Discussing The Perks of Being a Wallflower + Our October Pick [CC Book Club]

By Alex K.

When I announced that The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky would be our September Book Club pick, I was just a bit excited (couldn’t you tell?). I read this book for the first time in high school and it has resonated with me ever since. I was so excited to share it with the CC community and am now even more excited to hear your thoughts! *Just a warning: this post will contain SPOILERS*

Wallflower is the story of high school freshman Charlie, written entirely in letters Charlie is composing to an unnamed “friend”. Through these letters, we learn that Charlie is an extremely sensitive boy, dealing with all the things a normal adolescent does: sex, drugs, school, etc, in addition to a few more dramatic events. He often cries and feels totally misunderstood. He isn’t a loser, but he isn’t popular either; he’s a wallflower, falling somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, which results in him being completely overlooked.

As a character, I feel like Charlie represents that insecure person we all transform into sometimes. Whether it’s when we do poorly in school, get ignored by our parents or fight with a significant other, everyone has experienced the loneliness and isolation Charlie embodies. I feel like Wallflower has remained popular in the decade since it’s initial publication because everyone can relate to the story and to Charlie, to some degree. High school is tough and when you’re in it, it seems like it will never end. Charlie also lacks the familial support system he craves and expresses that the only relative he ever felt close to was his late Aunt Helen. But, also like Charlie, most of us end up finding a few people we can relate to. In his case, he finds comfort with Samantha and Patrick, a pair of seniors who quickly invite him into their fold. From there on, typical teenage antics ensue, but when Charlie’s realization about a haunting childhood memory comes to the surface, he almost breaks.

The appeal of Wallflower is that it is so easy to relate to. Every single person who survived high school knows (maybe all too well) what Charlie is experiencing and can empathize with his feelings of hopelessness. However, Charlie also possesses a level of depth that few teenagers are capable of, which keeps this novel “cool” amongst college-age guys and gals. The quotes from this book are some of my favorite in all of literature – seriously, who isn’t moved by the “And in that moment, I swear we were infinite” quote? There’s a reason it has inspired hoards of tattoos!

If you can’t tell, I love this book and it will always hold a place in my teenaged heart. But, I’m interested to hear your thoughts! Did The Perks of Being a Wallflower tug at your heartstrings or were you put off by Charlie and his “emo” tendencies?

And, I’d also like to announce our October Pick for the CC Book Club: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Get reading!