Book Discussion: Perks of being a wallflower

Stephen Chbosky, an American author, originally released his coming-of-age epistolary novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower on February 1, 1999, through Pocket Books. The story, which takes place in the early 1990s, follows Charlie, a shy and perceptive young boy, through his first year of high school in a Pittsburgh suburb. As he transitions between the realms of youth and maturity and tries to answer profound problems raised by his relationships with both his friends and family, the narrative describes Charlie's unusual way of thinking. The Perks of Being a Wallflower was written and published by Chbosky in five years. He drew inspiration for the characters and other elements of the narrative from his own memories.

The book makes numerous allusions to other literary works, motion pictures, and popular culture in general while addressing issues that are prevalent in youth, such as sexuality, drug use, rape, and mental health. Its themes led to its content being prohibited in several American schools. A movie adaptation starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller was adapted and directed by Stephen Chbosky in 2012. The novel's sales were bolstered by the movie, and it eventually made it to The New York Times Best Seller list.

About the book

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is narrated by Charlie, a fifteen-year-old who has just started his freshman year of high school. The aforementioned "wallflower" is Charlie. Although he is reserved and quiet, he is nevertheless well aware of everything going on around him and constantly pays close attention, even if he merely observes in silence. The entire book is written by Charlie as a series of letters to a fictional "friend." The "friend" never writes back, and the reader is never told who this "friend" is. Dear friend is the salutation used at the start and finish of each letter. The work reads like a collection of diary entries because the letters' recipients never respond. Charlie is dealing with two extremely terrible deaths of loved ones when the book begins. The most recent passing happened in the spring of last year when his lone middle school classmate committed suicide. When Charlie was seven years old, his cherished Aunt Helen passed away in an automobile accident on Charlie's birthday, which falls on Christmas Eve. While Charlie is anxious to start high school, he quickly receives approval from two key sources. First, Charlie's English instructor, Bill Anderson, notices his literary aptitude and takes him under his wing, giving him extra reading assignments and essay writing assignments throughout the year. Charlie also starts to take part in activities more and makes friends with Patrick and Sam, who accepts him into their social circle. Sam becomes the object of Charlie's intense crush, which he confesses to her, but she shows him affection. The quarterback of the football team, Brad, and Patrick, who is gay, are secretly dating. Sam gives Charlie a kiss so that he might have his first kiss from a loving person. Charlie starts to break out of his shell a little bit as the school year goes on, but his life, his family's life, and the lives of his friends get progressively more problematic.

For Charlie's family, the holidays are never easy because they trigger memories of Aunt Helen's passing. This year is no different. Charlie struggles to deal with his despair and flashbacks of his time with Aunt Helen, while finding some comfort in reading and rereading The Catcher in the Rye. Charlie does, however, become more at peace with himself as a result of his friends' acceptance of him. Charlie's bond with his sister grows stronger as he gets older. Charlie's sister is dating an abusive man. Bill learns about the boyfriend from Charlie, and after telling their parents, Bill confronts Charlie in front of his sister. However, Charlie's sister confides in Charlie to drive her to the clinic when she decides to have an abortion after finding out she is pregnant. A smart, attractive senior in their friend group named Mary Elizabeth begins dating Charlie after Charlie portrays Rocky in one of their group's regular viewings of the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. But compared to being in a relationship, Mary Elizabeth is far more interested in Mary Elizabeth. Charlie is challenged to kiss Sam, the most attractive female in the room, during a game of Truth or Dare. In a passion, Mary Elizabeth storms out of the room. Mary Elizabeth is supported by the group as a whole, and Patrick urges Charlie to avoid everyone for a while until things calm down. When Patrick and Brad's connection is revealed to Brad's abusive father, Brad is taken to treatment. Brad leaves and won't speak to Patrick when he comes back. After Patrick confronts Brad in the cafeteria and Brad makes a crude remark about Patrick's homosexuality, Patrick is assaulted by Brad's football friends. In a flash, Charlie intervenes to break up the altercation. Sam and his friends return their respect to him after hearing his defence of Patrick.

Patrick relies on Charlie for emotional support as he struggles with severe depression. When Patrick kisses Charlie while intoxicated, he apologises and Charlie realises that Patrick is lonely and doesn't know how to deal with it. Patrick eventually sees Brad kissing a strange man in the park, which aids Patrick in gathering himself and continuing. Charlie experiences increasing anxiety as the school year comes to a conclusion since he knows that all of his senior classmates will be leaving soon. Sam and Charlie start making out and having sex as they pack to leave for Sam's summer pre-college program, but Charlie suddenly feels very uncomfortable.

The sexual contact dredges up a repressed memory of his Aunt Helen assaulting him as a child. In the epilogue, Charlie writes a final letter to his "friend" that is postmarked two months later, informing him that his parents discovered him on the couch, naked and in a catatonic state. Charlie ultimately learns that Aunt Helen had sexually assaulted him but that he had suppressed these memories after being taken to a mental facility. As the book comes to a close, Charlie writes that he intends to quit writing letters and to start engaging completely in his life after forgiving the memory of his Aunt Helen.