It’s been 20 years since Stephen Chbosky released his debut novel, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” to worldwide praise and adoration. He’s been busy since then — scripting the live-action …
released his debut novel, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” to worldwide praise and adoration. He’s been busy since then — scripting the live-action “Beauty and Beast,” directing the adaptation of another beloved book “Wonder,” and even adapting “Perks” into an equally acclaimed feature film. But he always intended to write another novel.
“My experience with adapting my own book and directing ‘Perks’ was so gratifying, I knew I had to do it again,” says Chbosky. “But that would necessitate another book. So I had to write it.” Chbosky is calling from Massachusetts, one stop on a busy tour that begin on Oct. 1, when his new novel “” was released. At first glance, fans might be caught off guard. Where “Perks” ran around 250 pages and was a grounded high school coming of age story, “Imaginary Friend” clocks in at over 700 pages and marks new territory for the writer: horror.
“Imaginary Friend” tells the story of 7-year-old Christopher who moves with his mother to a new town when she flees an abusive ex. After Christopher goes missing for six days, a series of strange occurrences take place, including a lottery windfall and Christopher’s sudden intelligence. To say any more would spoil the many surprises in a book filled with imagery and themes that run the gamut, from biblical references to fairy tales.
But even in the horror genre, there is the DNA of a Chbosky project: complexly drawn characters, deep friendships and the bonds between family. Having spent the last 10 years percolating the ideas in “Imaginary Friend,” the author knows horror works best when audiences are truly invested in the characters. Chbosky scares because he cares.I guess the fact that I’m doing a tour is the big change. When “Perks” was released, it was a midlist trade paper original.
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