Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes

"Charlie Gordon agrees to be the first human test subject to undergo an experimental procedure that could raise his IQ astonishingly. It's a success and Charlie goes from someone with a severe intellectual disability to a genius in only a few short months. Though his knowledge grows by the day, motionally, he has a lot of catching up to do. This was originally a high school assigned read and thus I was hesitant but I'm glad I gave it another chance."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros: Charlie is truly the tragic hero/Charlie and Algernon ❤️🥲.

Cons: Things have changed so use of the word retardate and such was surprising at first but, it was a different time/Alice Kinnian and her melodrama got a bit old.

Full Review:

Told through progress reports over the course of several months, we see Charlie Gordon's journey. He's agreed to be the first human test subject of an experiment that could raise his IQ at an astonishing rate. They've already had success with Algernon, a lab rat. Since all Charlie has ever wanted was to be smart, he agrees and undergoes the procedure. He was introduced to the heads of the experiment by Ms. Kinnian, his teacher at the school he goes to for adults like him.

He's a gentle, kind soul he truly just wants to have friends and be liked. And so, he figures, if the operation can make him smart, perhaps it can make people like him too. So he agrees.

Though he doesn't see much progress in the beginning, it's soon apparent that he's growing in leaps and bounds. He's maturing mentally but not emotionally and so he's torn with how he feels about everything. He's of course, in love with Alice Kinnian, his teacher, Alice Kinnian and he also feels increasingly trapped by the experiment, like Algernon, a lab rat in a maze.

It all comes to a head at a conference in Chicago. Charlie and Alergnon are to be the stars but Charlie no longer wants to take center stage. So he decides to make a break for it. He grabs Alergnon and goes off on his own, to see what life has to offer two geniuses on the run.

Charlie's journey is heartbreaking.

This was one of those deeply powerful books that was assigned reading in high school and I remembered the end but that was all. I'm glad I decided to re-read it.

Comments

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