The Perks of Being a Wallflower
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| The Perks of Being a Wallflower | |
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| Author | Stephen Chbosky |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Young adult novel/Epistolatory novel |
| Publisher | MTV Books/Pocket Books |
| Publication date | 1 February, 1999 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) and Audiobook |
| Pages | 256 pp (first edition paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-671-02734-4 (first edition paperback) |
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an epistolary novel written in the 1990s by American novelist Stephen Chbosky. It was published on February 1, 1999 by MTV. The story takes place over a series of letters to a friend written by the narrator, a teenager named Charlie.
The story explores topics such as introversion, teenage sexuality, abuse, and the awkward times of adolescence. The book also touches strongly on drug use and Charlie's experiences with this. As the story progresses, various works of literature and film are referenced and their meanings discussed.
The story takes place in a suburb of Pittsburgh during the 1991-1992 school year, when Charlie is a high school freshman. Charlie is the wallflower of the novel. He is an unconventional thinker, and as the story begins he is shy and unpopular.
Chbosky names J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye as an inspiration,[1] and he pays homage to Salinger's work by naming it as one of Charlie's mother's favorite books. As of December 2005, Chbosky has been working on a screenplay for the novel.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Charlie's lists
[edit] Books
In the novel Charlie's teacher, Bill, assigns him various books to read. Charlie describes them all as his favorites.
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- A Separate Peace by John Knowles
- The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
- On the Road by Jack Kerouac
- Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
- Walden by Henry David Thoreau
- Hamlet by William Shakespeare
- The Stranger by Albert Camus
- The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
The book also references The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts
[edit] Films
The novel references these films:
- Rocky Horror Picture Show
- The Graduate
- Harold and Maude
- My Life as a Dog
- Dead Poets Society
- The Unbelievable Truth
- A Perfect Paradise
- It's a Wonderful Life
- Reds
- The Producers
- Hannah and Her Sisters
- M*A*S*H
[edit] Songs
The novel references these songs:
- "Asleep" by The Smiths
- "Vapour Trail" by Ride
- "Scarborough Fair" by Simon and Garfunkel
- "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum
- "Time of No Reply" by Nick Drake
- "Dear Prudence" by The Beatles
- "Gypsy" by Suzanne Vega
- "Nights in White Satin" by The Moody Blues
- "Daydream" by The Smashing Pumpkins
- "Dusk" by Genesis
- "MLK" by U2
- "Blackbird" by The Beatles
- "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac
- "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana
- "Another Brick in the Wall Pt. II" by Pink Floyd
- "Something" by The Beatles
[edit] Challenges
The book has been challenged for its depiction of adolescent sexuality and drug use. Chbosky has pointed out the positive effects that the book has had on youth:[3]
| “ | A 14-year-old girl and a 17-year-boy wrote me and said they didn’t commit suicide because they read the book. | ” |
During an interview with Chbosky, author Marty Beckerman stated:[3]
| “ | Part of the reason why Perks connects with so many kids is because it's real. It’s comforting, because the situations described in the book are so universal and happen to so many teenagers, but it seems like the people who challenge the book don't want to admit these things happen. | ” |
[edit] References
- ^ Beisch, Ann. "Interview with Stephen Chbosky, author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower", LA Youth, November-December 2001. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ IGN: 10 Questions: Stephen Chbosky (December 1, 2005)
- ^ a b Word Riot
