I was at a pool party over the weekend with some girls from my book club. We had chosen this book to discuss at our next meeting, but we haven’t had a “formal” meeting in a while. So, we’re floating in my friend’s pool, soaking up some of the summer sun, when someone asked what everyone thought of the book. Already, the details of the book have begun to fade.

“I think Kathy is a wallflower,” one of the girls said.

“What???!?” I said, slightly insulted.

“No, that’s a good thing!” they assured me.

Maybe I missed the definition of a wallflower, but my thinking was always that it was someone you never notice because they fade into the wall. I don’t think that’s me at all.

But the girls seemed to think that a wallflower, as defined by this book, is more of an observer, who always knows what’s going on and is quiet, but when they speak, has insightful things to say. “Or hilarious,” added one of the girls at the party, referring to me.

The girl who called me a wallflower also has referred to me in the past as Rayanne from “My So-Called Life,” one of the best TV shows of the mid-90’s. Which I took as a compliment, although I’ve always seen myself as  Angela. Sometimes it takes your friends to put yourself in perspective.

Also, apparently I missed a HUGE plot revelation on this book – namely, that – SPOILER ALERT – Charlie was molested by his beloved Aunt Helen and repressed the memories until they were brought back when he was with Sam. This leads to a mental breakdown and some time in the psych ward. I remember him going there but the revelation about his aunt must have been so subtle – or I must have been skimming to get done with the book – that I completely missed it.

Anyway, I guess I’ll reflect on being called a wallflower and decide whether that is a good thing or a bad thing.