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Flowers for Algernon
A novel written by Daniel Keyes in 1966
Flowers for Algernon is a science fiction short story and subsequent novel written by Daniel Keyes. The short story, written in 1958 and first published in the April 1959 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, won the Hugo … see full wiki
Author:
Daniel Keyes
Genre:
Fiction,
Literature & Fiction,
General Fiction,
Classics,
Classic Literature,
Classic Fiction
Publisher:
Harcourt
Date Published:
March 1966
ISBN:
0151315108
20 reviews about Flowers for Algernon
Showing 1-20 of 20
Sad and thought provoking, this tale comes full circle with Charlie's character implying that being profoundly intelligent can be as crippling and isolating as profound retardation. Is it better, then, to be ignorant of your isolation? This book made me very emotional. It is heartfelt and wonderful. It's first person perspective intimately involves the reader from the beginning and communicates his hardships in a way that a 3rd person narrative could not.
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Compliments (18)
A cautionary tale. Just because a thing "can" be done, it does not necessarily follow that it "should" be done.
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Fascinating look into what "smart" means, and what it might be worth. Keyes works brilliantly with the psyche, perception, and ability to describe what his narrator experiences. In this way, a predecessor to "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." Wonderful read. Moving.
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Wonderful and touching story!
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This was a very moving book. i found myself on the edge of tears after reading it. When a book has the power to touch and move you in that way, you never want to let it go. You share in the pain of the main character, the confusion felt by all. The main character has to make a choice between an old way of being and thinking and the new way that has presented itself. He can be a genius and be loathe by all or a special needs individual and be loved and helped. Truly a remarkable piece of work.
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Super sad for me to read
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A slow read, but pretty worth it in the end.
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Good but sad book. This is one of the books I enjoyed reading in school.
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excellent book!!
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Good Story but Sad
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Very sad, but food for thought.
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Quick Tip by AshleyShell.
June 15, 2010
Heartbreakingly beautiful.
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Quick Tip by acs518.
June 14, 2010
Good book, its starts with mental degeneration,to mental progression, to mental degeneration, its sad though. you get feelings.
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Quick Tip by JohnLee.
June 11, 2010
Read it in High school-caught my empathy.
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I loved this book. I thought it was so very sad. It was written in a way that made it very realistic even though it was definitely fiction.
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Awesome!
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Quick Tip by carolh.
May 19, 2010
Didn't mind reading this in school. Heart wrenching, though.
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In 1959 Daniel Keyes wrote a short story called Flowers for Algernon, which became popular enough that he was able to expand it into a novel. The story itself was fantastic at the time. In fact, it is a book that will survive the test of time for many more decades to come just for the sake of it being quite an original tale about a very charming character who we come to enjoy and admire. Flowers for Algernon, despite its title, isn't really about Algernon. … more
Comments (4)
Compliments (24)
review by KevinE.
August 21, 2000
How many books can make this claim? 1) They are thought provoking. 2) They are exceedingly clever. 3) They are exceptionally well-written. "Flowers for Algernon" surpasses all criteria and is truely astonishing! The story is full of symbolism and ironies. Some are obvious while others are well hidden in the richly plotted text. This work can be read on many levels and can be enjoyed by all. Keyes transition from the dim-witted Charlie to the super genious who must write "down" to a level where his … more
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review by Beatleman1ac.
May 01, 2000
This is a poignant and wonderful novella about a man's metamorphisis from retarted worker to genius and his slow and painful transformation back to his original state. It is a powerful work because it somehow makes us question how we view people with intellectual disabilities, and ask is Charly, the main character, any "better off" with his new found intellect? It is sad, it is warm and funny, and it beautifully written and conceived. It is well worth a read.
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