I have to admit that my first reading of this book was not very critical. Then again, I tend to dislike a book after a first read, unless of course it was an easy read. But alike many confusing books I've read, this one made such an impression in my mind that it didn't leave it until perhaps a week later after I've talked to my friend about the book.

Confusion struck me early from page 1 of this book. The simple syntax of a 15 y/o first year high school student who sees the world in such innocence was too ... simple. The repetition of lines, over-used sentences, and even the repetitive events and reactions of Charlie was frankly a bit irritating at first.

Halfway through the story, curiosity seeped in me, deeper that I couldn't put the book down. I know I've prepared myself for something quite deep and hard but the almost light manner of narration intrigued me. And the personal approach of the writer through Charlie's letter hooked me in more.

By the end of the book, I realized that I'm more confused as ever, but like I said above, the book had left such an impression on me. I just couldn't point it out by then. After sometime though, it sunk in me what impression was that. Charlie's innocence was very much present in everyone, including me in some way or another.

His innocence, the trauma that he had received when he's young, everything fell into place. Perhaps it was not the exact thing that happened to me, or to anyone, but someway or another, we've seen things new and just take it in. We've seen things and we learn. We experience things and we feel. Its simply not a journey of a kid through a new phase of life. Its a journey of everyone in a new phase, a new school, a new beginning. And there would always be a moment when you'd feel success and contentment.

"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." -Charlie in The Perks of Being a Wallflower.