Flowers for Algernon: Heard it was sad...

 Flowers for Algernon: A review

by Linden Peters



                  I was warned by my parents that Flowers for Algernon was an insanely depressing story, but as a person who greatly enjoys reading heart-crushing stories, I could not resist picking this book up. 

                Flowers for Algernon starts a 32-year-old man named Charlie Gordon who was born with an unusually low IQ. Because of this, he is exploited and treated vilely by everyone around him. One day, he is offered to be part of an experiment that aims to raise people's IQ. It has already worked for a mouse named Algernon, and Charlie really wants to be smart, so he eagerly accepts. 

                The experiment succeeds and Charlie's IQ raises to 190 in a matter of months. While being as smart as everyone else was Charlie's dream, his relationships deteriorate. He realizes that the people at the bakery he works at have been exploiting him and making fun of him. He sees that the scientists working on the project forget his humanity and treat him like a lab rat. He realizes how hellish his childhood was, with his mother punishing him for things he couldn't control and denying his humanity, and his sister not showing him and love or kindness. His high intelligence also prevents him from being able to relate to people, such as the girl he loves, Alice. 

                After a while, Algernon goes through a period of rapid mental deterioration, and Charlie knows the same will happen to him. Through the final moments of the book, he passively watches as all of his progress goes away.

                Yep, a very cheery story. However, this is still an amazing book and reads very well.

                Overall: 10/10

Comments

  1. SophiaMarch 9, 2024 at 11:40 AM

    Wow. That is... incredibly tragic. Sounds right up my alley! I've added it to my TBR :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AsmaraMarch 9, 2024 at 5:42 PM

    Definitely rather depressing, but it seems like an interesting read. It's interesting how the change in Charlie's IQ affects various aspects of his life.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ShannaMarch 18, 2024 at 11:34 AM

    Hey Linden, thanks for reviewing this book! It definitely sounds like the type to pull at just about anyone's heartstrings as I feel that everyone has related to that sense of exploitation and alienation at least once in their life. It sounds like a great read!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Y_Jemina_FMarch 18, 2024 at 1:36 PM

    I read this book, and I was more angry at the author than anything. I just feel like Charlie's take on humanity is written with a lot of angst and exaggeration, it's just all a basis for the saying "ignorance is bliss". Realistically, the characters are too morally black and white for my taste, especially since it felt like the author was going for realism. While his realization of needing to heal his inner child and resolve his traumas was valid, everything else was very... uncathartic? Maybe that's my bad. Cool to know other people have read this book too, great summary, Linden.

    ReplyDelete

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