A review by ricksilva
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Mentally-disabled bakery worker Charlie Gordon is recruited to be the first human test subject in an experiment designed to increase intelligence. Through his progress reports, he describes his growth as the treatment causes his intelligence to grow beyond that of the scientists who came up with the procedure. But when Algeron, the prize animal test-subject shows signs of a breakdown, Charlie begins to follow the same path.

This book is an impressive achievement in its ability to gradually shift the voice of the protagonist as he changes. The use of language is excellent.

Charlie himself, however is not a very appealing character. The book has a strong incel vibe to it, and takes a lot of the joy out of the learning and discovery that Charlie embarks on, as he discovers that his growing awareness creates its own sets of problems. Moments of happiness are fleeting, and the victories that Charlie achieves are glossed over in favor of the problems he encounters. The story is also based on some fairly outdated ideas about the nature of intelligence.

I enjoyed the complexities of the characters, but found the story overall to be frustrating mostly hopeless.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings