What do you think?
Rate this book
Flowers for Algernon
The compelling story of Charlie Gordon. willing victim of a strange experiment - a moron, a genius, a man in search of himself.
117 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1971
7 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 2, 2017
Book #58 for 2016
#awsff
Read Harder Challenge Task: Read a play.
The Legendary Book Club of Habitica's Modest Reading Challenge: A book you should have read in school.
When I was in high school in the '80s, I participated in IEs (individual events, such as humorous interpretation, duet improv, and poetry reading) at speech and debate tournaments, and scenes from this play were frequent selections. At the time, I found them lacking in context, but they did seem intriguing, so I'm glad that I finally read this play. I am not sure how, when, or where this copy came into my possession, but I'm pretty sure it's from an early '70s production at my hometown high school. It's marked "Stagecrew" and apparently belonged to Ronna Bradley, who had Speech-Debate class in room 235 of what is now Bueker Middle School. James Huesgen, who apparently still lives in Marshall, played Charlie Gordon.
I should point out that there seems to be some confusion in the Goodreads database about this stage adaptation. My copy is 117 pages long and is clearly identified as a full-length play. Goodreads has this listed as "A One-Act Play" and 117 pages long, but the Dramatic Publishing Company's website clearly states that the one-act version is indeed much shorter -- 25 pages long. So I will look into what I as a Goodreads librarian can do to straighten this out.
Anyway, the play. For a relatively short piece, it sure packs a punch. It tells the story of Charlie Gordon, a young man with a mental disability, who is offered (and accepts) the opportunity to not only repair his cognitive functions but to wildly increase his intellectual capacities. The number of issues and concepts explored is kind of amazing. Various facets of the treatment of mental patients are displayed, from the lack of appropriate resources available to families, to workplace bullying, to administrative attitudes dismissive of patient rights. As Charlie's mental faculties improve, we watch the pain of his growing awareness of how others have viewed him in the past and how those who formerly ridiculed him now lash out in fear and jealousy. And this barely scratches the surface of this deeply thought-provoking material.
It seems to be set in the '60s (or perhaps the near future of the '60s) and therefore feels a bit dated, but I think it would be interesting to see a version updated for the 21st century. This was clearly a significant inspiration for the '90s tech thriller Lawnmower Man, but beyond the initial setup, that movie was a storytelling disaster. Maybe movies like Limitless and Lucy are going for this, but my understanding is that they also fall short of the mark. (I have not seen either of them.) I did rather like Phenomenon (1996), but it was more interested in being a Christ allegory than anything else.
This play was a little weak as far as character development and interpersonal relationships were concerned, but it's possible that it's just being a product of its time. It is adapted from a Nebula-winning novel (which is why Shaunesay is letting me link to this review from her Award-Winning Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Challenge blog, even though it doesn't actually count), so I expect I will eventually read the original novel for comparison.
#awsff
Read Harder Challenge Task: Read a play.
The Legendary Book Club of Habitica's Modest Reading Challenge: A book you should have read in school.
When I was in high school in the '80s, I participated in IEs (individual events, such as humorous interpretation, duet improv, and poetry reading) at speech and debate tournaments, and scenes from this play were frequent selections. At the time, I found them lacking in context, but they did seem intriguing, so I'm glad that I finally read this play. I am not sure how, when, or where this copy came into my possession, but I'm pretty sure it's from an early '70s production at my hometown high school. It's marked "Stagecrew" and apparently belonged to Ronna Bradley, who had Speech-Debate class in room 235 of what is now Bueker Middle School. James Huesgen, who apparently still lives in Marshall, played Charlie Gordon.
I should point out that there seems to be some confusion in the Goodreads database about this stage adaptation. My copy is 117 pages long and is clearly identified as a full-length play. Goodreads has this listed as "A One-Act Play" and 117 pages long, but the Dramatic Publishing Company's website clearly states that the one-act version is indeed much shorter -- 25 pages long. So I will look into what I as a Goodreads librarian can do to straighten this out.
Anyway, the play. For a relatively short piece, it sure packs a punch. It tells the story of Charlie Gordon, a young man with a mental disability, who is offered (and accepts) the opportunity to not only repair his cognitive functions but to wildly increase his intellectual capacities. The number of issues and concepts explored is kind of amazing. Various facets of the treatment of mental patients are displayed, from the lack of appropriate resources available to families, to workplace bullying, to administrative attitudes dismissive of patient rights. As Charlie's mental faculties improve, we watch the pain of his growing awareness of how others have viewed him in the past and how those who formerly ridiculed him now lash out in fear and jealousy. And this barely scratches the surface of this deeply thought-provoking material.
It seems to be set in the '60s (or perhaps the near future of the '60s) and therefore feels a bit dated, but I think it would be interesting to see a version updated for the 21st century. This was clearly a significant inspiration for the '90s tech thriller Lawnmower Man, but beyond the initial setup, that movie was a storytelling disaster. Maybe movies like Limitless and Lucy are going for this, but my understanding is that they also fall short of the mark. (I have not seen either of them.) I did rather like Phenomenon (1996), but it was more interested in being a Christ allegory than anything else.
This play was a little weak as far as character development and interpersonal relationships were concerned, but it's possible that it's just being a product of its time. It is adapted from a Nebula-winning novel (which is why Shaunesay is letting me link to this review from her Award-Winning Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Challenge blog, even though it doesn't actually count), so I expect I will eventually read the original novel for comparison.
December 16, 2011
"It's lonely at the top" seems like a trite cliche, but this book pretty much proves it.
Charlie, a retarded adult, becomes an experimental subject in an intelligence-augmenting experiment and records his ever-changing impressions of the world in diary format. With promising initial results seen in Algernon, a lab mouse, the doctors go ahead with using Charlie as a human subject. At his least intelligent, Charlie trusts everyone around him to the point where he believes people are his friends even when they are laughing at him. When he realizes what is really going on, he becomes very alienated and becomes even more so when his intelligence exceeds all the doctors and university professors who hate being contradicted.
Charlie imagines his old, retarded self as a separate person watching him from doorways and mirrors, waiting for his chance to return to his body.
Around the time I was reading this, I read a cracked.com article about people's suspicion of others that points out the average person in NOT out to get you, but most people think so anyway. It made me realize that maybe trusting people a little more than you think you ought to is really a way to enrich your own life... Sure, something bad might happen in the future, but constant vigilance wears you down.
Charlie, a retarded adult, becomes an experimental subject in an intelligence-augmenting experiment and records his ever-changing impressions of the world in diary format. With promising initial results seen in Algernon, a lab mouse, the doctors go ahead with using Charlie as a human subject. At his least intelligent, Charlie trusts everyone around him to the point where he believes people are his friends even when they are laughing at him. When he realizes what is really going on, he becomes very alienated and becomes even more so when his intelligence exceeds all the doctors and university professors who hate being contradicted.
Charlie imagines his old, retarded self as a separate person watching him from doorways and mirrors, waiting for his chance to return to his body.
Around the time I was reading this, I read a cracked.com article about people's suspicion of others that points out the average person in NOT out to get you, but most people think so anyway. It made me realize that maybe trusting people a little more than you think you ought to is really a way to enrich your own life... Sure, something bad might happen in the future, but constant vigilance wears you down.
July 8, 2014
The emotionally wrenching story of a guy who goes from a quite low IQ, to a very high one, and back in a short span. Oh, how I wept for poor Charley.
At a great distance, it's kind of like how a kid goes from being naive and unknowing to suddenly being clued in as a teenager, then to the vast ignorance that is parenting. But tragic.
At a great distance, it's kind of like how a kid goes from being naive and unknowing to suddenly being clued in as a teenager, then to the vast ignorance that is parenting. But tragic.
May 16, 2023
"A child may not know how to feed itself, or what to eat, yet it knows hunger".
July 25, 2024
I requested the novel Flowers for Algernon for my 9th grade class, but I got this play instead. There are some changes from the novel that I didn't really like, but the overall message and story remain true. Most importantly, the majority of my students actually really liked the story and having parts to read in class.
August 10, 2013
Most people I know had to read this middle school. Somehow, I made it to 25 without experiencing it.
And let me tell you, it is soul-crushing.
Very basically, a mentally handicapped man undergoes an experimental surgery to make him smarter. It works, for a while; he becomes a genius in a matter of months. However, the effects prove to be temporary and he reverts back to his former state.
The novel does a beautiful job of exploring the intricacies of disability and of asserting the humanity of those who suffer from them.
I highly recommend it not only as an excellent novel, but also as a way to help average people develop a better and more empathetic understanding of those with developmental delays.
5/5 tears oh god why did i read this when i'm hormonal
And let me tell you, it is soul-crushing.
Very basically, a mentally handicapped man undergoes an experimental surgery to make him smarter. It works, for a while; he becomes a genius in a matter of months. However, the effects prove to be temporary and he reverts back to his former state.
The novel does a beautiful job of exploring the intricacies of disability and of asserting the humanity of those who suffer from them.
I highly recommend it not only as an excellent novel, but also as a way to help average people develop a better and more empathetic understanding of those with developmental delays.
5/5 tears oh god why did i read this when i'm hormonal
July 9, 2014
I have a vague memory of reading either the short story or abridged version of Flowers for Algernon in school. However, at the time I don't believe I had the maturity to draw all the meaning from it and it surely did not affect me as it did this time around. This book is a raw look at humanity, personality, science, psychology, abuse, disabilities, and intelligence. The first person narrative is incredibly effective and I as a reader felt a huge range of emotions through the book- much like Charlie. I am going to recommend this book to friends, families, and work colleagues. I am a special education teacher, and this book, although not recently published, still speaks volumes.
November 4, 2007
Good book about a mentally handicapped man who has the chance via genetic research and brain surgery to improve his learning ability. Not only does the surgery improve his mental capacity, but the new awareness of himself and others around him also changes his relationships. I liked this book because it really made you think about the value of a person's life and medical ethics. I didn't like the some of the vulgar language and the sensuality in the book. I do think that this would be a good book to discuss with upperclassmen (11th grade & up) about the things I described above.
October 18, 2007
Flowers for Algernon was pretty good. Its a good book because you learn a lot of things that you never new before. I recommend this book to any one who wouldn't mind to reading about special people and what they have to go through in a every day life. How special people go through the struggle just in a different way.
November 1, 2007
Read Flowers for Algernon in high school and found it really devastating. It's one of those books that make you hate yourself for being "normal" and shows how awful people can be. I'm making my kid read it because it's good and one of those life experiences that hopefully will make him more aware of...stuff.
November 20, 2007
I'd never read this book, even though I've owned it for years. I really enjoyed it. The narrative is based on the ethical and emotional complexities of "curing" an individual from a mental disability. Charlie is more than cured. He becomes a genius, however short-lived. His friendship with a fellow lab rat (a real rat) named Algernon is traced throughout the book, as well as his attempts at a romantic relationship with his former teacher. The ending is a tear jerker. I hear there is a movie.
October 30, 2007
Flowers For Algernon was a wonderful book. This book made me look at life in a different way. We as teens dont appreciate life as much as we should. But you should never take life for granted because you could have been in a case like Charlie.
April 15, 2011
I read this the first time when I was twelve after seeing the movie version of it. The movie was adequate, but had some psychedelic sequence during the middle of it to keep up with the zeitgeist.
Anyway, I would probably recommend it for someone in their mid teens, as twelve was probably to young for a first reading.
I find the book itself pretty moving.
Anyway, I would probably recommend it for someone in their mid teens, as twelve was probably to young for a first reading.
I find the book itself pretty moving.
June 24, 2014
i read this at an interesting time that made me feel for both the main character and the love interest, but that's just me projecting my life into the story. it's really good at asking questions, but not answering them. this is a great springboard for readers wondering what people with mental disabilities have to face and also some bioethical questions that aren't really fully resolved.
October 8, 2007
I learned the dumb made smart can be made dumb again.
October 18, 2007
I was in the play so I decided to read the book. Absolutely couldn't put it down, though I must admit the Charly in the play is far more likeable than his book-equivalent.
November 5, 2007
good read, the ending is a bit weird
February 29, 2008
Made me teary-eyed
July 11, 2008
this book absolutely devastated me when I read it in six grade. Great book..I still think about it. It gave me some serious food for thought and still does.
March 5, 2009
Brilliant.
Read
June 18, 2009I read this book years and years ago and had forgotten about it until I saw Connie's review. I must read it again!
August 23, 2009
Loved this book!
March 26, 2011
Very depressing book. Thought provoking, but way too sad for a melancholy like me.
February 15, 2010
Mandatory reading at our High School.
February 19, 2010
Wow. What a book.
June 4, 2012
First time that I don't know how to describe my feelings after having finished a book. Maybe later...
January 14, 2013
Read the novella version, 4.5/5
September 2, 2015
A tidy story about what it means to be smart, liked, and loved, and their opposites. Don't be put off by the slow pace of the first third.
March 4, 2020
Charlie, a mentally challenged 32 year old. Undergoes an intellectual advancing surgery, that allows him to escape his handicapped disability. Throughout his journey he writes transcripts that allows the reader to get an insight on his personal thoughts. Doctors also allow him to communicate with a mouse that has undergone the same procedure. Along the way he realizes that all the repercussions that he experiences may not be so good after all.
Overall though, I liked the book and thought the way events transitioned was very well done by Daniel Keyes. I also enjoyed the viewpoint of the reader, because it allowed for the ability to view all the characters feelings and emotions.
Overall though, I liked the book and thought the way events transitioned was very well done by Daniel Keyes. I also enjoyed the viewpoint of the reader, because it allowed for the ability to view all the characters feelings and emotions.
February 16, 2025
To be honest, this playscript doesn't hold a candle to the original Nebula-winning novella or the subsequent expanded novel versions of "Flowers for Algernon", but it was still fascinating to see how this story was adapted for the stage. And I'd love to see a production of it eventually. I know a lot of theaters that would not produce this, for the dated terminology and potentially triggering language used from the late 1960s. But it is still an important work and deserves to be produced.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews