The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

🌈✨ We accept the love we think we deserve✨🌈

Published in 1991, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky is one of my favourite novels of all time. Dealing with YA themes such as mental health, substance abuse, sexual abuse and sexuality, Chbosky writes a brilliant stream-of-consciousness style novel.

Written in the epistolary form i.e in the form of letters, the novel’s protagonist is narrating his experience after entering high school following his best friend’s suicide and trying to simply just “participate.” He becomes friends with Sam and Patrick (his seniors) and venture into the world of being a participator from a wallflower. The book is quite puzzling- it alludes to something that Charlie experienced as a child but it is only revealed in the end.

I love this book because of the way it deals with serious topics in a simple manner. Never have I seen a book with a queer character who is not highlighted just for his sexuality- Patrick is flamboyant and effeminate but his character is crafted in such a manner that his sexuality is naturally presented; no one questions him, asks him or forces their opinions of him. No one in the book “accepts” him because they think his sexuality is not necessarily something he needs to announce and have it validated.

Chbosky also beautifully depicts the differences between the acceptance of homosexuality in different generations- it is evident that Charlie used to kiss boys in his neighbourhood and his father was worried about it; his grandfather was against boys hugging as to say that hugging is not manly. In contrast, people from Charlie’s generation accepting homosexuality is an indication of the society’s response to queer people changing in the 1990s.

The way Chbosky handles mental health is brilliant- instead of blatantly telling the readers that Charlie’s mental health is deteriorating, he shows it by making Charlie just observe his surroundings and understanding only sadness.

Coming to my favourite character, Sam. Off the bat, Sam may seem like a manic pixie dream girl but she really isn’t. She has her own struggles which she is trying overcome and her toils aren’t swept under the carpet since she is a secondary character- her changes and her growth is portrayed as much the protagonists’.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough- it is truly a work of literature that divulges topics that are considered taboo. And I do believe the book asks the reader to love themselves and to accept themselves as the characters do. Neither of these characters is perfect but they accept themselves for their strengths and shortcomings. Although, I do advise people who are triggered by the above-mentioned topics to read it at their own will.

The movie with the same title, and directed by the author, is the best book to movie adaptation ever, in my opinion. The vision is brought to life- the soundtrack of the movie is my favourite- each and every song that plays in the background somehow elevates the story. If you feel like not reading the book, I recommend watching the film.