The Perks of Being a Wallflower: A Novel that Appropriately Expresses Anxiety

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Credit to Stepehn Chbosky and Koby Haldorson

Sky Cox, Staff Writer

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a novel written by Stephen Chbosky in 1999. While the book may be old, the feelings expressed are not outdated. Depression, anxiety, and loneliness are all things that the main character, Charlie, feels.

Oxford dictionary says that a wallflower is “a person who has no one to dance with or who feels shy, awkward, or excluded at a party.” Charlie is clearly a wallflower. His only friend died and he writes letters in order to cheer him up.

Anyone who feels like they don’t belong, like they don’t have friends, or like they don’t have any hope should give this oldie a try. The book makes you feel like you are the main character. It makes you feel like you are the one meeting these new people and feeling joy with them; it makes you feel like the siblings that Charlie just met are your friends.

This book gives you a chance to jump out of your problems and focus on someone else’s. You have a chance to relate to the main character and decide what you would do in his situation. 

Would you attend a party with people you just met? Would you fall in love with the first girl who talked with you? Would you be able to say goodbye to your new friends for good?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is not just a novel that tells you a story. It is a book that lets you escape from your life and relate to someone else’s. The novel shows you a lot about your character, and how you feel about those around you. 

Personally, this book gave me the strength to smile when I was in a really bad place. It helped me to see that everyone has problems, and it is okay. I would recommend this book to anyone who just wants a friend.