra's, for instance).
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated Superbad (2007) in Movies
Feb 9, 2020
First time I have seen this since it was released and I have to say it was a bit of a disappointment. It has some amusing moments but it wasn't nearly as funny as I remember , possibly due to me being 13 years older and my sense of humour not being quite so juvenile (maybe?). I found Jonah Hill's shouty and sweary character incredibly irritating and only laughed at him when he got hit by a car (as if Emma Stone would go anywhere near that). You can't help but like McLovin though and the best moments of the film involve his character and the crazy journey he takes. Plot wise it's pretty standard high school fare that has been done better a million times before in movies that better stand the test of time. Overall it's an easy watch but nothing to write home about.