Saturday, May 4, 2013
Friday, May 3, 2013
Fiction Is Our Guide
Fiction doesn't only refer to books. Fiction is telling a story that came from the most creative parts of your mind. We discover ourselves through the stories of others. Every song has a story. Every movie has a journey. We wander through life captivated by the beauty of of words spoken, written, or sung. A story is told through all, and there is where we find ourselves in the most private and intimate ways.
Perks of Being a Wallflower
I just finished reading Perks.....I feel like I read it from an absorbent point of view. It was very thought provoking. And even though he cried excessively it was gratifying to read a character who was so raw and open, I mean intentionally so. It gave me great perspective on some things. And I am soooo grateful for the epilogue, it gave me closure. There are a few things that would have been left unanswered or guessed otherwise.
Charlie is a very emotionally wired person, he filters everything through how he feels. The format of the letters is significant and I found I was able to see things through Charlie's eyes. Which is important as this is solely Charlie's story, that's important to remember or you are probably going to get caught up in the lack of details and input on his history and those of the surrounding characters. Charlie encounters a broad spectrum of human behavior and actions, through his relationships. He begins to explore his sexuality and recognize the prominence of it in his circle of friends. One thing I found refreshing was that while the book addressed sex as a subject and activity it didn't overwhelm the story. The story tells of his experiences and there were moments where I'd take a second to clear my head because I could relate to him. I think that is one particular reason the book and film are both well received, because Charlie is an actual teenager. He's not put together with answers or plans, he's simply curious, insecure and somewhat naive. In one way or another at one time in our life we can all relate to those things being present in our personalities.
After I read the book I watched the film based upon the book. It was altogether an enjoyable experience. I found it helpful that Stephen Chbosky wrote the screenplay and directed the film. This is likely a factor as to the excellence of the cast. Ezra Miller and Emma Watson were a superb Patrick and Sam. Logan Lerman voiced and embodied Charlie with effortless ability. I wonder if part of the reason why the movies rarely seem as good is because it only takes a slip of the time to watch the screen as it takes to read the book. The book is a journey that takes its time telling you, giving you the opportunity to visualize and discover the entirety of each page. While the movie displays it for you, books allow you to see and feel however you choose to about the characters and story, but the movie is made up of final choices declared the best options. I will say that the film was an appropriate, enjoyable adaption of the book; and I was not left bereft of all my dignity or betraying anyone for seeing it. I do highly recommend reading the book first.
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