Flowers for Algernon: In this beloved novel-the basis for the

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Summary: The self-realisation of individuality and independance
Review: Flowers for Algernon was an emotional story that followed Charlie's progress through an advanced human experiment. The story sets an example of morals for the human race and science. But aside from the experimental standpoint, Charlie shows us that he can prevail over his imperfection with a triumphant self-realisation. This book is worthy of the higherst praise and should be the foundation of modern ideals.

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Summary: This story made me realize the importance of "me"
Review: When I first started reading "Flowers for Algernon", I looked at it as one other school assigment. However, this book interested me very much when I understood the purpose. The story made me sad, but also made me realize how lucky I'm to be a normal human being.

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Summary: Allows the reader to see the world from another perspective
Review: I recently finsihed this book, and found myself ashamed of how judgemental I was towards superficial things. Not only was it well written, but the development of Charlie was so closely documented, that it was as if Charlie Gordon was actually speaking. The reader can see how the "normal" way of life can be different for everyone. I could not wait to finish the story, and this book, whose storyline I had initially questioned, became one of the best books I have ever read.

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Summary: OOOOORIGINAL!
Review: Flowers for Algernon explored every emotion possible. I was glad that even though the love and sex issue is a sensitive topic, it covered it well so that the reader could understand that even though Charley was mentally capable, he was not exactly emotionally capable of normal human relations. It was daring, but realistic, and the novel was amazingly original. Who could think up a story like that?

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Summary: Touching and Outstanding Novel
Review: From the time that I started to read the book "Flowers for Algernon" I could not put it down. I read the book for a summer reading assignment for my school to enter the ninth grade. I give the book a rating of 5 stars because it shows me how lucky I am to be normal. Normally, I choose not to read because it doesn't interest me, this book kept me entertained. While reading the book I kept picturing my self in Charlie's position. I recommend this book to all readers.

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Summary: A classic tale that most thoroughly enjoy.
Review: This novel by Keyes has a rather unique background. A shorter version won the 1960 Hugo Award for best science fiction "short fiction" of the year (it had appeared in the April 1959 issue of the "Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction") and has been anthologized a number of times. This short story was made into a television special ("The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon") in 1961 and I believe it won an Emmy Award. The author expanded the story into a novel which was voted a tie for the 1966 Nebula Award for best science fiction novel by the Science Fiction Writers of America (it tied with Samuel Delany's "Babel 17" and beat out Robert Heinlein's "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress"). It also received a nomination for the 1967 Hugo Award, losing to Heinlein's novel. It was then made into a film ("Charly") for which Cliff Robertson received the Oscar Award for best actor for 1968. In 1969, David Rogers wrote a play based on the novel. In this story, the intelligence of a mentally challenged man is greatly enhanced by treatments. He forms an attachment with a mouse named Algernon who has already undergone this same treatment. Charlie is asked to keep a dairy and the novel consists of his daily reports. As his intelligence grows Charlie becomes more aware of his status. He soon develops into a "super genius" and finds he is just as isolated and lonely as he was before the treatment. {An earlier reviewer (June 5, 1999) from Wisconsin commented that Charlie caused his own loneliness. How can that be? He was mentally challenged at the start of the novel and, after his treatments, he did not have the time we all have to develop social skills. He is not at fault here.) But, he also discovers that it is only temporary and he has to deal with his upcoming return to mental retardation. As the years have gone by since I first read this book, I realize that there is a second issue that should arise whenever discussing the novel. It concerns the ethics of the researchers who provide the treatment. They convinced a mentally challenged man, who clearly doesn't fully understand what is happening, to undergo a treatment that had only been applied to a single laboratory mouse! These same researchers also performed the treatment when their understanding of neurochemistry and neuroanatomy is clearly difficient (as Charlie later shows in the novel). They are actually the villains of the tale! This is a great story and provides much insight into our dealings with others, how different people look at the world, our interactions with the mentally challenged, and in bioethics. I highly recommend it.

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Summary: A page turner
Review: This book was definitely a page turner and I was glad I read it. Keyes wrote an engaging story that was hard to put down. I'm not giving it five stars because I thought it lacked something - I guess I felt the author was trying to send a message and I wasn't really buying it. Charlie caused his own loneliness and unhappiness. It had very little to do with him becoming intelligent. Someone like Dostoyevsky could have taken the same story and done so much more with it. That may be an unfair comparison though. Flowers is definitely worth reading.

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Summary: Origional and touching
Review: I have never read a book quite like this. Not only was it entertaining to the last letter, but it gave me a chance to realize just how lucky I am. Something was always happening and changing and so I just kept on turning those pages. Even if you are one of those people who never read books, you really should give this one a try. You won't be disappointed, and that is a promise.

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Summary: A devisatingly realistic story of never-changing fate
Review: Charlie Gordon, the main character who is mentally challenged, undergoes surgery to make him smart. This surgery is an experiment for doctors learn about the effects of this process. They had already performed this test on a mouse named Algernon. The thirty-two year old is really excited about the test. As the book goes on you realize how much the surgery affected him and the drastic changes and damage it did to his personality. Unfortunately, at the end of the book you find out that the surgery wasn't as helpful as the doctors had hoped. This proves that fate can never really be changed, even by Science.

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Summary: This is one of the best books we have ever read.
Review: The book Flowers for Algernon was surprisingly original, modern, and suspensful. A tale of an incredible metamorphosis through time, you find yourself sharing Charlie's feelings and wanting to be there to hold his hand through the hard times. This novel will inspire, encourage, and help you to relate to the less fortunate. We definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in discovering an intimate look into the life of Charlie Gordon, a truly unique human being.