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Flowers for Algernon [Paperback]

Daniel Keyes (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (307 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: April 11 2005
With more than five million copies sold, Flowers for Algernon is the beloved, classic story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In poignant diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. As the experimental procedure takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment seems to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance--until Algernon begins his sudden, unexpected deterioration. Will the same happen to Charlie?
An American classic that inspired the award-winning movie Charly.

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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." He dimly wants to better himself, but with an IQ of 68 can't even beat the laboratory mouse Algernon at maze-solving:

I dint feel bad because I watched Algernon and I lernd how to finish the amaze even if it takes me along time.

I dint know mice were so smart.

Algernon is extra-clever thanks to an experimental brain operation so far tried only on animals. Charlie eagerly volunteers as the first human subject. After frustrating delays and agonies of concentration, the effects begin to show and the reports steadily improve: "Punctuation, is? fun!" But getting smarter brings cruel shocks, as Charlie realizes that his merry "friends" at the bakery where he sweeps the floor have all along been laughing at him, never with him. The IQ rise continues, taking him steadily past the human average to genius level and beyond, until he's as intellectually alone as the old, foolish Charlie ever was--and now painfully aware of it. Then, ominously, the smart mouse Algernon begins to deteriorate...

Flowers for Algernon is a timeless tear-jerker with a terrific emotional impact. --David Langford --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

PRAISE FOR FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON
"A tale that is convincing, suspenseful and touching."--The New York Times
"An ingeniously touching story . . . Moving . . . Intensely real."--The Baltimore Sun
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly touching Sep 15 1997
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
There are those who have attempted the topic before, to show the good or ill about artificially increasing a man's intelligence, and they have all fallen by the wayside, forgotten entries in the arena of literature, all because they forgot one factor: love.


In Flowers for Algernon, Keyes shows us a man who is jolted out of his comfortable world of stupidity and finds his friends who were not as good as he thought they were, that all he thought was nothing more than a veiled illusion. And he copes, as everyone must, he copes and finds love and comes to term with himself.


Just in time for him to realize that his intelligence is only temporary. In the most heart wrenching scenes of the novel, the reader must witness his intelligence fading rapidly, each journal entry a little less exact, the spelling a tiny bit worse, until the book comes full circle and he is back where he started from, only having a wisdom that he cannot understand, or comprehend.
Touching, moving, Flowers for Algernon is all that and more, it is an epic of emotion, an opera of getting what you want most and then realizing that you might have been better off.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A touching, intelligent story Aug 17 2006
By B L Miller
Format:Paperback
This award-winning novel by Daniel Keyes is nearly perfect in its execution, with perhaps the minor quibble of some dated slang that's a slight detraction. But that alone is not enough to prevent the book from receiving a well-deserved five stars. Keyes doesn't hit a false note in his story of the rise and fall of Charlie, a mentally retarded custodian at a bakery who briefly becomes a towering genius thanks to an experimental brain operation, only to loose it all as the effects turn out to be temporary. Worse, Charlie's deterioration is beyond even his advanced abilities to stop or reverse it; he has to bear the slow terror of sliding back down to his previous diminished mental capacity, with the hint that he- like Algernon, the lab mouse of the book title that was first to benefit from the operation- might die too. Although considered by some to be a "just" a sentimental story with a tearjerk ending, Charlie is a fully realized character from start to finish, one whose plight keeps you turning the pages, which is why this novel rates so highly. If you're a new fan of science fiction, or just want to sample what the genre has to offer, Flowers for Algernon should be high on your "must read" list. A newer novel with a similar theme is An Audience for Einstein, another book with an emotionally charged, touching ending.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Flowers For Algernon Sep 26 2005
By FreeToRhyme
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book was touching and meaningful. If you are a fan of faster paced books, this novel may not be for you. Flowers For Algernon moves relatively slowly, and readers grow attached to the main characters. Within the novel lies different messages concerning morals and everyday struggles.

Unique, and unlike any other books I have read before. You may want to pick it up and have a read.

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Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Knowledge is a Precious and Painful Possession
Charlie Gordon is not very bright, but has a life that works for him. He does not understand the cruelty of his coworkers, so is able to see them as his friends. Read more
Published 3 months ago by John M. Ford
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
They say "ignorance is bliss", that really rings true to this novel.
I don't think I've ever cried this much reading.
Published 13 months ago by PandaThuy
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant novel
I discovered this novel after viewing the adapted film, "Charly." Once again, the film failed to do justice to the eloquent and compelling character development in "Flowers for... Read more
Published 14 months ago by The_Introspector
4.0 out of 5 stars Flowers for Alfernon
I remember watching the movie based on this book when I was a child and I was fascinated by the movie and have often thought about it. Read more
Published on May 8 2011 by Pauline
5.0 out of 5 stars A WONDERFUL STORY!!!
Don't hesitate to read this book... So brilliant, so beautiful, so touching...
WOW! Buy this book as soon as you can, it worths the price!
Published on Nov 25 2010 by djudaite
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, thought-provoking and ultimately heartbreaking
This is absolutely one of the best books I have ever read (twice). I first had to read it sometime in high school or junior high for English class and it is the first time I... Read more
Published on Nov 9 2010 by Kieran Fox
5.0 out of 5 stars there isn't a lot to be said about this book
what a great book. It hooked me from the very first page, and I only stopped reading to make myself a coffee or use the bathroom. Read more
Published on Aug 11 2008 by T. Bigney
5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic
wow-really a fantastic book. really. the only thing is that it was extremely sad, seriously-almost to the depressing point. Read more
Published on Sep 13 2005 by Hannah
4.0 out of 5 stars read it in grade school
This was one of the first books I remember reading and being totally consumed by until I finished reading it. This is one of my favourite books, hope you enjoy it as well. Read more
Published on Dec 27 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars sad but ITS A great book!
this is a great book it teaches a great life lesson.. i had to read for my english class and i don't regret it. Read more
Published on July 6 2004
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