Flowers for Algernon

"How strange it is that people of honest feelings and sensibility, who would not take advantage of a man born without arms or legs or eyes—how such people think nothing of abusing a man born with low intelligence."
So for this one, I went in entirely blind- In fact, I only read this book because it's mentioned in [b: Everything, Everything|18692431|Everything, Everything|Nicola Yoon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1450515891l/18692431._SY75_.jpg|26540216]. Funny that I trusted the recommendation without even reading a synopses, because I think I only gave that book 3 stars... But I think what pulled me in was that two characters in the book reference [b: Flowers for Algernon|36576608|Flowers for Algernon|Daniel Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510416245l/36576608._SY75_.jpg|3337594], and both of them claim that it made them cry.

Unfortunately, it did not make me physically cry lol. But it was deeply emotional on so many levels. Charlie is tragically human and we get a window into this like never before as his own way of thinking and perspective changes along the road.

[b: Flowers for Algernon|36576608|Flowers for Algernon|Daniel Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510416245l/36576608._SY75_.jpg|3337594] is such a hidden gem, if anything just for the way its able to give us a perspective as intricately detailed as our own, but through the lens of another human being. I loved this book. ( )

"How strange it is that people of honest feelings and sensibility, who would not take advantage of a man born without arms or legs or eyes—how such people think nothing of abusing a man born with low intelligence."
So for this one, I went in entirely blind- In fact, I only read this book because it's mentioned in [b: Everything, Everything|18692431|Everything, Everything|Nicola Yoon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1450515891l/18692431._SY75_.jpg|26540216]. Funny that I trusted the recommendation without even reading a synopses, because I think I only gave that book 3 stars... But I think what pulled me in was that two characters in the book reference [b: Flowers for Algernon|36576608|Flowers for Algernon|Daniel Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510416245l/36576608._SY75_.jpg|3337594], and both of them claim that it made them cry.

Unfortunately, it did not make me physically cry lol. But it was deeply emotional on so many levels. Charlie is tragically human and we get a window into this like never before as his own way of thinking and perspective changes along the road.

[b: Flowers for Algernon|36576608|Flowers for Algernon|Daniel Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510416245l/36576608._SY75_.jpg|3337594] is such a hidden gem, if anything just for the way its able to give us a perspective as intricately detailed as our own, but through the lens of another human being. I loved this book. ( )

It’s been so long since I first read this I was probably remembering the movie version, Charly, than the book. I’d forgotten how nuanced and poignant this is, how Charlie’s wish to be like other people – so they would like him – almost became a curse. How his happiness was traded off for intelligence as he grew more aware of how cruel people can be, including himself. I was glad to this has aged well; there’s nothing in it that portrays Charlie’s disability in a way that’s hurtful or dismissive. In fact, Charlie becomes an advocate for himself and others by contending he was still a person before he had the operation that made him smart. Truly a classic. ( )

"That's the thing about human life....There is no control group, no way to ever know how any of us would have turned out if any variables had been changed."

Charlie Gordon is 32 year old man with an IQ of 68 who works as a cleaner at a New York bakery. He’s sweet natured and simple, he likes to make people laugh often unaware that many of the jokes are at his expense. He regularly attends an adult education class taught by the Alice Kinnian because he desperately desires to be 'smart'.

When Alice is approached by two scientists, Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur from Beekman University, looking for the first human subject to undergo experimental surgery to increase human intelligence, she readily recommends Charlie. The technique has already been successfully trialed on a mouse named Algernon and sure enough Charlie’s intelligence steadily begins to increase.

However,as Charlie's brain power advances he soon realises that being “smart” is not all he hoped it would be. He soon begins to recall memories of an abusive childhood, becomes aware of how others treat him, and most confusingly finds himself confronted with feelings for Alice he’s not emotionally prepared for. Despite having the body of a man his emotional development is of that of a child.

As Charlie begins to remember his childhood and we start to realise that much of his intensive desire to be clever, to please others, his fear of sex stems from there. In fact Charlie feels the need to constantly confront his own past and reveal more about where he came from.

Over the course of the book Charlie realises that Straus and Nemur are just men themselves, and his reverence for them and learning gradually fades and he starts to feel contempt for them. Some of this contempt stems from the realisation that many academic studies are narrow and pointless, that its practitioners have an inflated opinion of their work but much of it springs from the realisation that he, like Algernon, is still essentially a laboratory animal.

Ultimately as Charlie’s intellect attains genius level he realises a far more terrible truth, this increase in intelligence is only temporary and that both he, and Algernon are doomed to regress back to where they came from.

The story is told using first person reports that Charlie makes for the University. Initially these are simple and replete with misspellings and grammatical errors but as Charlie's intellect improves so does his use of language meaning that his style and tone is constantly changing. This I found this initially confusing but soon became aware how clever tool it really was. Whilst Charlie’s dreams featuring his younger, still intellectually disabled self constantly reminds us just where he has come from, his truly horrible experiences at the hands of his mother and sister yet it is written with a sympathy and pathos which is nothing short of amazing. Likewise the author gives us just enough detail about Algernon so that we feel sympathy for him as well.

That's not to say that I don't have a few minor gripes as well. Firstly I found the idea that a lack of intellect also means an almost total lack of memory rather patronising despite the fact that it undoubtedly adds to the overall structure of the story. Secondly I felt that some aspects felt a little dated. Firstly the over optimistic belief in the power of subliminal sleep teaching but also whilst the abuse and mistreatment that Charlie suffered sadly do still occur, the institutionalisation of learning disabled people is obviously far less common today but given that the book was first published in 1966 that is quite understandable as is the constant references to retards, a term thankfully no longer used.

However, my main problem was with Alice. I was disappointed, both that Alice didn’t try to be a bit more active in helping Charlie, she often disappears for large sections of the book and when she reappears is far too passive. Somehow Alice feels poorly drawn in contrast to Charlie's neighbour and one time lover Faye.

The story in without doubt dark yet there are also elements of triumph and humour even if we know that they are pyrrhic. There were some instances in which I thought Keyes perhaps overdid the darkness a little. The book’s ending is simply tragic, Charlie doesn't merely regress intellectually, but becomes a far less likeable person as well. However, I feel that this deserves to be regarded as a modern classic. Despite there being no aliens this is Sci-fi writing at its very best, perhaps an uncomfortable read with its highs and lows but one that I would heartily recommend.

"Thank God for books and music and things I can think about." ( )

You know, I thought the short story was superb and this longer version felt just a smidge too drawn out. Still an excellent read. If you are in school and have to do a book report and this one's on the booklist, I'd say pick it. Very entertaining and thought-provoking. ( )