I was in the middle of reading another book but got bored and decided to change course. I have heard great things about “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (from  a friend who absolutely hate books like Fifty Shades of Grey= a friend, whose taste I trust), so I thought I’d better read it now before everyone I know sees the movie and ruin it for me.

First off, I thought nothing will ever come close to Catcher in the Rye in my heart, but I was wrong. After a few pages, I was in a time warp and I was back in 1996, and I was 15 again. That was  the year when I wore my contact lenses for the first time. I smoked for the first time. I got drunk for the first time. And it was Gilbey’s gin ( don’t judge).

And more importantly, I fell in love with The Smashing Pumpkins.

It was  a simpler time and I realized it was one of the best years of my life.

I was fighting the tears when I got to this page. When Charlie, Sam and Patrick went for a drive, and they heard  a good song on the radio…” Patrick held his hand outside the car and made air waves…After the song finished, I (Charlie) said something, “I feel infinite”…Five minutes of a lifetime were truly spent, and we felt young  in a good way.”

I know exactly what that felt like.

For the first time in a long time, I believe that I have truly given myself something very special. I treasured every single page because it felt like it was my story too.

The nostalgia of my younger years made me ache and happy at the same time, because I’ve always known the song that made me feel “infinite”. At 15 and until now.

It was/is 1979.

Incidentally, it is still the only song that I can play on the bass guitar.

It is the only song that I can play. Period.

If you don’t feel young and more alive after reading this book, you don’t have a soul.

Take me back. The Smashing Pumpkins – 1979 – YouTube.