Flowers for Algernon
by Daniel Keye
New York : Harcourt Brace, [199-], c1966.
Flowers for Algernon is no stranger in the world of books. Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Award, it probably sits on many on those “books to read before you die” kind of list. I concur wholeheartedly.
Algernon is a mouse, not just any mouse but a hyper-intelligent mouse with problem solving abilities and advance cognitive skills. But Algernon was not born that way. It became so because of a scientific experiment meant to increase intelligence by an operation to the brain.
Imagine what a breakthrough it can potentially be if such an experiment works on humans. Every parent whose child has a less than average I.Q. will now have the hope of bringing up a normal child. All the researchers need is to have a real human to experiment on, to show that it is possible to exponentially increase the I.Q. of a retarded person permanently.
Charlie is 32 years old with an I.Q. of 68. He wants desperately to be smart so that people will like him. He is the perfect candidate for the experiment. Charlie is put through the same operation as Algernon and soon proves the experiment to be a success. From an I.Q. of 68, he soon develops an I.Q in excess of 180, far more than the researchers who performed the operation on him. Old retarded Charlie is now genius Charlie, the ultimate lab specimen of a successful experiment.
All is well and good, save for Charlie’s struggle to have his E.Q. catch up with his I.Q. and his struggle between being a human and a lab specimen, UNTIL Algernon’s intelligence suddenly deteriorates drastically. Charlie realises that it would not be long until he too has to return to being retarded, worse now that he knows what it means… not unless he can use his own intelligence to find a cure.
Written in the form of a diary, Flowers for Algernon, explores the mind of Charlie, his mental thoughts and emotions as he grows from being ignorant to having a profound capacity for knowledge. Certainly the book explores moral issues and questions about what science can and should do, but at its heart, it is an immensely touching story about the struggle of boy given a chance to be something he is not and the realisation that some things are never meant to be. Flowers for Algernon is a book everyone should read at least once in their lifetime.
~ Contributed by Felicia Chan
Have you read these books? Do you have something else to recommend?
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8 responses so far ↓
1 Ivan Chew // Oct 30, 2008 at 12:04 am
This is a solid story. A few people were surprised when I told them it’s Science Fiction (and then I launch into my ramblings about how good SciFi uses science as a backdrop in exploring moral and social issues… heh). Anyway, I was told it was a Literature textbook, which was surprising to me. Maybe this book might be chosen for a READ! Singapore book one of these days.
2 Felicia // Oct 31, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Science Fiction is a grossly misunderstood genre. Though when I was reading it, I didn’t think of it as S/F. I really like the book. There is so much in there and the book isn’t really all that long as well.
3 mrdes // Oct 31, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Sounds good. Thanks for the recommendation.
4 辜 // Nov 1, 2008 at 10:25 am
A fabulous read which touches my heart and soul.
For those who enjoy this, might want to try this book by Oliver Sacks “The man who mistook his wife for a hat”. A book that explore the human spirit behind medical science.
5 mrdes // Feb 16, 2009 at 12:01 am
Hi Felicia,
Just dropping in to say thanks for your recommendation.. And I concur wholeheartedly that this belongs to a “books to read before you die” kind of list.:P
6 Felicia // Feb 18, 2009 at 12:01 am
Thanks mrdes… it always makes my day when someone else likes a book I like - then we can all talk and “gossip” about it. What was most poignant to you in the book? I found it heart wrenching - I knew there were all these moral questions but I was more taken in by the figure of Charlie and feeling his pain.
7 mrdes // Feb 19, 2009 at 12:24 am
You know, to watch yourself having it all then to lose it all, is such a heart-wrenching experience, especially if it is something intangible, and inside you…then there is the struggle with his EQ, and the cruelty of only Charlie himself knowing about the consequence of the surgery…
The most heart-wrenching part was the scene where Charlie goes back to school after the regression in his intelligence, taking up his usual seat, putting up his hand, and forgetting…
8 Felicia // Feb 20, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I agree! That was also the part that hit me the strongest. The other part was him going back to work at the shop and having everyone pity him.
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