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dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
OUCH. This is my second time reading it in full and it still punched me in the gut. I knew what was going to happen but it was still so impactful and emotional
Being from the 1950's some of the language is outdated
Being from the 1950's some of the language is outdated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Medical content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Dysphoria
Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexual content
Minor: Animal cruelty
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As Charlie became smarter I knew it would be hard to follow what was to come.
I’m not even sure I’m intelectual enough to understand everything the author meant with the story, but one thing I did learn, whether on the bottom or the up of intelligence (IQ) as you get farther away from the norm the more isolating it is.
With intellect you question everything, your emotions grow, but you also start to feel contempt for those with less smarts than you.
This is a very humane story, a sad story, a story about intelligence and how it affects the way you see yourself, others and the world around, and also how you form bonds of love.
I saw the twist at once, as it was the worse and more realistic outcome.
I liked it, at times a lot, especially the first half but as Charlie’s smarts grew it became harder and less interesting, at the end it was hard and sad, but still beautiful somehow.
Definitely an interesting story with a great insight into human nature and how it relates to our intellect.
I’m not even sure I’m intelectual enough to understand everything the author meant with the story, but one thing I did learn, whether on the bottom or the up of intelligence (IQ) as you get farther away from the norm the more isolating it is.
With intellect you question everything, your emotions grow, but you also start to feel contempt for those with less smarts than you.
This is a very humane story, a sad story, a story about intelligence and how it affects the way you see yourself, others and the world around, and also how you form bonds of love.
I saw the twist at once, as it was the worse and more realistic outcome.
I liked it, at times a lot, especially the first half but as Charlie’s smarts grew it became harder and less interesting, at the end it was hard and sad, but still beautiful somehow.
Definitely an interesting story with a great insight into human nature and how it relates to our intellect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Classism
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Dementia, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Classism
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Animal death, Physical abuse
Minor content warning for offensive outdated language around disability due to publication date.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Flowers for Algernon is one of the best books I've read in a while. I received this book through a blind-date-with-a-book and I couldn't be happier with what I got. When I first opened it, I had no idea what to expect, I didn't even realize it was a classic. But now, after finishing it and reflecting on it a bit, I truly loved this book. It's so introspective and takes you on a journey through the soul and about people and human nature.
The beginning is intentionally hard to read, and not hard as in the concepts, hard as in things are spelled wrong and there is no punctuation. This was intentional but I still feel like I should note it. I was glad that that style of writing did not last for too long, as it was taking me much longer to read and therefore it was a little slow to get into. I didn't really know where the author was going with the novel. The book is told through diary entries (or progress reports that are basically journals), so you really get a feel for the character, but not so much the world. Thankfully, I'm from New York City, so I understood all the geographical places mentioned. However, anyone not acquainted with the city might feel much more untethered.
But I suppose the setting wasn't too important to the novel, as it mainly focused on the mental setting rather than the physical. I love character change, and I love being able to identify the change. The writing style was most easily identifiable, as an indicator of change, but there were other things too. I liked that through the actual subtext you could see how the character, Charlie, was changing and especially how he saw the world evolved.
The part I loved most about the book was the introspective and reflective aspects, especially when it came to human nature. I suppose I'm just a sucker for all things existential or attempt to reveal things about the inherent kindness of people. I love that the book subverted all notions of the haunted genius.
In fact, one of the most vital meanings that I took away from the text can be found in this one quote: "Intelligence is one of the greatest human gifts. But all too often a search for knowledge drives out the search for love." I think that part of that quote just shows that, yes being smart is important but love is paramount and should never be ignored or forgotten. I think that this story is so beautiful because it shows the audience the definition of what happens when someone gets too smart: they can't connect to people, but the book goes further than just leaving us with that dreary message. It shows us that our connections are what make us human. And I just find that so beautiful.
There were so many beautiful lines and I wish I could write all of them down, but I won't. Also something to note before going into the book is that it was written in the late 1950s, when the use of the r word was scientifically preferred. But I feel like Keyes was actually way ahead of his time, especially when talking about people with all different mental abilities. Throughout the novel he implores us to recognize that even though Charlie is mentally slow, he is still a person. Keyes shows us the abuse that people who are intellectually disabled went through, but shows us how Charlie feels and reacts to it. Throughout the novel, Charlie's main motivation is that he wants to be seen as human. He wants to be "normal."
I have so much to say about this book, but overall, it was a book that truly made me feel things and some parts of it were written in such beautiful prose with such good messages I wish I could go back and reread it for the first time again.
The beginning is intentionally hard to read, and not hard as in the concepts, hard as in things are spelled wrong and there is no punctuation. This was intentional but I still feel like I should note it. I was glad that that style of writing did not last for too long, as it was taking me much longer to read and therefore it was a little slow to get into. I didn't really know where the author was going with the novel. The book is told through diary entries (or progress reports that are basically journals), so you really get a feel for the character, but not so much the world. Thankfully, I'm from New York City, so I understood all the geographical places mentioned. However, anyone not acquainted with the city might feel much more untethered.
But I suppose the setting wasn't too important to the novel, as it mainly focused on the mental setting rather than the physical. I love character change, and I love being able to identify the change. The writing style was most easily identifiable, as an indicator of change, but there were other things too. I liked that through the actual subtext you could see how the character, Charlie, was changing and especially how he saw the world evolved.
The part I loved most about the book was the introspective and reflective aspects, especially when it came to human nature. I suppose I'm just a sucker for all things existential or attempt to reveal things about the inherent kindness of people. I love that the book subverted all notions of the haunted genius.
There were so many beautiful lines and I wish I could write all of them down, but I won't. Also something to note before going into the book is that it was written in the late 1950s, when the use of the r word was scientifically preferred. But I feel like Keyes was actually way ahead of his time, especially when talking about people with all different mental abilities. Throughout the novel he implores us to recognize that even though Charlie is mentally slow, he is still a person. Keyes shows us the abuse that people who are intellectually disabled went through, but shows us how Charlie feels and reacts to it. Throughout the novel, Charlie's main motivation is that he wants to be seen as human. He wants to be "normal."
I have so much to say about this book, but overall, it was a book that truly made me feel things and some parts of it were written in such beautiful prose with such good messages I wish I could go back and reread it for the first time again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Medical content, Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death
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
i don’t see the point in generalising charlie’s disability to the extent that keyes has. makes for a frustrating read at times especially if you’re someone who knows and loves a disabled person irl. i did enjoy this book otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Medical content
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Dementia, Alcohol