Quote 41
I think it would be great to have written one of those songs. (2.7.9)
Charlie spends a lot of time thinking about how awesome it would be to do stuff—write a song, a novel, a poem—but no time actually attempting to do it. Or does he? He is writing these letters after all…
Quote 42
I'd do anything to […] not have to see a psychiatrist, who explains to me about being "passive aggressive." (3.12.13)
Hmmm. It might do Charlie some good to pay attention to this part of his therapy. What do you think? Is Charlie passive aggressive? Or just plain passive?
Quote 43
[Sam] really did look sad, and I wished I could have made her feel better, but sometimes, I guess you just can't. So, I stood alone by the wall and watched the dance for a while. (3.7.17)
That's the spirit, Charlie! NOT. Charlie can't even muster up enough action to help his friend feel better. It's one thing when your passivity only affects you, but Charlie's inaction is starting to affect everyone around him.
Quote 44
I just kind of listen and nod because Patrick needs to talk. (4.4.2)
Charlie makes for a pretty passive friend. But maybe Patrick really does just need a shoulder to lean on and a person to talk to. What do you think?
Quote 45
And I just let [Patrick kiss me]. Because that's what friends are for. (4.4.79)
Oh, that's what friends are for? We missed that boat. What we think Charlie is saying is that friends should just do whatever their friends want them to. Hmmm, we're not so sure.
Quote 46
It's just hard to see a friend hurt this much. Especially when you can't do anything except "be there." I want to make him stop hurting, but I can't. (4.5.3)
Why doesn't Charlie try to say or do something to help Patrick out? And who told him that all he could do was "be there"? Where is he getting all these ideas?
Quote 47
It was a great way to sit alone at a party and still feel a part of things. (4.9.9)
Charlie has found a way to turn his passivity into a strength—DJ Charlie, comin' at ya.
Quote 48
I just remember wanting to hug [Bill]. But I've never done that before, and I guess Patrick and girls and family don't count. (4.12.56)
We doubt Bill would have objected to a hug, but Charlie doesn't try—simply because he's never hugged another non-family adult before.
Quote 49
"You can't just sit there and put everybody's lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love." (4.14.27)
We couldn't have said it better ourselves, Sam. Still, we're not sure if this will sink in with Charlie any time soon. And while we're at it, do you think Sam is being a bit harsh here? Will Charlie learn anything from this gem?
Quote 50
Love always, Charlie (end of every chapter)
Charlie signs every letter not just love, but love always. Remember, he has never even met the addressee in person. What's up with that?
Quote 51
I love Sam. It's not a movie kind of love either. I just look at her sometimes, and I think she is the prettiest and nicest person in the world. (2.2.9)
Let's count, shall we? Charlie met Sam on October 6. It's now November 8. He's known her a little over a month. He's moving a little fast, but hey—he's fifteen. Love can seem more powerful at that age.
Quote 52
I am really in love with Sam, and it hurts very much. (2.2.19)
Big-hair band Nazareth sang "Love Hurts". Maybe Charlie should include that on one of his mix tapes. Are there any kinds of love in this novel that don't hurt?
Quote 53
I love Twinkies, and the reason I am saying that is because we are all supposed to think of reasons to live. (2.3.2)
Why is Charlie so detached from emotional human relationships? Why do Twinkies pop into his mind when he needs to think of a reason to live? Is he deluding himself, or is this really how he feels?
Quote 54
I decided then that when I met someone I thought was as beautiful as the song ["Something" by the Beatles], I should give it to that person. (2.10.22)
Love and music are pretty intertwined in Perks. What is it about Charlie that makes this connection so strong?
Quote 55
I moved to the typewriter again, and I wrote something. "I love you, too." (2.10.29)
For someone as passive as Charlie, it's kind of surprising that he's so quick to declare his love. What is it about love that makes Charlie come out of his shell?
Quote 56
Aunt Helen was the only one who hugged me. (2.13.15)
Charlie's family doesn't exactly show their love physically, aside from Aunt Helen. When we find out that Aunt Helen molested Charlie, our understanding of his attitude toward physical affection becomes even more complicated.
Quote 57
I know my aunt Helen would still be alive today if she just bought me one present like everybody else. (2.13.20)
Love can all too often lead to guilt. In this case, Charlie thinks that if his aunt Helen loved him less, she would still be alive.
Quote 58
Love pats are soft punches of encouragement that are administered on the knee, shoulder, and arm. (3.1.12)
This is Charlie's quite clinical definition of one of the very few ways his dad shows physical affection.
Quote 59
A lot of kids at school hate their parents. Some of them got hit. And some of them got caught in the middle of wrong lives. (1.6.48)
Charlie is still thinking about his dad's "There are other people who have it a lot worse" (1.1.22) philosophy. For all of Charlie's griping, at least he can keep things in perspective.
Quote 60
Sam then gave me a hug, and it was strange because my family doesn't hug a lot except my Aunt Helen. (1.8.10)
Charlie talks about his Aunt Helen a lot in Perks. Once we find out that she molested him, all of these smaller comments start to make a lot more sense.