"Perks of being a wallflower"

Perks of being a wallflower-- Stephen Chbosky



“the struggle between passivity and passion- a wild and poignant tale of ‘growing up’- high school life.”

It has been a while since i read the book, pdf file actually. And i had jotted down some of my favorite quotes in my diary, and some i got from the net. Charlie's character is so likable. He writes down whatever he thinks, sees or wonders, in form of letters to an unknown imaginary friend, each ending with "Love always, Charlie." It's the mind and innocence of a shy, high school boy that hooks the readers to the story. It's an easy read, but thought provoking. i have watched the movie recently too. it's nice, but the book is much better...

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Do you always think this much, Charlie?"
"Is that bad?"I just wanted someone to tell me the truth.
"Not necessarily. It's just that sometimes people use thought to not participate in life."
"Is that bad?"
"Yes."


·          “Charlie, we accept the love we think we deserve.”



·         "I hate you."
My sister said it different than she did to my dad. She meant it with me. She really did.
"I love you," was all I could say in return.
"You're a freak, you know that? You’ve always been a freak. Everyone says so. They always have."
"I'm trying not to be."


·         You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand. You're a wallflower.


·         I feel infinite.”
·          And in this moment, I swear we are infinite.





 I really think that everyone should have watercolors, magnetic poetry, and a harmonica.



Sam and Patrick looked at me. And I looked at them. And I think they knew. Not anything specific really. They just knew. And I think that's all you can ever ask from a friend.


I even made her a mix tape and left it at the grave. I hope you do not think that makes me weird.


"It's too bad you're not gay.”
That made me stop crying a little bit.
“ Then again, if you were gay, I would never date you. You're a mess."
That made me start laughing a little bit.

"You know, Patrick? If I were gay, I'd want to date you."
"Of course."


I don’t know how much longer I can keep going without a friend. I used to be able to do it very easily, but that was before I knew what having a friend was like. It’s much easier not to know things sometimes. And to have French fries with your mom be enough.


But because things change. And friends leave. And life doesn’t stop for anybody.


I remembered this one time that I never told anyone about. The time we were walking. Just the three of us. And I was in the middle. I don’t remember where and I don't remember when. I don't even remember the season. I just remember walking between them and feeling for the first time that I belonged somewhere.


"It's great that you can listen and be a shoulder to someone, but what about when someone doesn't need a shoulder? What if they need the arms or something like that? You can't just sit there and put everybody's lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love. You just can't. You have to do things.



“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.” 
             ― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower 

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Queeristan by Parmesh Sahani

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  Queeristan (Amazon Link) Thanks to Audible Free Trial I listened to this amazing non-fiction on LGBTQ inclusion in Indian workplaces. Author Parmesh Sahani identifies as gay Indian, working closely with Godrej higher management and employees for years to create an inclusive workplace, both legally and in spirit. This book is a result of those years of experience, research, collaboration with individuals from difference spectrum of the society and organizations who has successfully transitioned into a queer friendly one.   Indian history is inclusive. From the Khajuraho temple architectures, to Konark to the Rig Veda, there is existing proofs even 2000 years ago of Indian inclusiveness of queer. It’s the draconian British law that criminalised it, which was scraped in 2009, came into effect once again following a sad judgement in 2013 and eventually was scraped off for good in 2018. I am in awe of the lawyers who fought this legal battle- colleagues and partners – Arundhati Katju

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