The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbowsky

What are the perks of being a wallflower? To be perfectly honest I'm not sure that there are any and I think that this is exactly the point that Chbosky's coming-of-age novel is trying to make. The story is about Charlie, a boy that is just starting high school. The narrative follows him through just one year at school and charts his journey through that trying time.

Charlie is a very sweet, naive and yet chillingly perceptive. His position as the 'wallflower' means that he is able to have great insights into the lives of his friends and family. However, the flip-side of this is that he spends so much time watching other people that he forgets to get involved. That is until he meets Patrick and Sam. These two are a lively step-brother and sister duo with an immense passion for Rocky Horror. 

I very much enjoyed the style that the books was written in. It is an epistolary novel which makes for a very intimate narrative as we are privy to all of Charlie's thoughts and feelings. One of the interesting things that I noticed was that Charlie never reveals who he is to the recipient of his letters. Why does Charlie want to remain anonymous? Surely the idea of a disclosure is that you tell all. Perhaps it is more effective to view Charlie's letters as a confession. In his letters he tells the reader everything he thinks that he shouldn't be thinking or feeling. He is very honest about his feelings for Mary Elizabeth and Sam and as a result we almost feel as though we are reading his diary.

This book concentrated quite heavily on forbidden relationships. Patrick and Brad, his sister and her boyfriend, Sam and Charlie, Mary-Elizabeth and Charlie, Aunt Helen and Charlie, Charlie and his English teacher Bill. This is significant because even though this is a YA novel it does not shy away from the harsh reality of abusive and inappropriate relationships. Charlie is surround by impropriety which adds to his sense of confusion and struggle to fit in. His relationship with Aunt Helen is harrowing in so many ways and the way in which it was revealed was absolute perfection.

In many ways this novel is very literary. The books that Charlie reads all have a big part to play in the narrative and his development as a character. Music is also very important to the book. Mix tapes are valuable currency in Charlie's world and much like the books he reads, music helps to shape who he becomes. Charlie's declaration that he feels 'infinite' is born out of hearing the perfect song at the perfect moment. That resonated quite strongly with me and suggests that there is something universal for Western teenagers in the experience of being a teenager.

This book was so much more than just another book about teenagers and really dug deep in an attempt to discover what that really means. At the end of the book I found myself wanting to be friends with Charlie so that I could see him grow and develop beyond the pages. I have since watched the film and loved it, though as always the book is better. Anyone who likes Sylvia Plath or Salinger will love this. I look forward to reading more from Stephen Chbowsky in the future and all that he has recommended.

Rating: ★★★★