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jenniferbbookdragon 's review for:
Flowers for Algernon
by Daniel Keyes
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I first read Flowers for Algernon as a teen in the early 1980s, and it still packs the same emotional punch to the gut more than 50 years later. Charlie's journey reveals a lot about how we treat people with intellectual disabilities, and while some things have changed, much of it still rings true. Another piece I didn't appreciate on my first read is that those on either extreme of the intelligence spectrum are isolated by their difference. Those with very high IQs are just better at hiding it.
Be prepared to cry, but it is worth it. Charlie's story reveals how vulnerable we all are and how important it is to recognize the humanity in others, even when it is hard to see our commonality.
Be prepared to cry, but it is worth it. Charlie's story reveals how vulnerable we all are and how important it is to recognize the humanity in others, even when it is hard to see our commonality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Sexual content, Medical content, Alcohol