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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
Oh lord, this book is a deeply tragic story, and I feel so sorry for Charlie. It’s heartbreaking to witness his journey—from undergoing an operation to become a 'genius' and losing his warm, loving nature, to turning cynical and arrogant as he absorbs vast amounts of knowledge, even mastering multiple languages. And then, to slowly lose it all, regressing back to his former state—it’s devastating.
It’s sad because, at first, when Charlie wasn’t 'intelligent', he was bullied and picked on, but he was innocent and always trying his best. Yet, when he finally becomes smart, he finds himself isolated, with people growing fearful and not understanding his transformation. I felt both sadness and anger at how he was treated by those around him. In the end, no matter his level of intelligence, Charlie was always alone. It really makes you question whether he was better off without the operation. Sometimes, not knowing what you’ve lost is less painful than losing something once you’ve experienced it.
I know I’m late to reading this book, but I’d say it’s still a relevant and powerful read, a modern classic. It raises important ethical questions about human testing and the complexities of the human brain. Moreover, Charlie was often treated more like a test subject than a human being with dignity, which was devastating to witness. I think I’ll need some time to recover from this one—I’m still heartbroken for Charlie.
It’s sad because, at first, when Charlie wasn’t 'intelligent', he was bullied and picked on, but he was innocent and always trying his best. Yet, when he finally becomes smart, he finds himself isolated, with people growing fearful and not understanding his transformation. I felt both sadness and anger at how he was treated by those around him. In the end, no matter his level of intelligence, Charlie was always alone. It really makes you question whether he was better off without the operation. Sometimes, not knowing what you’ve lost is less painful than losing something once you’ve experienced it.
I know I’m late to reading this book, but I’d say it’s still a relevant and powerful read, a modern classic. It raises important ethical questions about human testing and the complexities of the human brain. Moreover, Charlie was often treated more like a test subject than a human being with dignity, which was devastating to witness. I think I’ll need some time to recover from this one—I’m still heartbroken for Charlie.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse
Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a must read for everyone.