Fly On The Wall Conformism

Gregory Brumberg

Ms. DiNuccio

5/15/14

E Block English

Rumination

In the book, Fly on the Wall, Gretchen Yee is an ordinary girl at an extraordinary school, where in order to conform you need to be a nonconformist. Like most girls she knows, she struggles with adolescence sexuality and has a major crush on a boy she thinks is unattainable. The art school she goes to is full of individuals, all conniving to be on top. Gretchen is at the very bottom, a shy introvert who spends all her time drawing Spiderman.

In her sophomore year, when her parents get divorced, she is thrown into emotional turmoil. Unable to cope with the idea of a disloyal father, she lashes out against her best friend, Katya, who plays a significant role in helping Gretchen discovery her sexuality.

From the beginning it is obvious to Katya that Gretchen likes Titus, a fellow art student who’s also a sophomore. However it isn’t until later on in the book, that Gretchen admits to Katya that she likes Titus and in her confession wishes she could be a fly on the wall of the boys’ locker room, that way she can further understand boys and her feelings about their sexuality.

The following morning Gretchen wakes up as a fly on the wall of the boys’ locker room. At first nonplussed and regretful from what has occurred, she soon takes advantage of her quandary. She spends her time trapped as a fly observing the guys she was once too afraid to talk to and now classifying them by their body parts. She gains newfound confidence after noticing how boys can be just as insecure as girls.

Just like before, wishing to be a fly, Gretchen wishes to be human again. However this time she isn’t weak and shy, she is a confident like a superhero. With her sudden confidence, she confront...

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...his fundamental idea. It’s morbidly beautiful how a bloody mass of tissue and muscles is compared to love, and what love represents.

Sexuality, friendship, and the desire to fit in while remaining individual are prominent themes throughout the Fly on the wall. The myriad descriptions of butts and other sexual body parts left me both revolted and intrigued. It’s not every day that a writer chooses to risk the sanctity of their writing and credibility to entertain teenagers. However I found the effort well worth it. At first I was fooled by the girly cover and the simplicity of the text, thinking this book wasn’t for me, but after reading it a first time, I wanted to read it again and again. Even still, the book left be thinking and questioning, constantly challenging my perception of the world. Culminating to form a book that I loved and think everyone should read.