[Perks of Being a Wallflower] Living through memories

So this week, as I sat down at my computer to begin blogging, I was really confused as to what to blog about. So I dug through my binder and found the "Possible Blog Topics" packet. One of the suggestions was to write about the most important line from the book. But I have already posted about that in my previous post. So that got me thinking of the most important idea of the book. So as I reminisced on what I read over the course of this week, I found a paragraph where Charlie is talking about the first time of his realization of life.

"It's like my very first memory, which I guess is the first time I was aware that I was alive."

I know, that’s probably really deep and you have no idea what he is talking about. It's alright. Neither did I, until I thought about it really hard.

It’s weird to think about. When we go back to think about our younger selves, we can't remember the things we did as babies. There is probably something that we remember from toddler years, but when did we gain the ability to store thoughts? When are we physically and mentally capable of our life?

Charlie says this line in the book nonchalantly but it really gets the readers thinking. That is something that is prominent throughout the novel. He speaks about the depths of live through simple diction and syntax. His naive personality really helps enforce these complex ideas.

If you are reading this right now, then tell me in the comments: What did you think Charlie meant by this line?

Blogging Assessment #1

In the novel, Perks of Being a Wallflower, the writer’s voice is present through the main character. The author, Stephen Chbosky, takes Charlie’s dialogue to incorporate his own thoughts, opinions, and outlooks on certain situations. For me on the other hand, I like to directly talk to my audience and express my opinions directly. For example in my previous post, [Perks of Being a Wallflower] Most Important Line, I had written, “When I read this line for the first time, I didn't really understand what it meant.” This basically was just saying exactly what I was thinking when I had read the most important line from the book. Personality wise, it shows that I am laid back and enjoy writing as myself opposed to writing like I would for an a formal essay.

In order to enhance my voice in the pieces, I used purposeful diction and syntax.  For diction, a popular technique that is seen throughout would be low and informal diction. This just makes the writing, in my opinion, more relatable. Personally, as a reader, I don’t take pleasure in having a writer or authors just write at me. It is more enjoyable when they are connecting through their words. An example of this diction would be: “When I began writing this post, I knew exactly which quote I was going to use but I did not understand the literal meaning behind it. When it comes to syntax, the technique I use frequently throughout my blog is sentence structure. I think using short sentences and fragments break the barrier between having my writing being reserved and interesting. Examples of this technique would be: “So I googled it.” And “And live in the moment.”

[Perks of Being a Wallflower] Most Important Line

In a book, there are many important components that make it special and make it stand out from the millions of other books in the world. When readers like you and I read a book, we often take away the most important one of those aspects to remember the book by. For the book, Perks of Being a Wallflower, there is a particularly memorable line that mostly everyone is familiar with. People who have seen the film version, read the book, or simply have even lived; know what line I am talking about. 

"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." 

When I read this line for the first time, I didn't really understand what it meant. All I knew was that it made me feel good on the inside because it just seemed effortless the way Charlie had said it.

When I began writing this post, I knew exactly which quote I was going to use but I did not understand the literal meaning behind it. So I googled it. I found the dictionary definition of INFINITE was: limitless or endless in space, extent, or size; impossible to measure or calculate. So I guess Charlie is trying to convey the message that Patrick, Sam and he were embracing their freedom in a way and he felt as if nothing could stop them. He was feeling empowered by everything and everyone around him. He was simply living in the moment.

This makes me think of how many people I know and seen are so caught up with day to day life. I am guilty of this from time to time also. If everyone could read this book that is really changing how I see things, everyone could appreciate the simpler things. And live in the moment.

[Perks of Being a Wallflower] Vocabulary

So this week as I read my novel I choose to focus on the vocabulary of the text. Something I found that was very helpful as a reader was the simplicity of the text. I think it is something appreciable because the concepts that the book is encompassing are harder to grasp. The author, Stephen Chbosky, writes how a teenager would speak which makes it simple and relatable for the suggested audience.

I believe one of the main reasons that this book has become a phenomenon is the how the author shows the real endeavors of life through his remarkable choices of words. This also includes his use of syntax, diction, and rhetoric techniques. As I had mentioned before, I feel as if this book shows a component of the meaning of life (I know that’s deep) but keeps it understandable to everyone. Even if they are young and naïve, or mature and experienced, this novel becomes an eye-opening experience for everyone. 

Krista Ramsey

Today as I was looking through Krista Ramsey’s columns to write about, one caught my attention. The name of this column is “Mennonites Embrace the Arts”.


In a few words the piece is about how Mennonites are confined to indulge in materialism. Ramsey goes through explaining how the church has allowed them to be creative and still be a part of the church, allowing Mennonites artists to share and recognize other’s work at Mennonite Arts Weekends.From Ramsey’s writing, one of the lines that stood out to me was: “Whatever you think of when you hear the word ‘Mennonite,’ it is probably not the word ‘art’." This impacts the readers’ perspective because it sets up the column to show that something uncommon will be shared. This really grabs their attention considering it’s the first line of text. There is also diction represented in the line that supports the perspective of the reader. For an example of diction Ramsey uses the quotations around the works “Mennonite” and “art”. This emphasizes what she is trying to get across as the main topic of her column and makes it quite obvious.


Ramsey has a very distinctive writing style which makes her work stand out from other columnists. She makes everything understandable and gets to the point which makes it truthful and sincere while involving some sarcasm and humor as well. For instance in her column, For better vision, kids need time outdoors she says, “So far, science hasn’t entirely caught up with that [of the outdoors] magic.” In Super Bowl GBs score points for great style she says, “T-shirts and nylon jackets at your daughter’s college graduation, you probably wonder why you bothered. Keep bothering.” Last but definitely not least, in Mennonites Embrace the Arts, she says,” Their handmade quilts may have been art to collectors, but to Mennonites, they were bedding.” All these examples represent her wit and knowledge clearly for readers to understand without difficulty but still keeping it interesting.

If I were given the opportunity to ask Krista Ramsey questions I would ask:
How do you decide where to add in your own commentary and opinions?
Does your writing reflect how you would talk in person?
How do you pick topics to write about?



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[Perks of Being a Wallflower] Self Connection

Why is Charlie's story able to be related to on such a deep level? Personally, I didn't quite know how this was, but I knew why. Even though I haven't experienced these certain experiences in my life yet, I can connect to them on a different level. Some would say a more basic level, but I would say on a more important level. As a reader, that's what makes the most difference in grasping the intentions of the characters ideas and actions.

Specifically, there is one part of the novel where Charlie talks about the poem that he had read to Patrick. It is a heart-wrenching note of a kid’s suicide note. The thing that I felt was ironic is that it connected to Charlie in a way. This is because he could have chosen the same path that the kid from the note had chosen because of his best friend’s death. But instead he gets himself out of a certain darkness to enter high school by meeting friends that honestly care about him.  I have never experienced anything to that great of an extent but from a similar situation, I understand how difficult it must have been for Charlie to get himself to the place he is at now.

[Perks of Being a Wallflower] Characterization of Charlie

A symbol that represents the main character, Charlie, is the 'new old' typewriter he receives from Sam. This shows his personality so far in the book because the way Charlie talks about his friends and the people around him makes it seem like he has an old soul. The way he forgives them for their mistakes while having an innocence about him that makes him relatable to most people of different levels. The things he says to other characters non verbally feels very honest.

As far as how he is visualized through my eyes, I see him as a short kid with messy short brown hair. He is always trying to do the best. He forgives and forgets people for their actions on their bad days. For example, when Patrick is having problems with Brad, Charlie promises to keep the fact that they are together quiet. He really understands how to love his friends and family. Even though at times his family isn’t always the most comforting people to be around, he understands what they are going through and how they feel.