From the Page to the Screen and Back Again
I was a little late to the game on reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Friends of mine who aren’t big readers had already beaten me to the punch, but when I caught up…man, that book hit like a freight train. During the summer I attempted to pick up painting, the quote “Patrick actually used to be popular before Sam bought him some good music” swirled above some very rudimentary colors and smears, being the only thing decent on the canvas.
The author, Stephen Chbosky, had managed to write the quintessential teen novel, giving the Young Adult genre a champion. And in 2012, when I was graduating college, Chbosky gave my generation the film version of Perks. I would’ve seen the movie anyway, but adding in other actors I love, such as Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, and Ezra Miller, made it a staple in the DVD collection that has traveled with me across the country and back.
Chbosky went on to write and direct a few other films, but now, he’s given us (and yes, it’s a gift, friends) his second novel—20 years after Perks hit shelves. This one is a little different though. For fans of Stephen King, Joe Hill, horror, and adult fiction, Imaginary Friend is going to check off those boxes for you. If you are like me and loved all things Perks, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Chbosky’s command of your emotions and heartstrings still holds true.
If you need to dip your toe into his canon, come on down to the Loft to see Perks on-screen on Sep., 26, and then when (not if) you’re hooked, come on down to hear the writer, director on stage on Oct., 2.