Review of Flowers of Algernon by 'Daniel Keyes'

Genre: Science Fiction,

Published: 1966

Pages: 266

Tags: science fiction, epistolary novel

Now, How do i explain to you guys that this book scratched a particular part of my brain that i didn't think was possible. Sorrow, anger, helplessness - what am i feeling? This is how you will feel while reading this book.

The story is about charlie, a 32 year old man with intellectual disability, has an IQ of 68, works in a bakery , his uncle's friend runs. Charlie is insanely driven to get smart and miraculously he comes across an opportunity to be part of an experiment which could increase his IQ and make him the most intelligent person in the room. A little about the procedure, this has been already performed on a rat named 'Algernon' and results proven to be successful. Charlie was going to be the first human subject in this experiment. In the book, the story unfolds through a series of reports written by Charlie while he was a part of this experiment.

The progression of his intelligence is powerfully captured through these reports. Charlie also meets his fellow subject 'Algernon' who is capable of solving complex mazes. The experiment succeeds and Charlie's IQ increases. But as they say, there’s always a price to pay for everything you gain. Charlie now begins to remember his past—the childhood trauma of not understanding why his mother was always angry with him. He sees, with painful clarity, why his coworkers, who once claimed to be his friends, constantly laughed at him. As his intelligence grows, so do his perceptions, and his reactions toward people and his sense of humanity undergo drastic changes. The once innocent, good-natured Charlie becomes bitter and withdrawn. He’s torn between a desire to be seen as fully human, regardless of his intelligence, and the isolation his transformation brings.

Charlie also discovers the "friends" who laughed at him in the past, turned bitter towards him once he stood up for himself, making him question the real intentions of people around him. Charlie's intelligence with and without his control negatively affected his personal relationships as well. Amidst all this, Charlie discovers the flaw in the experiment by observing Algernon's behavior. There’s also Alice, a grounding presence in the story—the woman Charlie loved and respected. Yet, he’s forced to pull himself away from her as he faces the harsh reality of how the experiment will end. Is this a cruel twist of fate or just a monumental scientific miscalculation? Daniel Keyes’ storytelling through progress reports is both intriguing and unique, making me feel as if I were truly a part of Charlie’s life, reading his story straight from his diary.

The book was painful, powerful, and thought-provoking. I stumbled upon it by accident while searching for science fiction, and now I’m grateful I did. In a world where we constantly pick each other apart, even when we’re physically and mentally similar, how do we treat those who don’t quite “fit in” by society’s rulebook?

While having an intellectually high brain allows for seeing the world beyond mere numbers, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills, it doesn’t necessarily lead to healthy emotional intelligence, which is crucial for navigating the complexities of human relationships. Before the experiment, Charlie was kind and naive, but as he became more intellectually aware, he grappled with complex emotions and social dynamics, highlighting the profound impact that intelligence had on his life.