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Flowers For Algernon
by Daniel Keyes
Provide your comments on the book of the month.
DISCUSSION TOPICS
While you're reading Flowers for Algernon, keep in mind some of these questions. You might like to comment on some of these points in the blog.
MEMORY is an important motif that runs throughout the novel. Do you think it's possible that as humans, we can accurately and impartially recall our memories? Can Charlie be trusted as a faithful narrator?
How is HUMANITY depicted in the novel? As Charlie's intelligence increases, how does his attitude towards other people change? How do Dr. Strauss and Prof. Nemur treat Charlie? What purpose do the actions of Charlie's mother and sister serve? What about Charlie's co-workers at Donner's bakery?
Charlie (and Algernon's) journey raises many psychological, scientific, physical and ethical issues. Which parts of the book did you strongly agree/disagree with? Did you stop and rethink your own beliefs at any stage?
What significance do the following symbols impart to the novel: Adam & Eve and the tree of knowledge; the window?
How did you react to the ending of Flowers for Algernon? Were you sad? Inspired? Angered? Impassive?
DID YOU KNOW?
Fun Facts about Flowers for Algernon
The original version of the novel was written as a short story - which received the Hugo Award, one of Science Fiction's greatest accolades in 1959.
In 1961, FfA was adapted into a successful television series: The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon, starring Cliff Robertson as Charlie.
Daniel Keyes expanded FfA into a full-length novel in 1966. It was awarded the prestigious Nebula Award that same year.
Over the years, the novel was further adapted into a popular feature film (Charly, 1968) and a Broadway musical (Charlie & Algernon, 1978) proving the themes of the story continue to resonate with a modern and diverse audience.
While you're reading Flowers for Algernon, keep in mind some of these questions. You might like to comment on some of these points in the blog.
MEMORY is an important motif that runs throughout the novel. Do you think it's possible that as humans, we can accurately and impartially recall our memories? Can Charlie be trusted as a faithful narrator?
How is HUMANITY depicted in the novel? As Charlie's intelligence increases, how does his attitude towards other people change? How do Dr. Strauss and Prof. Nemur treat Charlie? What purpose do the actions of Charlie's mother and sister serve? What about Charlie's co-workers at Donner's bakery?
Charlie (and Algernon's) journey raises many psychological, scientific, physical and ethical issues. Which parts of the book did you strongly agree/disagree with? Did you stop and rethink your own beliefs at any stage?
What significance do the following symbols impart to the novel: Adam & Eve and the tree of knowledge; the window?
How did you react to the ending of Flowers for Algernon? Were you sad? Inspired? Angered? Impassive?
DID YOU KNOW?
Fun Facts about Flowers for Algernon
The original version of the novel was written as a short story - which received the Hugo Award, one of Science Fiction's greatest accolades in 1959.
In 1961, FfA was adapted into a successful television series: The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon, starring Cliff Robertson as Charlie.
Daniel Keyes expanded FfA into a full-length novel in 1966. It was awarded the prestigious Nebula Award that same year.
Over the years, the novel was further adapted into a popular feature film (Charly, 1968) and a Broadway musical (Charlie & Algernon, 1978) proving the themes of the story continue to resonate with a modern and diverse audience.
shellnmill
Rating: 4.0
I read this book back in high school as a class novel. Very muched enjoyed it. We also had to watch the movie 'Awakenings' with Robert De Niro which is based around a similar story to that of the book.
Jolen
Rating: 8.0
I really enjoyed this book, and had not heard of it or the movie before reading it. It does make you wonder if you are how you are for a reason and when you change one thing it alters you as a whole. I really wanted Charlie to have a "normal" life but it wasn't meant to be.
Cafta
Rating: 3.5
Enjoyed this book, very thought provoking. Interesting way of telling the story, quite effective with just the progress reports. Made me consider intelligence and the way we treat and perceive others. Although written a while ago the subject matter and issues still quite pertinent.
birdlady
Rating: 4.0
It was a good read sad but being over intelligent made him feel lonely and being to aware of things made him see people in a different light but overall I thought he handled the transistion from low IQ to high and back reasonbly well considering. Overall it did give food for thought.
maggaz
Rating: 4.0
My first time read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was rather sad that the experiment did not become a permanent cure for Charlie.
schlakafoot
Rating: 3.0
I'm not sorry I read the book; but I was rather disappointed. I found the only sympathetic character to be Algernon - and was quite sad when he died.
LSBruce
Rating: 0.0
Like Maryjo, I read this as a teenager. I remember being thrilled as Charlie realised he'd beaten the mouse in the maze test and equally was in tears at the end as he realises that he's rapidly losing any gains he'd made and becoming simple again. In between though, when he does become intelligent, he also becomes quite arrogant and dislikable and I felt this was too stereotypical of the way a lot of people seem to view very intelligent people. Similarly with the doctor/scientist - too many people react to any scientific advance with suspicion, hostility even, seeing only a possible threat to their way of life rather than what benefits might arise from it. Maybe the treatment of Charlie appeared to be callous but surely the science was designed to help not only him but others with similar learning disabilities? The fact that it didn't work didn't make it not worth trying - most scientists do intend to work for humanity, not against it.
PuzzlePower
Rating: 5.0
First time read for me and thoroughly enjoyed it. Couldn't put the book down.. finished it in 5 days. Maybe Charlie's yearning to be smarter which he hoped would bring him more friends and happiness is a dream we all have such as winning the lottery. We hope this will improve the quality of our lives but too often hear of people unable to handle all the problems associated with a radical change of lifestyle and in fact become more stressed and miserable than they were before. The author was very clever depicting the changes in Charlie's intelligence by the standard of his writing of the(progis) progress reports. Valid comment about scientific research..whether scientists labour for the good of humanity or just for the personal recognition and fame.
maryjo
Rating: 5.0
Read this book several times as a teenager & also saw the movie. Makes you think about how science can be good as well as bad. I can't imagine what it's like knowing for sure how & when you're going to die.
kiturah
Rating: 4.0
I also read this book long ago, as a teenager. It was okay then, interesting but not more. Since then, I became severely ill with serious brain dysfunction. I went and got it again to learn how to die. It was profoundly moving.
Happily I have improved greatly.
Happily I have improved greatly.
tinkerbelll
Rating: 5.0
Cannot wait to get started. Flowers For Algernon sounds like an excellent book to take on my upcoming holiday.With some books you can tell that they are going to be good even before you open the first page.
Liesl Grimm
Rating: 3.0
Since you accepted my complaint, and not my comment, I will give it again. I read the book when it was first published, in my early twenties, and it was just another sci fi book. Interesting, but nothing that affected me personally. Since then I have had children and grandchildren, and I found that the current reading of the book affected me very strongly. I really felt happy for the improvement in their brain activity, but empathised badly when they deteriorated. I was left feeling that perhaps if they had not made whatever changed the brain activity so strong, it might have lasted better. Both times I considered the book a very good read.
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