Outside A Dog

I just set up an online savings account with ING because this weekend, I finished my first book of the year. Admittedly, it’s one that I’ve already read, but the first [and only, until now] time I read Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower was shortly after it came out — when I was in high school. I loved it, which is why I bought a copy of my own. It’s been sitting around for a while now, and I figured it would be a nice start to the year.

I was a little worried that on this second read through, Perks wouldn’t be as great as I remembered. And it wasn’t: it was better. Even though Charlie [the protagonist] and I are no longer the same age, I still found myself connecting with him. His issues and his relationships — those with his family, his friends, and his unrequited love — are still ones with which I struggle. You know, minus the complications due to drug use. If anything, this book affected me more this time around because there’s more than I relate to. Also, since the story is set in my hometown, I was able to pick up on more of the local references, which is a nice bonus. That park that Patrick and Charlie end up in on several occasions? I totally know which one that is.

So, first book down, and first five dollars set aside.