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

Animal Farm by George Orwell

"A blithe and scathing commentary on equality, power, corruption and how everyone is created equal, but...some are more equal than others. Orwell hit the nail right on the head with this novel and it's no wonder it's a staple for most high school curriculums. " 3 Stars. Pros: Benjamin the Donkey is the smartest animal on the farm and it would have done all the others a world of good if they had listened to him in the first place. Cons: The fact that societies like this actually do exist is nauseating and terrible. It's not a con, per se, it's just a gut wrenching fact. Full Review: When the overworked and mistreated Animals on Manor Farm decide to rise up and overthrow their cruel master, they're successful. They rebel and now find themselves with an entire Farm to run. They rename it Animal Farm and are intent on creating a paradise, where work and play are equal, where productivity is key but relaxation is a must and all the lives of all the animal...

Fantastic Voyage by Isaac Asimov

"When a scientist, Benes, who has integral and world changing information attempts to defect and join our Side, he's injured. A blood clot forms in his brain and the only way to save his life is to miniaturize the crew of the Proteus and inject them into Benes' body, so they can break up the blood clot from the inside. Of course, one thing after another goes wrong and every chapter is a new catastrophe but it was definitely a fantastic voyage. 2 Stars Pros: Grant is one dry character but he's a welcome bit of amusement in an otherwise serious and scientific novel. Cons: Grant is also SUCH a man that he spends most of the mission staring at saving the one woman board, Cora./Definitely ripe with anatomical lessons and what part of the body they were in. Since I've never been great at anatomy, a lot of it was lost on me and became burdensome near the end. Full Review: As in all things, there is a good side and a bad side. This book is very vague as...

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

“Rick Deckard is a Bounty Hunter who's on the trail of six "Andys" (Androids) who have come to Earth illegally. His job is to track them down and "retire" them. Something he found easy to do until he met her, Rachael Rosen. The Android that does the impossible, passes the "Voight-Kampff" test. The story quickly devolves into a slow, drawn out and frankly boring mystery that was putting me to sleep by the end." ⭐⭐ Pros: I was more interested in comparing it to the film, "Bladerunner."/At first I kind of liked the drab, dreary atmostphere but it soon became soporific. Cons: I had no real idea what was going on with Mercerism/The end there had me blinking in bewilderment, like with Herbert's 29th Dune Book/There was a lot of idle chit-chat while they were in murderous/intense situations, it just seemed odd. Full Review: Rick Deckard, a Bounty Hunter, contracted with the San Francisco Police Department hunts down and retires rogue ...

All the Books.

Search This Blog