Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Flowers for Algernon

by Daniel Keyes

Winner of both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, the powerful, classic story about a man who receives an operation that turns him into a genius...and introduces him to heartache.

Charlie Gordon is about to embark upon an unprecedented journey. Born with an unusually low IQ, he has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery that researchers hope will increase his intelligence-a procedure that has already been highly successful when tested on a lab mouse named Algernon.

As the treatment takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment appears to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance, until Algernon suddenly deteriorates. Will the same happen to Charlie?

Reviewed by Bianca on

5 of 5 stars

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2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge
‪12. A book with a plant in the title or on the cover‬

How strange it is that people of honest feelings and sensibility, who would not take advantage of a man born without arms or legs or eyes—how such people think nothing of abusing a man born with low intelligence. It infuriated me to remember that not too long ago I—like this boy—had foolishly played the clown.

And I had almost forgotten.

Only a short time ago, I learned that people laughed at me. Now I can see that unknowingly I joined them in laughing at myself. That hurts most of all.


— This was a sad and heartbreaking book that explores humanity, intelligence, happiness, and how ignorance truly is bliss sometimes. THE LAST PAGES TOTALLY BROKE MY HEART 😭💔

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 18 May, 2019: Finished reading
  • 18 May, 2019: Reviewed