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challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's important, but I'm not literary enough to read into the imagery of the important bits. It's objectively a great book, but I'm rating for my own personal enjoyment. I caught glimmers, so that's something.
If the CCs weren't so severe I would probably read this again in a few years. It's hard to read, and a lot of it seems unnecessary. I don't remember reading it from before, so either the short story is much tamer, or I read a censored version for school. Maybe I'll read the short story next time. I didn't know until I started that out came first, and was expanded to make a novel, and that's usually bad news.
If the CCs weren't so severe I would probably read this again in a few years. It's hard to read, and a lot of it seems unnecessary. I don't remember reading it from before, so either the short story is much tamer, or I read a censored version for school. Maybe I'll read the short story next time. I didn't know until I started that out came first, and was expanded to make a novel, and that's usually bad news.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Excrement
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A very emotionally devastating book. I think it works really well as a short science fiction story. It was written in the 60s and it shows (interesting gender depictions shall we say), but I think the core of the story and its themes are really strong. It's about what makes human life valuable and how as a society we marginalise and mock people for non comfority or perceived deficiency. I also liked how it dealt with authoritarianism and the power dynamic between Charlie and the psychologists. It's by no means a perfect book but I think it was well worth reading and great for prompting discussion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm still thinking about this book after finishing it hours ago and god man. This is such a good book, it accurately depicts how evil people can be towards people with mental disabilities/neurodivergencies, and how these people will hate if they come off smarter than they expect because they can't control them anymore. The way people treated Charlie was exactly how I've been treated throughout my life as a neurodivergent person. It's also the same behavior I have seen towards mentally disabled students at my schools. You can just tell that Daniel Keyes has had experience teaching students of different backgrounds, because everything feels scarily accurate. Even though media has had issues with its portrayals, especially during the 1960s, I'm glad that Charlie was taken seriously and his struggles weren't depicted in a comedic manner.
It also has an interesting take on how 'knowing too much' can destroy you, especially since the main character turns into an asshole later on with his newfound intelligence. Most people would think 'oh being smart is a good thing!'... Not in this story. Instead, what is positive in this story is to show a kind heart towards others.
May all the flowers of the world be put on Algernon's grave.
It also has an interesting take on how 'knowing too much' can destroy you, especially since the main character turns into an asshole later on with his newfound intelligence. Most people would think 'oh being smart is a good thing!'... Not in this story. Instead, what is positive in this story is to show a kind heart towards others.
May all the flowers of the world be put on Algernon's grave.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Dementia
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Flowers for Algernon is an incredible book!
It made me feel grateful that I get to read and understand books to the extent that I can.
This book is very reflective of how we treat people with disabilities in our society and touched on philosophical questions such as “What is a good life?” or “Is it possible to attribute more meaning to one way of life over another?”
I found it quite fascinating to be reminded that, even though this was written in the mid 20th century, some fundamental questions about humanity and existence in general have always been around and will never be answered - and that our ancestors have thought about the same questions when lying awake at night.
As a girl in STEM, I especially liked the scientific aspect of the book. I liked how, if indirectly, the question of ethics in scientific projects was woven into the story.
Charlie was a great protagonist and it was hard to read about him uncovering the way he’d been mistreated and abused by people he had considered friends and family.
All in all, this is a perfectly paced book touching on subjects such as science, philosophy, disability, trauma, abuse, sexuality and the endless search for who we are and what life is all about.
It made me feel grateful that I get to read and understand books to the extent that I can.
This book is very reflective of how we treat people with disabilities in our society and touched on philosophical questions such as “What is a good life?” or “Is it possible to attribute more meaning to one way of life over another?”
I found it quite fascinating to be reminded that, even though this was written in the mid 20th century, some fundamental questions about humanity and existence in general have always been around and will never be answered - and that our ancestors have thought about the same questions when lying awake at night.
As a girl in STEM, I especially liked the scientific aspect of the book. I liked how, if indirectly, the question of ethics in scientific projects was woven into the story.
Charlie was a great protagonist and it was hard to read about him uncovering the way he’d been mistreated and abused by people he had considered friends and family.
All in all, this is a perfectly paced book touching on subjects such as science, philosophy, disability, trauma, abuse, sexuality and the endless search for who we are and what life is all about.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Excrement, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Dementia
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Physical abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Medical content, Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Racism, Excrement, Classism
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
Fantastic read, but boy did this book break my heart! Looking back at Charlie's childhood made me sobbed, and just seeing how he changes throughout the story kept me hooked. Really made me think about how people like Charlie were treated in the 20th century and before. Truly this story will stick with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Cursing
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not up to speed with the current-day terms on what in this 1966 novel uses, so I'll attempt to avoid using either the ones in the book nor the ones I think we ought to use.
When I started with the book I had no idea what to expect, and it took me a moment to get used to Charlie's writing style. Following his journey and the changes in both his capabilities and traits was pretty interesting. In some ways he changed a lot and fast, and in some ways he had to learn - or should have learned - to behave accordingly, at a more or less equal pace but failed.
Charlie's story was quite sad, especially the very end, but in a way I guess I should call it bittersweet as I had expected much worse as the events unfolded. Your kilometerage may vary.
When I started with the book I had no idea what to expect, and it took me a moment to get used to Charlie's writing style. Following his journey and the changes in both his capabilities and traits was pretty interesting. In some ways he changed a lot and fast, and in some ways he had to learn - or should have learned - to behave accordingly, at a more or less equal pace but failed.
Charlie's story was quite sad, especially the very end, but in a way I guess I should call it bittersweet as I had expected much worse as the events unfolded. Your kilometerage may vary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexism, Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Dementia, Pregnancy, Alcohol