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evancjones's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
letta_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
A reread, one of my all time favourites❤️
Oh, God, Please don't take it all away
A child may not know how to feed itself, or what to eat, yet it knows hunger.
I am afraid. Not of life, or death, or nothingness, but of wasting it as if I had never been.
mariaadkins's review against another edition
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Medical content, and Gaslighting
saccerzd's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. I don't know. I enjoyed it, but there was something lacking for me. The middle section seemed too long even though it was short.
ofcolours's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-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
4.75
sniperbum's review against another edition
informative
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? No
5.0
thebibbs23's review against another edition
2.0
(1.5/5) not to leave a horrible review but… hooo boy. normally when a book unsettles me it’s because it makes me think, but this makes me feel like I need to take a shower. before I complain, I will say that this book actually spoke to me on a couple different things (the worth of intelligence, trusting yourself to make decisions, etc.). even the ending hit me pretty hard. HOWEVER. all this good and potential unfortunately means nothing when it’s overshadowed by 1. a main character who’s horribly unlikeable for 80% of the book (and a lack of likable characters in general) 2. beyond atrocious female characters with less than 2D personalities, dialogues, and relationships (“she brought my sandwiches and asked nothing”, references to polygamy because “you can’t have everything in one woman”, abuse, boring stereotypes, etc.) 3. (related point) WEIRD obsession with sex. like I get the psychology emphasis but truly, what is going on 4. an overwhelming sense of “what is this guy even saying” in the last 100 pages of the book 5. unnecessary and excessive inappropriate content that only adds to the “I wouldn’t want to be in a room alone with this guy” feeling 6. (my personal nail in the coffin) HORRIBLE science. this guy really said “I know what an enzyme is” and based a whole book around it. it was a struggle to finish this, to say the least. arguably the best part was the Plato quote on the first page. this should stay in the 1950s where it was written.
Merged review:
(1.5/5) not to leave a horrible review but… hooo boy. normally when a book unsettles me it’s because it makes me think, but this makes me feel like I need to take a shower. before I complain, I will say that this book actually spoke to me on a couple different things (the worth of intelligence, trusting yourself to make decisions, etc.). even the ending hit me pretty hard. HOWEVER. all this good and potential unfortunately means nothing when it’s overshadowed by 1. a main character who’s horribly unlikeable for 80% of the book (and a lack of likable characters in general) 2. beyond atrocious female characters with less than 2D personalities, dialogues, and relationships (“she brought my sandwiches and asked nothing”, references to polygamy because “you can’t have everything in one woman”, abuse, boring stereotypes, etc.) 3. (related point) WEIRD obsession with sex. like I get the psychology emphasis but truly, what is going on 4. an overwhelming sense of “what is this guy even saying” in the last 100 pages of the book 5. unnecessary and excessive inappropriate content that only adds to the “I wouldn’t want to be in a room alone with this guy” feeling 6. (my personal nail in the coffin) HORRIBLE science. this guy really said “I know what an enzyme is” and based a whole book around it. it was a struggle to finish this, to say the least. arguably the best part was the Plato quote on the first page. this should stay in the 1950s where it was written.
Merged review:
(1.5/5) not to leave a horrible review but… hooo boy. normally when a book unsettles me it’s because it makes me think, but this makes me feel like I need to take a shower. before I complain, I will say that this book actually spoke to me on a couple different things (the worth of intelligence, trusting yourself to make decisions, etc.). even the ending hit me pretty hard. HOWEVER. all this good and potential unfortunately means nothing when it’s overshadowed by 1. a main character who’s horribly unlikeable for 80% of the book (and a lack of likable characters in general) 2. beyond atrocious female characters with less than 2D personalities, dialogues, and relationships (“she brought my sandwiches and asked nothing”, references to polygamy because “you can’t have everything in one woman”, abuse, boring stereotypes, etc.) 3. (related point) WEIRD obsession with sex. like I get the psychology emphasis but truly, what is going on 4. an overwhelming sense of “what is this guy even saying” in the last 100 pages of the book 5. unnecessary and excessive inappropriate content that only adds to the “I wouldn’t want to be in a room alone with this guy” feeling 6. (my personal nail in the coffin) HORRIBLE science. this guy really said “I know what an enzyme is” and based a whole book around it. it was a struggle to finish this, to say the least. arguably the best part was the Plato quote on the first page. this should stay in the 1950s where it was written.
leoreader's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.5
he book is in the format of a diary of Charlie who is set to undergo a surgery to increase his intelligence. He goes through a roller coaster of emotions after the operation and remembers his traumatic upbringing. Tragic, heartbreaking. A deep dive into the human flaw.
raamkay's review against another edition
4.0
Captivating and unique I picked this up after seeing it on reddits must read books. Not massively into sci fi but this felt raw and original. The story combines various themes; notably the way mentally challenged people are treated in society but also that raw intelligence is both a gift and a curse. Charlie takes an operation that takes him from a retarded state to super human intelligence and enjoys all the benefits in quality of life that comes with it. The experiment goes wrong though, and Charlie regresses all the way back to severely handicapped. It's emotional to read the challenge he faces to retain even a slither of his new found intellect as he succumbs to an inevitable end in the deep dark abyss. This story will stay with me for a few more days yet!
Merged review:
Captivating and unique I picked this up after seeing it on reddits must read books. Not massively into sci fi but this felt raw and original. The story combines various themes; notably the way mentally challenged people are treated in society but also that raw intelligence is both a gift and a curse. Charlie takes an operation that takes him from a retarded state to super human intelligence and enjoys all the benefits in quality of life that comes with it. The experiment goes wrong though, and Charlie regresses all the way back to severely handicapped. It's emotional to read the challenge he faces to retain even a slither of his new found intellect as he succumbs to an inevitable end in the deep dark abyss. This story will stay with me for a few more days yet!
Merged review:
Captivating and unique I picked this up after seeing it on reddits must read books. Not massively into sci fi but this felt raw and original. The story combines various themes; notably the way mentally challenged people are treated in society but also that raw intelligence is both a gift and a curse. Charlie takes an operation that takes him from a retarded state to super human intelligence and enjoys all the benefits in quality of life that comes with it. The experiment goes wrong though, and Charlie regresses all the way back to severely handicapped. It's emotional to read the challenge he faces to retain even a slither of his new found intellect as he succumbs to an inevitable end in the deep dark abyss. This story will stay with me for a few more days yet!
desertjarhead505's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best, and most heartbreaking, stories I have ever read. The basis for the movie Charly. It has been more than 30 years since I first read this story, and even now it makes my heart ache and brings tears to my eyes to think about it.