Brooke's Bookshelf

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower remains one of my most frequently quoted novels. Advising my life and my friends’, The Perks of Being a Wallflower features as one of the most relatable and relevant books I have ever encountered. For Literary Society, I created a presentation based on this book and the universal understanding of some of the conflicts the characters endure continues to serve as  one of the pivotal characteristics instilled by Stephen Chbosky. Last year, I reminded my friend almost daily that “We accept the love we think we deserve” and “can we make them know that they deserve more?” “We can try” (Chbosky). Throughout life, people seem to forget their own importance, but people deserve to seek happiness - even those who do not believe they earned it. “You can’t just sit there and put everybody’s lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love,” since I always put others before myself, and this statement serves as only one example of the quotes from this novel that I frequently try to remember in my daily life (Chbosky). Above my bed, on my wall, I have a collection of quotes, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower often serves as a positive reassurance in my life.

• In regards to why we read, The Perks of Being a Wallflower applies extremely personally to my life, but universally has this individual effect on so many people. Langston Hughes’ poem, “I,Too” similarly speaks of individual experiences that represent a larger community. The power writing has to articulate thoughts an individual may have never managed to clearly identify and describe, and the ability to highlight how others can relate to the experiences we have, makes books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower especially poignant.

The Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling

• Harry Potter may not classify as magical realism, the genre of books such as Beloved, but the realistic problems addressed in a magical community contributes to the series’ ability to shape children’s development. Focusing on a boy wizard, the series manages to cleverly introduce the problems of racism and classism, thereby shaping the way young children reading the novels view the world. As a child, these books tended to dictate what qualities should hold the most importance. When people viewed an avid reader and studious student as a model, it became increasingly important to remember that “There are more important things- friendship and bravery” (Rowling). With bushy hair and a love for reading, I related to Hermione Granger, who showed that choosing to spend time in the library or studying could prove more helpful than harmful. I never needed a large group of friends as long as I knew I had at least one person I could trust to always support me and care for me. Often finding reasons why people do not deserve my trust with great ease, I finally found people that continuously prove how much they care about me. Accustomed to individuals using me for homework help or questions related to school, Hermione’s ability to find such secure friendships gave me hope. Also, my favorite quote, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light,” continues to hang on my wall and serve as a powerful reminder that, in spite of how hopeless a situation can seem, I have the power to create a better environment or experience.

• The Harry Potter series confirmed my love for reading. With the ability to escape to Hogwarts and a world of magic concocted by J.K Rowling, I discovered one of the primary opportunities books can offer. Without the Harry Potter series, I think my life and personality may have developed differently. J.K Rowling may have crafted the series due to financial concerns for her family, but her works still resemble art- speaking to people across the world to change their views and opinions while offering entertainment. The way Rowling mingles enjoyment with the discussion of serious issues embodies a major reason people read.The reasons people write and read remain incredibly diverse, but the combinations of motivations allow for a wide impact and varied perspectives on specific subjects that, when evaluated, can contribute to strong, inclusive, arguments.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

• The honesty in this book experiences few rivals. Thirteen Reasons Why exposed, to me, the impact that words and actions can have, and while one person may think nothing of a situation- it could change someone else’s life. Even with the realization that anything could significantly impact other people, the exposure Jay Asher offers allows readers to truly recognize that words and actions could mean more than expected. This book altered how I viewed the world, and made me more aware of the minutiae that can impact people. Throughout my life, I have had an array of encounters with struggling individuals, and I have found it increasingly important to always try to understand other people as thoroughly as possible and consider all of the possible circumstances or outcomes they may face so that I can try to effectively assist them in handling the difficulties they endure.

• Thirteen Reasons Why seeks to reveal the harm people can cause, in the hope of making society more aware of the problems it perpetuates. Through utilizing literature to raise awareness, hopefully society can progress and minimize the negativity surrounding people on a daily basis. Through highlighting the detrimental and destructive actions that some people feel forced to succumb to, maybe others will learn to remain more cognizant of their interactions and treatment of people. Jay Asher vividly portrays subject matter that other authors or creators may tend to shy away from. With a bold approach to a serious topic, Jay Asher writes to try to instigate change and prompt positive growth.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

• John Green powerfully depicts teenagers struggling with life-changing and life-threatening illness in The Fault in Our Stars, and his portrayal of relatable characters that exist as people separate from their disease, emphasizes the importance of recognizing people for their complexity and refraining from judging people based on one detail. Hazel struggles with the pity and judgement passed upon her by the prominence of her oxygen tank, but the novel reveals the similarities “sick” individuals have to those considered of “normal” health. My grandfather died of lung cancer, and one of my friends from high school just finished treatment for osteosarcoma (the cancer that plagues Augustus in the novel), and The Fault in Our Stars reminds me of the power people retain to enjoy life in spite of the afflictions they face. Love and life can exist even in the face of death, and The Fault in Our Stars serves as a powerful testament for the capabilities of individuals to maintain control of some aspects of their lives even when certain components seem uncontrollable. The power of choice, deciding how to approach a situation, can make all of the difference in a person’s life. This idea has since come to govern my views in the world, and I have tried to become less afraid to take chances and try to have more diverse experiences.

• The theme of life and death in The Fault in Our Stars serves as reminiscent of the theme of life and death in “The Dead” by James Joyce. Augustus lives to seize every moment, recognizing that he may not have the opportunity to waste any time due to the threat that cancer poses to his life, while Hazel has a preoccupation with not seeming like a grenade to the people around her, so she tries to minimize the effect she has on others in hopes of having her death not cause as much pain. In Joyce’s “The Dead”, the lifeless house party critiques the living that do not seek to truly experience life.  The focus on the haunting nature of death in both stories attests to the prevalence of the theme, thereby suggesting the ability people from different backgrounds have to relate to the ideas.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

• Typically, I do not find myself seeking out memoirs nor trying to find graphic novels, but Persepolis introduced me to a new reading experience that I enjoyed. Satrapi’s memoir allowed for the examination of the experiences that shaped her development, while offering a unique perspective on Iranian politics and culture. Reading Persepolis enabled me to gain a better understanding of the people and history of Iran, which contributes to building my ability to consider policies and ideologies that impact that region with a more broad comprehension of the subjects and situations. Previously, I had a limited exposure to information regarding Iran, so the evaluation of the nation through the honesty of Marji offered me a seemingly authentic view of the state of affairs regarding Iran. Due to the introduction of this book through class, I have a new outlook on life in America compared to life in other nations. The strength and poise with which Satrapi explores her nation contributes to the image people in various may develop, but the desire to learn the truth reveals the impact art can have in portraying information.

• The opportunities for development, understanding, and growth presented by novels such as Persepolis contribute to the possibilities that readers have to foster comprehensive, diverse groups and conversations. This ability to become a more cultured, understanding person leads me to find the appeal of reading more historically- focused novels.

Reading changes lives- it shaped and changed mine. 

Ryan's Virtual Bookshelf

The Books That Built Ryan

1. Everyday by David Levithan

Everyday takes the number one spot on the list of books that shape who I am because of how much emotional connection I have with many of the book's concepts. I read this book within a year of coming out to my parents, and the normalization of queer love within this work helped me to embrace who I am and showed the importance of love triumphing any obstacle in its path. My favorite part about this work is how the main character has no given gender, as they are someone who wakes up in a different body everyday; they simply go by the name "A". Additionally, this work connects to a rare mental health condition I suffer from known as depersonalization, an anxiety illness where I feel as though the world around me and everything I'm seeing is not real and is not happening, as though I am stuck in a dream. Everyday is one of the few things that helps me through such an uncomfortable and frightening condition as it connects and deals with feelings unreality and the desensitization that you are not within your own body. Similar to how Satrapi writes The Complete Persepolis to present the reality of life in Iran, Levithan writes this work to contribute to portray the reality of LGBT people. At the end of the day, they too are humans and want what everyone else desires in life: Love, prosperity, and happiness.

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2.  Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

       

Their Eyes Were Watching God holds a lot of significance in the reader - and the person - I am today. Before I read this book I couldn't seem to grasp the fundamentals of how to analyze literature, with no motivation to do so consequently. However, this work provided an important breakthrough. It seemed like the words in every sentence were beautifully sewn together to create a piece that represents the meaning of love and the black community during the 20th century. Every sentence I read it seemed like she was directly speaking to me through indirect metaphors, themes, and motifs that softly caught my attention. Finally, I understood the transcendence behind literature and its analyzation, something I found myself to be quite good at. Alongside this was her effortless ability to create awe-inspiring passages that speaks to her talent for carefully cherry picking the precise words that flow. I now thought that literature and the ability for art to hold double meaning through its story and presentation was mind-altering and eye-opening. Additionally, the Harlem Renaissance is one of my favorite art movements. With the work of Langston Hughes and other black artists at the time, Hurston was part of a movement that defined what it meant to be proud of one's blackness. This idea speaks to my embrace of equality for all genders, ethnicities, races, and sexualities. Additionally, she is from my hometown in a borough of Melbourne Florida, and spoke at a predecessor high school that I went to in the 1950's, which I think to be really fascinating since she wrote one of my favorite works.

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3. On the Pulse of Morning by Maya Angelou 

On the Pulse of Morning as well as other poems by Maya Angelou is a significant piece which has come to shape my love and appreciation for poetry. The first time I came across this poem it was played over a commercial that coincided with the poem's theme of triumph in the face of defeat and disparity. By the end, and on Angelou's delivery of the last line, I had chills running down my spine. The voice she envelops this piece with through its recital brings such warmth, comfort, and reassurance. In many times I look to this poem to remind myself of those powerful, wonderful, beautiful words: "History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived. But if faced with courage, need not be lived again." I turn to this poem for a revival and renewal of my spirit, reminiscent of the pulse of a new morning. In many ways this poem has taught me to keep moving and persevere in the face of adversity. It especially helped me to coin my favorite types of poems, which are ones that have more of a literal and direct meaning toward life, that speak truths through beautiful language.

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4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower helped shape who I am today by teaching me to be comfortable with who I am, and helped me cope and learn how to realize that your perception of you is not reality. This work helped me come to peace with the idea that my inner demons, while a part of me, are something that everyone has and everyone can overcome. As a reader, it helped to shape the stories I like to read and the genre I prefer to go after, which is stories that involve realistic fiction and observe the lives of regular human beings and the struggles we all go through. I also have an emotional connection and have found solace in Charlie, the main character. My bright vibrant outside personality often conceals whatever emotions or struggles I go through, and the somber, oftentimes depressing mindset of Charlie offers a cathartic healing and safe place for those emotions

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5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby was another book that helped me in my ability to analyze literature, but more specifically shaped my appreciation for the art form of literature as it brought the 1920's to life. Through the entirety of my time reading, I have always had a hard time visualizing a story as it appears on words on a page, yet the vivid description offered by Fitzgerald helped me to better obtain a grasp on visualization. I distinctly remember how much depth he was able to give one of the main characters, Jordan Baker, with just a few sentences. This work also developed me as a reader as it shaped my love for works with very deep, complex, and vivid characters that contain such a personality despite the fact that they are fictional. It helps me to build an appreciation as to the talents of authors as this is not an easy thing to do. It also helped shape my love for many decades within the 20th century, as it created a passion for many works of art and styles of the time.