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I swear I fell asleep every time I picked up the book to read my assigned chapters. I hope it will work years later, too.
No real point in reading it, unless you need to for a grade. Really detested this book.
This was required reading for me in high school English class. As an adult I saw this horrible book at a library book sale and spent a quarter on it just for nights I suffered with insomnia.
Then, I guess, I wish you luck and lots of caffeine. I had never in my life fallen asleep while reading before.
I am really not kidding.
Both are excellent books and both focus on different sides of the spectrum on similar ideas. My brain simply couldn't let the story down. After experiments are conducted on mice, one named Algernon, that seem to raise the intelligence of the creatures. Only, Algernon, slightly ahead on the experimental curve than Charlie, begins to decline. Keyes creates a unique situation with Charlie and explains Charlie's story through diary-like "progress reports" that let the reader understand more about Charlie than Charlie understands about himself--regardless of Charlie's fluctuating intellect. I do, however, love that this version features Algernon. After reading Elizabeth Moon's THE SPEED OF DARK, I had many people recommending FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON as a response. Charlie, who only vaguely understands what's going on, consents.This is where Keyes' story truly becomes interesting.
In fact, Charlie must not only suffer coming to understand those people he thought he knew his entire life, but also becoming so intelligent that he cannot relate with anyone. Charlie Gordon has always been on the very low side of the IQ spectrum. I think reading both provides a unique view into both novels, actually. Charlie's intellect begins rising exponentially. The procedure works--both Algernon and Charlie become smarter and smarter rapidly. A surgery that just might make him smarter--normal. Whereas Moon focuses on the experiences, feelings, and humanity of her autistic protagonist, Keyes focuses more on external and internal recognition and action. Now in his 30s, he works in a bakery, doing small errands for the benevolent owner, and goes to school to learn how to read and write.
The situation creates a unique opportunity for the reader to see more clearly the interesting situations that arise from Charlie's reactions to others and how others treat him.Although I missed the incredibly endearing humanity given to Moon's protagonist, I was enthralled by FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON. More than the story, it's how Keyes tells the story that makes Charlie's situation so important.This one is a book everyone should read. This isolation is not unlike the isolation he experienced with his beginning IQ, only he is more lonely because his good nature has been torn from him because he now can see the truth about others. Where there was once a well-meaning, but mentally handicapped young man there is soon an emotionally confused and increasingly bitter intelligent man. However, unlike Moon's character again, Charlie is forever trying to become smarter and more 'normal'.
Really, this one is a future classic, so it doesn't matter what's on the cover. Even know I'm fairly incoherent about all the things that make this book so moving and great. However, not only is this one a 'classic', but it's entertainment value is amazing as well. Even when I wasn't reading the book, I was rolling scenes and thoughts around my head. When human trials are ready to be conducted, Charlie is the candidate.
I also loved the contrast of the perceived relationship Charlie had with Algernon.In many ways, this story is intriguing. He attends classes to learn how to read and write, which in turn gets him a position as a test subject for a promising experimental surgery. Now that I've read the book, I can see why the recommendation was made. Keyes' character, Charlie, begins his arc as a man with an IQ so low that he often doesn't understand what goes on around him, but a man who assumes the best of others with an innocent air.
There are quite a few good underlying messages in the book about scientific morality and the social conventions of the time. Even before he discovers how his friends truly see him, I was mortified by the situation and I felt so sad for him. Before the experiment poor simple Charlie was a doormat and object of ridicule for his friends, but he didn't know.
I think that this book is a must-read and I thoroughly enjoyed this work.This book is a wonderful mix of poetry, misery, and joy. The only other book that impacted me as powerfully as Flowers for Algernon was Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. I read this book while on vacation several years ago, and just recently re-read it.
I'm not an emotional person but both these books had me on the edge of tears.My favorite part about this book is not so much Charlie himself, but rather the reaction other characters have toward him. I feel that this book definitely earned all the rewards it won and I applaud Daniel Keyes for his literary prowess. I loved the way Keyes portrayed the story through the journal entries Charlie makes while undergoing this amazing scientific experiment.
The imagery in this novel is so powerful that I will probably always remember most of the scenes in this book.The story is quite the emotional roller coaster.
From an IQ of 68 to that of 185. In his narration, through different levels of language expressions as his intelligence increased, Charlie spoke of his anticipation of becoming smart, his encounters with various people at different points of his transformation, his emotions, and his learning and realization of harsh reality.With the fact that Charlie Gordon being the central character throughout the book, Daniel Keyes has masterfully captured raw emotions in his prose, locking me into a empathic relationship with the character. When I first heard of this particular title, I was surprised at the fact it's a classic I have never heard of before. His narration was presented in the form of progress reports during his progression before and after the surgery. Keyes ensured the language expression at different points of Charlie's transformation was appropriate without dumbing down for the sake of the simplicity of the writing, I was able to breezily read through the book.Truly a riveting, and eventually a heartbreaking, read. As you probably already have guessed, I never was required to read this book in high school. After reading it, I am now of the opinion that this classic is one you must never miss.The story is about a 33-year-old man, Charlie Gordon, narrating his experiences of being transformed -- through a special surgery -- from mental retardation to a genius.
Became very attached to the characters and how society treated him. Students really enjoyed reading this book.
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