I feel infinite

November 29, 2008

Dear friend,

I read a book on Friday called The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

It starts like this:

August 25, 1991
Dear friend,
I am writing to you because she said you listen and understand and didn’t try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have. Please don’t try to figure out who she is because then you might figure out who I am, and I really don’t want you to do that. I will call people by different names or generic names because I don’t want you to find me. I didn’t enclose a return address for the same reason. I mean nothing bad by this. Honest.
I just need to know that someone out there listens and understands and doesn’t try to sleep with people even if they could have. I need to know that these people exist.

My sister gave me it to read because she just finished it and said it was good. I had nothing else to do besides watch movies and eat leftovers so I read it. It took me about 6 hours and it made me think a lot. I'm writing this post like this becuase this is how the book is, so I figured I better write about the book, like how the book reads.

To get a feel for the book, here are a page of quotes I found.
One of my favorites is: we accept the love we think we deserve.

I guess the book was one of those books that just seemed to fit. It was actually kind of spooky. It probably fits with half of my generation because it is chalked full with movies, books, and music. Which made it easy to relate to.

But it was spooky to me becuase it talks about Teach For America. It describes Ayn Rand's life. Which I've looked up recently. It talks about The Fountainhead. I've been planning to read it over Christmas break. It talks in depth about Its a Wonderful Life. One of my favorite movies. There is a love for bacon. enough said. It talks about this leader of the Gay rights movement in San Fransisco. I had never heard of him before. One minute (not kidding) after I read about it in the book, a friend of mine who rarely calls, calls me to tell me she is going to see a documentary on this leader of gay rights in San Fran. Same guy. How weird is that?

I guess what I’m saying is that this all feels very familiar. But it’s not mine to be familiar about. I just know that another kid has felt this. This one time when it’s peaceful outside, and you’re seeing things move, and you don’t want to, and everyone is asleep. And all the books you’ve read have been read by other people. And all the songs you’ve loved have been heard by other people. And that girl that’s pretty to you is pretty to other people. And you know that if you looked at these facts when you were happy, you would feel great because you are describing “unity.”
It’s like when you are excited about a girl and you see a couple holding hands, and you feel so happy for them. And other times you see the same couple, and they make you so mad. And all you want is to always feel happy for them because you know that if you do, then it means that you’re happy, too.

I enjoyed the book. And Thanksgiving break. I love my family and I love being home. Three more weeks until Christmas. Wow!

Love always,
Katy