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Flowers for Algernon
 

Flowers for Algernon

by Daniel Keyes

Daniel Keyes wrote little SF but is highly regarded for one classic, Flowers for Algernon. As a 1959 novella it won a Hugo Award; the 1966 novel-length expansion won a Nebula. The Oscar-winning movie adaptation Charly (1968) also spawned a 1980 Broadway musical.
Following his doctor's instructions, engaging simpleton Charlie Gordon tells his own story in semi-literate "progris riports."... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  science fiction,  classic,  young adult,  classic literature (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

2 of 2 members found this review helpful.
IAN S
  • Rated 4 stars

“Flowers for Algernon is a tale of one person becoming to caught up in their desires to realize baht they have become. in the beginning Charlie a full grown adult has a mental illness. this illness causes charlies brain to act as though he was five.
But one day charlie finds a stroke of luck when some scientists want to use him as a test subject. he and his family use this time to try and help Charlie become a normal person. yet the experiment goes horribly wrong and charlie must learn...”

IAN S’s full review »
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Didn’t Like It

2 of 5 members found this review helpful.
Tinky
  • Rated 2 stars

“One of the world's most beloved soap suds.”

Tinky’s full review »
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Community:
  • Rated 4.090792 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.576923 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Selina C

    selina c said:

    “I think I liked the short story/novella more than the novel..the flashbacks were a bit confusing. I first read it in English class and enjoyed it very much. It was sad at the end.
    I would have liked to know what happened to Charlie's dad, can anyone remember? Did he abandon him?”

    posted 2 weeks ago
  • Andrew L

    andrew l said:

    “I read this book because I saw it featured in one of my favorite anime called Ghost in the Shell. In the show, there are these blue robot spiders which have advanced artificial intelligence. So advanced indeed that each of the robots begin to develop personality. One of the robots is a bookworm and he happens to be reading Flowers of Algernon in one sequence. He is very curious about the nature of the soul as he relates his own identity crisis being an artificial entity himself. He thinks the book addresses some aspect of the issue on soul.”

    posted 2 weeks ago
  • Hektik L

    hektik l said:

    “I read the short story in elementary school but it left such an impact I remembered the name. I didn't see the full version of the novel until a few weeks ago while browsing Borders book store. I picked it up and am currently reading through it together with my wife.

    Its pretty cool that this book has such devoted fans. Posting comments with spelling just like Charlie Gordon would write.

    Very cute.”

    posted 3 weeks ago
  • Luella S

    luella s said:

    “Intelligence doesn't equal happiness.”

    posted Tuesday, August 5 2008 ( | view 1 reply )
  • Scot

    scot said:

    “This is the first book I read where I realized that reading was at least half my job and that thinking on purpose about a book could be surprising.”

    posted Sunday, April 20 2008 ( | view 1 reply )
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