Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes - 5 Stars

[Diana]

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?

My review:
What a sad story! The plot seems to be quite simple. Not really smart man becomes a genius and understands that it doesn't make his life easier. But while I was reading, I was reflecting on so many different questions. This novel made me look at many things differently.

[Robin P]

The original was a short story, then it was expanded into the novel, then made into a rather bad movie. As a proven "smart" person, myself, I was struck by how being smarter didn't make Charlie happier, in fact the opposite.

[Diana]

Robin P wrote: "I was struck by how being smarter didn't make Charlie happier, in fact the opposite."

It was quite unexpected for me too.

[NancyJ]

Great review. It really does bring up many questions. Reading this book was intense for me, because I had just undergone testing to determine how a brain injury affected my intelligence. (I lost 20-25 points.) I could relate to his distress when he realized he was losing it. The worst part was not knowing how bad it could get.

I think he was happier when he first started to improve. He was dating and learning to understand and appreciate many things. But eventually he reached a point where he couldn't even communicate with other people.

Getting smarter didn't make him more popular, that's for sure. But the men in that shop were never really his friends to begin with. I remember when George W won the presidential election. Many people said they voted for the person they'd most enjoy having a beer with. They thought his opponent was too smart.