Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes – Adult Fiction Shelves, Adult Paperbacks, and Adult Large Print – Main Level – Keyes. Teen Zone Paperbacks – Main Level - Keyes.
Charlie Gordon is a mentally retarded man in his early 30’s who is chosen for an amazing experiment—to receive a brain operation, injections, and therapy in order to make him smart. The model for such an experiment is conducted on a mouse named Algernon who has shown a great increase in intellectual abilities. Charlie happily agrees to be a part of this experiment because he thinks that being smart is the best thing in the world.
Soon after this experiment is conducted, Charlie does gain in intellectual smarts, but his mental facilities in terms of relationships with others is still behind that of normally progressing young adults. Thus, while Charlie enjoys being able to read and speak in many languages, he struggles with the most basic of human relationships. Charlie comes to realize that being smart doesn’t mean that one has all the answers or happiness in life.
Sadly, Charlie also comes to realize that the doctors who have designed this experiment have failed to plan fully for what can occur in such a rapid explosion of intelligence. Furthermore, Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur also fail to take into account real human emotions and desires as they treat Charlie like some sort of experimental lab rat. Charlie does find friendships with Algernon, his partner in this experiment, and Alice Kinnian—his teacher. He eventually falls in love with Alice, and they share a tender yet tragic love story.
Flowers for Algernon is mesmerizing. It is a novel that relates to all of our human emotions of love, fear, sadness, joy, failure, and success. Daniel Keyes has truly written a classic novel that will grab onto the reader and not let go until you are finished.