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lindsayaunderwood's review against another edition
5.0
I finished this book in a day. It was fascinating and I had to see what happened. So many emotions experienced in the one day of reading this book.
danjewett's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
filzan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
it was quite a journey to read about charlie's progress and regress throughout the book. right off the bat, he was a likable character from the start. i found myself rooting for him from his first journal entry.
it got heartbreaking at some point to read his memory of the past (that he previously forgot) and how he was perceiving this memory. but it was not hard to then also empathize with the characters from his past because reading it from his point of view, we could see that charlie himself had empathized with them. even more when we got more to learn about those characters later in the book.
though what happened charlie was tragic, this book cast a hope in my heart, once again because of how charlie was ending his reports. he's such a lovable character.
i liked the writing style, including the uncertainty of some things in charlie's part. it made sense since this was written from his point of view, leaving enough room for me as a reader to also accept how blurry one's memories can be. i read this quite fast and was more invested compared to my other readings. maybe my background in psychology played in part here too, since the characters' experience felt closer to me and what i learned in school. might say this is one of my favorite books now!
it got heartbreaking at some point to read his memory of the past (that he previously forgot) and how he was perceiving this memory. but it was not hard to then also empathize with the characters from his past because reading it from his point of view, we could see that charlie himself had empathized with them. even more when we got more to learn about those characters later in the book.
though what happened charlie was tragic, this book cast a hope in my heart, once again because of how charlie was ending his reports. he's such a lovable character.
i liked the writing style, including the uncertainty of some things in charlie's part. it made sense since this was written from his point of view, leaving enough room for me as a reader to also accept how blurry one's memories can be. i read this quite fast and was more invested compared to my other readings. maybe my background in psychology played in part here too, since the characters' experience felt closer to me and what i learned in school. might say this is one of my favorite books now!
abigailcooper's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
it was long and got a bit slow at some points, but one thing i’m sure about is that this book hurts
neilmartin's review against another edition
5.0
Great read following Charlie Gordon's life and the challenges he faces being a handicapped man working in a bakery to being a multilingual polymath, surpassing his colleagues and academic tutors. The regression he was going through after Algernon died was heartbreaking. He was understanding and falling in love with his former teacher who also felt the same, but he didn't want to let anyone see him regress back into the Charlie Gordon they originally knew.
This book was a real roller coaster of events, emotion and opinions. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Merged review:
Great read following Charlie Gordon's life and the challenges he faces being a handicapped man working in a bakery to being a multilingual polymath, surpassing his colleagues and academic tutors. The regression he was going through after Algernon died was heartbreaking. He was understanding and falling in love with his former teacher who also felt the same, but he didn't want to let anyone see him regress back into the Charlie Gordon they originally knew.
This book was a real roller coaster of events, emotion and opinions. I'd recommend it to anyone.
This book was a real roller coaster of events, emotion and opinions. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Merged review:
Great read following Charlie Gordon's life and the challenges he faces being a handicapped man working in a bakery to being a multilingual polymath, surpassing his colleagues and academic tutors. The regression he was going through after Algernon died was heartbreaking. He was understanding and falling in love with his former teacher who also felt the same, but he didn't want to let anyone see him regress back into the Charlie Gordon they originally knew.
This book was a real roller coaster of events, emotion and opinions. I'd recommend it to anyone.
rushreads22's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
blairfrank's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those books that I had heard much about, but kept passing it by on the library shelf for something newer, shinier. The writing was challenging, but in order to fully understand Charlie Gordon's existence I willingly accepted.
jessshire_cat's review against another edition
2.0
Two stars because I was hit with a wave of emotion at the end, so must have been emotionally affected in some way.
Other than that though, I didn't like this book. I didn't enjoy reading it and spent the whole time wishing it was over. A 200-page read felt like a 2000-page read.
It's always a bit tricky rating books that were written in a period of time when women didn't exist. Like maybe I should have more grace because the author is writing the book the way he viewed women? Or the way the main character would view women in that time period?
In case it's not obvious yet, I did not like the way women were portrayed in this book.
Woman 1: angel, love of his life, teacher, gentle, kind, acts of service, cries a lot, devotional (anyone else find it kind of creepy that she was in love with her student?)
Woman 2: free spirited who walks around in her underwear, keeps her door unlocked and loves sex
Woman 3: Norma Bates
One dimensional, "women are nurturers" pov.
The atmosphere and writing in this book felt airless. I didn't connect with the characters and also took issue with the way the scientists were represented. I feel like if scientists had really learnt how to make people more intelligent (even though it's not permanent), some sort of celebration would occur. I didn't see a lot of celebrating: more focus on how the result wasn't perfect.
Other than that though, I didn't like this book. I didn't enjoy reading it and spent the whole time wishing it was over. A 200-page read felt like a 2000-page read.
It's always a bit tricky rating books that were written in a period of time when women didn't exist. Like maybe I should have more grace because the author is writing the book the way he viewed women? Or the way the main character would view women in that time period?
In case it's not obvious yet, I did not like the way women were portrayed in this book.
Woman 1: angel, love of his life, teacher, gentle, kind, acts of service, cries a lot, devotional (anyone else find it kind of creepy that she was in love with her student?)
Woman 2: free spirited who walks around in her underwear, keeps her door unlocked and loves sex
Woman 3: Norma Bates
One dimensional, "women are nurturers" pov.
The atmosphere and writing in this book felt airless. I didn't connect with the characters and also took issue with the way the scientists were represented. I feel like if scientists had really learnt how to make people more intelligent (even though it's not permanent), some sort of celebration would occur. I didn't see a lot of celebrating: more focus on how the result wasn't perfect.
michellechien930's review against another edition
5.0
It’s difficult to articulate what I feel about Flowers for Algernon, especially since it touches upon so many personal, intricate matters- but that is what ultimately makes it such an important read. I really loved it, the discourse on intelligence/ignorance, knowledge is a gift/curse is really thought-provoking. There are a lot of social stigmas on mentally disabled people, and Flowers for Algernon explores that in a heartbreaking way. Didn’t expect to cry but really couldn’t help myself at the end ;__;