the perks / by jen geigley

I decided to jump in and read the Free People book club selection this month, because even though Perks is considered by many to be a total emo-product-of-Nirvana-generation-MTV book, I knew I still might like to re-read it now. That I'm 32. (It all seems timely especially because two days ago marked 16 years since Kurt Cobain was found dead. I was about the same age as the characters in this book in the early 90s and I am enjoying this read-through. I really like Charlie.)
Here are some things I've collected while I've been reading.
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“If you listen to the song “Asleep,” and you think about those pretty weather days that make you remember things, and you think about the prettiest eyes you’ve known, and you cry, and the person holds you back, then I think you will see the photograph.”
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“The first present is going to be a mix tape. The first side has Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana, which Sam and Patrick love.”

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“And I typed something back to her, standing right there in her bedroom. I just typed, 'I will.'”
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“Patrick actually used to be popular before Sam bought him some good music.”
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“I wanted to laugh. Or maybe get mad. Or maybe shrug at how strange everyone was, especially me.”
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“The family was sitting around, watching the final episode of M*A*S*H., and I'll never forget it even though I was very young. My mom was crying. My sister was crying. My brother was using every ounce of strength he had not to cry. And my dad left during one of the final moments to make a sandwich.”
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“Then, I turned around and walked to my room and closed my door and put my head under my pillow and let the quiet put things where they are supposed to be.”
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“I have since bought the record, and I would tell you what it was, but truthfully, it's not the same unless you're driving to your first real party, and you're sitting in the middle seat of a pickup with two nice people when it starts to rain.”
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“I even made her a mix tape and left it at the grave. I hope you do not think that makes me weird.”
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“You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.”
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“I really think that everyone should have watercolors, magnetic poetry, and a harmonica.”
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“It was especially fun to think that people all over the world were having similar conversations in their equivalent of the Big Boy."
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“I did start working for a fanzine called Punk Rocky. It's this xerox magazine about punk rock and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I don't write for it, but I help out.”
“Love Always,
Charlie”