Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes

Heard about this book on Goodreads and decided it sounded pretty good and since it seemed like a quick read I decided to give it a go but little to my knowledge did I know it was a school book. A very popular one at that!Everyone who ever read it said it was a sad book and that I should carry tissues with me and as I do admit I thought it was fairly sad, I feel I did not need tissues, maybe I am not as sentimental as others? Or maybe I went into it expecting myself to ball and then expected too much? I don't know but I really did enjoy the book. I gave it 4/5 stars!
What would yo do in Charlie's case? I would want to at least try to be smart too but there is a moral to the story, that even if you have what you always wanted it doesn't necessarily mean you will become happy. He had everything but the smarts. He had friends, a job he loved, and he seemed content in his life but when he was given the gift of intelligence it was all taken away and he was left with the realization that people did not look at him in the same way anymore, which is either bad or good??? But he became super smart and then arrogance set in. The character I hated the most is the obvious, I hauted his mother. Me, being a parent of two beautiful girls, I could never imagine turning one of them away or even putting them down! But it makes for a great story!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, I must be one of the sentimental ones because this book really touched me; but then I read it when I was a teen. I just felt so sad for Charlie!

Donna said...

I really don't know how to put it. I mean I felt really and truly sorry but I kinda....IDK! It is one of those books where you can't choose sides but you feel guilty if you have to.

Unknown said...

I had the same experience as you did but I saw this book at a Target. Of all places to find books right?!?1 And little did I know some woman on the bus started telling me how she read it in high school and how sad it was. I did like the book... I didnt shed tears and I deff. dont remember this on my school reading lists (I didint like those that much back in the day, but I wouldve remembered this short one)!!!

Donna said...

Everyone seemed to have read it in HS I think I would have remembered this! BTW Target has the best prices on books (if buying new of course!)