Review : Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Tittle   : Flowers for Algernon
Author : Daniel Keyes
Publication date : May 1st 2005 by Harvest Books (first published 1959) 

If I could describe Flowers for Algernon, in one word, it would be "different". I am not really a fan of oldies book, but I am falling for it. This is one of the very view books that touched my heart.

A 32 year-old Charlie Gordon is mentally challenged. he had a very low IQ of 68 and he wanted to be smarter. He then went through some kind of brain surgery hoping to increase his intelligence. After the surgery, he got smarter every day. He could write properly, communicate better until one day he became a genius. Fortunately, intelligence doesn't equal with happiness. Charlie was disliked by his friends because they thought he act like a smart ass and it was annoying. Charlie also remembered about his dark past where his family didn't treat him nicely. That memories haunted him, making his life even more suffering.

Flowers for Algernon is Charlie's journal, so as you read, you will notice how his intelligence grows. I like its first person point of view, but I have one thing that bugs me, though. Before the surgery, it was very clear that there were a lot of mess in Charlie's especially the spelling however his voice was very clear and understandable and it didn't sound like a mentally challenged person writing a journal. To me, it was more like a journal with messy spelling, that's all. Can a mentally challenged person write that kind of detail?

I don't think so.

This book sends a very clear message the the readers. Mentally challenge people are human being, so for God's sake, have some respect and treat them nice as you wish to be treated. It saddens me how Charlie was being used as a guinea pig and none considered him as a human. With feelings.

Flowers for Algernon may not be my next favorite book of all time, but still, I still think the story is memorable and of course, touching. I rate this book 3. For those of you who are looking for the next science fiction book to read, I guess you should add it.

Have you read this novel? What did you think of it?