This list of books mentioned in The Perks of Being a Wallflower helps you read like Charlie! I’ve listed all the books he read or referenced in the book below. You’ll also get a shareable graphic, as well as a free printable PDF checklist to download, so let’s get literary!
All the Books Mentioned in The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a famous book set in school. Charlie is naturally an advanced English student who loves literature and references books throughout the novel.
Get a full summary of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
These books symbolize escape from reality and emotional connection through storytelling, which are essential to Charlie’s survival. They are how he, as an introvert, seeks to understand himself and the world around him. They provide comfort and help him process his own experiences and relationships in this character-driven novel.
Below is the literature Charlie read throughout The Perks of Being a Wallflower, most of which he received from his English teacher. He considers these books his favorites:
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- A Separate Peace by John Knowles
- Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- 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
- A book of poems by E. E. Cummings
- The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts
- A book by Anne Rice
- An autobiography of a woman who was a character in Reds (likely Emma Goldman)
- “A Person /A Paper /A Promise Remembered” by Dr. Earl Reum (the suicide poem)
PRO TIP
- This would make a great reading challenge for super fans! I do think these books were referenced for a reason. For example, The Catcher in the Rye is a strikingly similar story, The Great Gatsby is narrated by an outsider/observer like Charlie, and Charlie also exhibits Peter Pan-like behavior.
Bonus: Shareable Graphic and Printable PDF
Share or save this graphic to easily reference this book list:
Or, download and print the list of books mentioned in The Perks of Being a Wallflower to track your reading of the books Charlie read:
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remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
