The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Fiction Spot

A snapshot review of a book related to the Non-fiction Feature

Also in Bulletin #57:
The Non-fiction Feature: The Teenage Brain by Frances Jensen and Amy Ellis Nutt
The Product Spot: Metro parks

The Pithy Take

One of the classic coming-of-age stories, Perks of Being a Wallflower, is narrated from introvert Charlie’s perspective in the form of letters to an anonymous friend, and begins when he starts high school.

He is recovering from the sudden death of his beloved Aunt Helen, and the sudden suicide of his only friend, Michael. The letters track the ebb and flow of his relationships with other students at the school and his farmily, particularly his sister. There’s truth-or-dare, dates, PTSD, anxiety, drugs, alcohol, and assault, as well as mentorship, a first kiss, and genuine friendship. You may not agree with everything Charlies does, but you will feel for him every step of the way.

“I feel infinite.” And Sam and Patrick looked at me like I said the greatest thing they ever heard.

Because the song was that great and because we all really paid attention to it. Five minutes of a lifetime were truly spent, and we felt young in a good way.

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.