Flowers for Algernon
Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes 
Blurb:The story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. As the experimental procedure takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment seems to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance--until Algernon begins his sudden, unexpected deterioration. Will the same happen to Charlie?First of all, I want to say that I heard about this book from reading Everything, Everything. So when I picked it up I was expecting something light, written for YA, basically a light read, but this book turned out to be anything but. After the first few pages I was hooked. It was deep and emotionally and I loved the psychology of it - I've actually ordered a copy for a friend of mine who's studying to be a psychologist because although it's fiction the feelings in it are very much real. I loved Charlie, felt sorry for him and understood him, even when he was being an arse; all his emotions were just so real and understandable in his situation. I wanted to slap his parents, sister and most of the bakery workers - the worst thing is there are people in the world who act like this and I just can't understand what makes people think they have the right to be so cruel to other. At first the writing put me off, but I quickly got used to it as I was drawn into the story and ended up really enjoying that it was written in the form of 'Progress Reports' and that it had wrong spellings and such showing Charlie's learning progress and growing/decreasing intelligence. I don't want to say too much about the story line, for a brief idea you can just read the blurb, but I thought it was all very clever and I liked that it was just believable enough that it didn't feel like a sci-fi, despite the vaguely sci-fi nature of the plot. This is a tale of hope, love, truth and acceptance. There is so much more to it than the main story line and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who asks.
My favourite quotes from 'Flowers for Algernon':'Now I understand one of the important reasons for going to college and getting an education is to learn that the things you've believed all your life aren't true, and that nothing is what it appears to be.' '... he's just an ordinary man trying to do a great man's work, while the great men are all busy making bombs.' ' "I've heard that one from me.""But never from me." ''She's become too possessive and resentful of my work. I think she could tolerate another woman, but not this complete absorption in something she can't follow.' 'Is it because they are afraid of me? Or is it that deep down they don't care and I feel the same about them?' 'She was back twenty-five years earlier when I was her little Charlie and she was willing to fight for my place in the world.'
Blurb:The story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. As the experimental procedure takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment seems to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance--until Algernon begins his sudden, unexpected deterioration. Will the same happen to Charlie?First of all, I want to say that I heard about this book from reading Everything, Everything. So when I picked it up I was expecting something light, written for YA, basically a light read, but this book turned out to be anything but. After the first few pages I was hooked. It was deep and emotionally and I loved the psychology of it - I've actually ordered a copy for a friend of mine who's studying to be a psychologist because although it's fiction the feelings in it are very much real. I loved Charlie, felt sorry for him and understood him, even when he was being an arse; all his emotions were just so real and understandable in his situation. I wanted to slap his parents, sister and most of the bakery workers - the worst thing is there are people in the world who act like this and I just can't understand what makes people think they have the right to be so cruel to other. At first the writing put me off, but I quickly got used to it as I was drawn into the story and ended up really enjoying that it was written in the form of 'Progress Reports' and that it had wrong spellings and such showing Charlie's learning progress and growing/decreasing intelligence. I don't want to say too much about the story line, for a brief idea you can just read the blurb, but I thought it was all very clever and I liked that it was just believable enough that it didn't feel like a sci-fi, despite the vaguely sci-fi nature of the plot. This is a tale of hope, love, truth and acceptance. There is so much more to it than the main story line and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who asks.My favourite quotes from 'Flowers for Algernon':'Now I understand one of the important reasons for going to college and getting an education is to learn that the things you've believed all your life aren't true, and that nothing is what it appears to be.' '... he's just an ordinary man trying to do a great man's work, while the great men are all busy making bombs.' ' "I've heard that one from me.""But never from me." ''She's become too possessive and resentful of my work. I think she could tolerate another woman, but not this complete absorption in something she can't follow.' 'Is it because they are afraid of me? Or is it that deep down they don't care and I feel the same about them?' 'She was back twenty-five years earlier when I was her little Charlie and she was willing to fight for my place in the world.'
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