Delaney+W's+Book+Review




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Can a man with an I.Q. below 70 have a chance at living a normal life? Charlie Gordon, a 32-year-old mentally disabled man, was given that chance. __Flowers for Algernon__ by Daniel Keyes is an unusual yet interesting read that kept me turning the page. All of the characters are very real and quite unpredictable at times. The plot started out fairly slow, then it began to get quicker as Charlie’s intelligence increased. Overall, this book is fantastic, and I will definitely read it again.

What I really enjoyed about __Flowers for Algernon__ was observing changes in Charlie over time and the ability to relate to him. I felt pity for him at the beginning because all he wanted was to learn to read and write so he could be smart and have lots of friends, but he didn’t understand that there was more to it. Then, as he became more intelligent, I again felt pity for him when he discovered what his friends were really like. In addition, I was shocked at how rude he was to others. I saw how emotionally undeveloped he was, and I understood his struggle with this. Charlie’s ever changing personality and intelligence kept me reading. I never knew what new development he was going to make. I felt that Charlie was a real person that I could relate to. I understand what it feels like to yearn for affection, to realize that a person is not really what you thought they were, and to not want to let go of something. I wanted Charlie to be able to keep his intelligence, and I wanted him to be able to live the life he desired to live. I felt myself fighting back tears as I reached the end of the novel. __Flowers for Algernon__ was truly worth my time.

The characters in this novel were very believable. Before the operation, Charlie wanted to fit in and have friends. As a teenager, I can completely understand this desire. Most teens, and even adults, want that as well. After the operation, Charlie began to lose his “friends” because he made them feel inferior. I’ve seen this happen before, both in real life and in movies, TV, and books. Before Charlie’s operation, Miss Kinnian wanted the best for Charlie because of his kindness and determination. I have felt this way about others and I’m sure others have felt this way about me. Each character has some quality that I can relate to, and this added to my love of the novel.

I would definitely recommend __Flowers for Algernon__ to anyone who is looking for a great read. I must say that a lot of the novel is very sad, so if you want to indulge yourself with a happily-ever-after type book, then this is not the book for you. I walked away from this novel feeling satisfied and glad that I had taken the time to read it. I’m sure that many people will appreciate __Flowers for Algernon__ as much as I do.

__Flowers for Algernon__ is a novel filled with anger, love, uncertainty, success, and loss. Each page strikes the reader with a hunger for more. What will happen next? Can Charlie ever be normal? Will he get to keep his intelligence? You’ll just have to get a copy and find out for yourself.