Flowers for Algernon | book review (some spoilers)

[@j3s0n]

"I passed your floor on the way up, and now I'm passing it on the way down, and I don't think I'll be taking this elevator again". It was a very thought-provoking book

[@johntackett2913]

I felt this

[@richtaylor4780]

This quote stuck with me too

[@a.c.7573]

This book was so heartbreaking, wish Charlie let Alice take care of him instead of shutting everyone out

[@guzganciorodisie7234]

it would ve been nice, but it also makes sense why charlie chose not to, and go away for good. he had a glimpse into what he could ve had with alice, but now that he was losing his intelligence faster and faster he knew he d bring only sorrow to alice and in a confusing way to him too. i think he chose to go away because he really loved alice. not that it s of any interest, but ps: this is the most heartbreaking novel. i read it when i was younger, and i just finished now again, when i m much older, and it broke me into pieces i never even knew were there before.

[@Pandor18]

Alice herself said that she probably wouldn't like to do it

[@BertGrink]

This is one of those stories that everyone should read.

[@Yvci]

Yeah that what we all are doing right know

[@maximusprimus2313]

Flowers for Algernon. You have to read the book to appreciate the title. The richness and depth of concept still rings very true today.

[@captainnemo9742]

I agree with you totally, the title must have turned many readers off. It sounds like some sort of nineteenth century lovestory. But it's a great read.

[@kamiltrzebiatowski9331]

@@captainnemo9742 19th century love stories are amazing. :)

[@Pandor18]

@@kamiltrzebiatowski9331 sure, but different experience and less overlap in the public

[@angellistheshit]

Read this in 9th grade and while everyone laughed I couldn’t help but think of my little brother who has autism. It made me feel very sad for him but 15 years later I know understand that my brother continues to be the happiest man today and he’s the kindest and most gentle person you’ll ever meet. He understands more than people give him credit and is the best with dates as he’ll remember everyone’s birthday and what movie happened on what day and year or any event.

[@Jezza36]

It's been a year since you posted this, but I've just finished this book and the whole time i couldn't help but feel horrible. I've got a younger brother who has learning difficulties and growing up I used to be really harsh on him. Looking back its awful, and its a shame that it took me reading this to understand. I make sure I'm there for him now, but because of my short temper, I'm always worried ill lash out and hurt him

[@angellistheshit]

@@Jezza36 yeah don’t be so harsh on yourself but tell him you love him and you’ll always be there for him. Be gentle and remember that they will always talk so nice about you. Be their biggest advocate and really get to know him and surprise him. I taken my brother to the UFC and WWE cause he loves it and he always bring it up. He got cancer 2 years ago and my whole family change and we are a lot closer so sometimes thing happen thag make you think differently

[@pnutbutrncrackers]

Hardest cry I ever had reading a book was with this one.

[@Pandor18]

For me still second to the tale of the scholar in Hyperion 😭😭😭😭 Now that I think about it, very similar themes

[@saaraa7876]

Same here. I cry very easily, but I don’t think any book, movie or TV show has made me cry quite as hard as this book (though I do remember once ugly sobbing watching something, but I can’t remember what it was.)

[@caseyjoi]

i just finished it for english class an hour ago and i cannot stop crying

[@sonictheflexhog6075]

Almost all books I was required to read for English were good books. To Kill A Mockingbird, incredible book. Of Mice And Men, again excellent book. 1984, fabulous book. I wasn’t required to read Flowers For Algernon but I wish we were. I feel like everybody should read this book. I only heard of the book from a song called Feather by Nujabes and Cise Star. Cise Star says “I’m just a vagabond, with flowers for Algernon.” I was curious what that meant, so I searched the phrase, and was greeted to a truly excellent read!

[@saltycage457]

@@sonictheflexhog6075 ayeee :) same

[@beef5010]

I was never required to read it for school (I graduated years ago) I only read it by chance in college because it was in the library and I had some free time. When I heard it was required reading material in some schools I was shocked, it seems like an incredibly difficult read.

[@veraarmstrong9656]

Read the Short Story and the Book way back when. Never being particularly fond of the subject of Psychology, but needing a class in that subject as GE Requirement at that time to graduate, I reluctantly took an "Experimental Psychology" class, where each Student got to work with a white lab rat applying the Behavioral Psych Theories of BF Skinner. To make a long story short, I really became fond of my lab rat, whom I named Algernon. Algernon became so very very "smart" that it became the smartest rat in the class, and who definitely helped me get an A in the class! When I asked the Prof as to what will happen to all the rats used in the class tha Prof nonchalantly said "OH, we feed them to the Snakes in the Biology Dept!" Not MY Algernon, I said. So Algernon went home with me, for good, that day. Alegernon lived for well over 2 more years, remained an excellent pet Companion and and I still miss him...

[@jamesdrynan]

A good analysis. Daniel Keyes' original short story is brilliant. Using the first person narrative and charting Charlie's rise and fall through spelling and grammatical skills was an excellent visual cue. The bittersweet final sentence is inspired. " Please if you get a chanse put some flowrs on Algernons grave in the bak yard..."

[@bookssongsandothermagic]

This took my breath away when I read it and it still pops up in my thoughts a few years later - so powerful and the way it is written is genius. There's one word on one page, that when it appears you know that the plot has drastically changed - just incredible.

[@MarcosGarcia-et1qu]

"Please, god, dont take it all away." I finished the end of the book in shambles. Thank you for the great review

[@stevena8719]

The book caused me to reflect a lot on my own intelligence and intelligence in general. I could think of many occasions in my life in which I was the fool as a direct result of my inability to understand why I was foolish. This ultimately got me thinking about my own arrogance and the role that arrogance plays in social pathologies. To some degree, I think the whole book is a cautionary tale against arrogance. Conversely it had me considering the concept of fulfilling one’s intellectual potential. As Charlie became more intelligent his desire to fulfill his new potential drove him to fill his mind and think as much as he could, something Im sure many people wish they would do themselves. As someone who isn’t very well educated Ive always been self conscious of my intelligence/knowledge, so the story led to me pondering about whether I had done myself a great disservice in not pursuing the development of my intellect. There’s much more to say but the major take away for me is the perspective of always remembering that it’s easy to view yourself as a big fish when you’re swimming in a small pond.

[@jacqo4426]

Charlie and Frankenstein's monster are somehow alike.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Thanks so much for the excellent book review!

[@sydthegoat88]

Half the students at my grade had to read Flowers for Algernon, the other half had to read Charlie and The Chocolate factory (Willy Wonka). Segregation through literature. Apples and oranges

[@Pandor18]

Flowers and candies

[@levydondoyano7715]

I’m dont usually a usually read books in my recreational time but this book hits different. We red this book in my English class and oh boiii after we finished the reading it I just cant stop thinking about Charlie. I recommend this book to everyone, no cap this is better than The Twilight Saga.

[@Sci-FiOdyssey]

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda I know what you mean! Charlie sticks with you for a long time after reading this book

[@levydondoyano7715]

hypeword SFF EXACTLY!

[@jamesrich5640]

Can’t watch yet but looking forward to this video. One of my favorite reads last year. Heart breaking

[@ertyderty7]

I have question my own intelligence since I read this book as a teenager. I honestly wish I never was exposed to this book. I believe I would be a happier person if I was never put onto that train of thought.

[@grandmalovesmebest]

Hopefully, it stopped you being a bully to fragile ppl.

[@ertyderty7]

@@grandmalovesmebest Are you fragile?

[@vikkihall-webster7598]

I don't understand why this, or any book would make you question your intelligence. Elaborate please.

[@frog6054]

@@vikkihall-webster7598 Perhaps, maybe some of the things Charlie did in the story, reminds him of himself? That's what happens to me too.

[@MaximilianonMars]

It might trouble you, but no-one is gifted at everything. Some people are beautiful, or strong, or smart, or fast. It's what they do with what they have that counts. Someone who squanders his gifts is far worse compared to someone who uses what little they have with all their heart. Intelligence increases pride too, which is a deadly trap. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans:3:10,23 King James Version Everyone is a sinner, one sin is enough to send you to hell, however God loves us and provides the only way to Heaven: through Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ paid the full price for your sins past, present and future through His sacrifice and resurrection. He offers the free gift of eternal life to anyone who puts their trust in him to save them, not in their own good deeds which can NEVER save them. I have a clear gospel presentation on my channel by a trustworthy pastor. Watch it, understand the gospel and believe it. Get saved today, it lasts for eternity. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John:5:13 King James Version

[@pepperpies4523]

i just finished the book last night and i was sobbing. i was given this book for a class assignment in jr English but my teacher left my school right in my last 50 pages it pulled out some hard emotions especially after coming back to school from dropping out and years of horrible teachers before ,this whole situation was hard but i couldnt have had a better book to deal with half the administration leaving now too. This book can be split and examined tons of ways and taken for advice in many i glad i got to read such a book and met a character like Charlie. i cant stop thinking of the last 3 pages. :(

[@daedaluscenter2825]

that book made me cry, love the read it's a great book I like your review

[@theflash6539]

wow. incredible story. bitter sweet seeing him grow intellectually and incredibly heartbreaking watching him regress. I hope they remembered to put flowers on Algernon's grave

[@PoseidonDiver]

One of my high school English teachers chose this as one of our set-work books. I have always had high intelligence, together with intense social anxiety. This very short story, left a life long impact on me, it further broadened my perspective on life, the pursuit of knowledge.. But mostly how much I never want to be witness to the inevitable slow decay in mental acuity and physical function. It would destroy me.

[@maxwellheenan458]

In all honesty I am really happy I found this gem. Both the book and the video. The book was amazing and the speaker in the video was abale to articulate his thuaghts very well.

[@jamesrich5640]

Okay finally could watch. I completely agree with everything you said. I still think about the themes almost a year later. Heartbreaking is the operative word to describe the story for me. While I am still kind of new on the Sci-fi train this is my favorite to date. As always great video

[@kamiltrzebiatowski9331]

The "outdated language" is not a drawback of the book. I don't understand the concept of "outdated". I just read "Plato's Cave" and reread "Crime and Punishment". I suspect I read fiction to learn about the world as it is or how it is interpreted in an author's mind, not the way it should be. Even better if I am anxious or shocked by something - I've probably learned something. Sadly, nowadays, this book would likely not make it to print as it wouldn't get past sensitivity readers or if it did, they would remove all the "offensive" language, meaning of course censorship of art: it is entirely up to an author how they write what they write.

[@arion45]

This book changes as you hit each decade of life

[@nickdaboss03]

I Just blitzed this book over the course of two evenings... one of the most moving pieces I've ever read, I recommend anyone who enjoys a deep, emotional read picks this one up. It won't disappoint.

[@captainnemo9742]

I read it over twenty years ago. I'd forgotten that it's a medical procedure that improves his intelligence, I thought it was medication. Watching your video makes me want to re-read it.

[@angelasmith7912]

Same here, I remembered it as medication

[@woufff_]

Just discovered your channel, I very much like your reviews, thank you for that. I've read this book almost 50 years ago when I was a teenager and had almost forgotten it meanwhile. You have given me a good reason to buy and read it again

[@hawkeye9010]

Does the author infer that Charly will shortly die due to the Evidence of the death of Algernon or does Mr. Keyes believe that Charly will live but live as he did before the operation ?

[@elisa_740]

I think it's implied that he'll die soon, just like the mouse. It's truly heartbreaking

[@lorensims4846]

Very nice review of a Nebula Award winner for best science fiction novel. You can argue it's not science fiction but it has been included in more than one science fiction anthology. This was also made into a movie in 1968, "Charly" for which Cliff Robertson won the academy award for best actor. Dated or not this is Absolutely a Must Read.

[@abbyj2783]

I stumbled upon Flowers for Algernon randomly while browsing books at my High School Library. I didn’t expect such a moving, emotional, heartbreaking story. I remember crying over this book. It left such an impression on me. It’s a book I very much would love to read again. Its one of the few books I’ve read that had no overtly fantastical elements that still managed to captivate me. I have yet to see the film adaptation, but I’ve heard its decent.

[@deividasprunskas6689]

Thanks for this, came looking because of song by Nujabes - Feather , where Flowers of Algernon was mentioned

[@SusanGaglianoPisa]

I read the book when I was in high school (back in the 70's) and loved it!!!!!!!!!!!! To this day I've always considered it one of the top 10 books that "formed me", I guess you could say. THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting the film. I've just watched it for the first time now, and I can say from the bottom of my heart.....it's really beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The film is wonderful as is the book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jesuscadena5673]

Two of the best books I’ve ever read were The Portent, and Flowers for Algernon. Wonderful books to rrad

[@Grendelbc]

Great review. First read it in High school, more than 40 years ago. Loved it then and it's probably time to read it again. The movie wasn't bad either.

[@marydelong4683]

I read this wonderful book many years ago when it was new, and so was I.

[@txarly2008]

A TRUE MASTERPIECE !!! I honestly think that everyone should read this book!!!

[@Sakura-zu4rz]

We know that Many people give and receive money and things, but few people give and receive time and love.

[@voxtemporis4503]

I feel like Charley Gorden. Especially since Covid-19.

[@dana-ce1vb]

Same!

[@georgehsmyth1456]

Just finished this the other night, slept with it under my pillow that night...talk about making a grown man cry! Great book, great review.

[@XenoKnightAlpha]

My several-year-old memory of this book hit me like a ton of bricks out of nowhere-an emotional surge or a cathartic epiphany! Quite less immense to how I had felt immediately after reading it which was more akin to melancholic somber. Thank you for the short, but insightful review of Flowers for Algernon! I suppose my takeaway is any kind of tampering with the brain should absolutely not to be taken lightly. Anything from poisons such as alcoholic beverages, drugs like antidepressants, or other treatments like magnetic stimulation all affect the brain in some way. So all I can recommend is to be cautious.

[@megalawr]

One of my favourite books of all the time

[@A-_-sa]

I don't know if anyone will read this but I just finished this book and I feel mentally and emotionally fucked, I just don't want to do anything I fell so bad for Charlie an d I don't even know dude, I just have been laying on my floor for hours, I don't know what to do

[@Shiro642]

The music sets the mood of the downfall of Charlie. His loneliness, his late night walks, his self-imposed isolation in that apartment. Very tragic character and the music is fitting for his downhill at the end

[@akzhanamanbayeva1837]

Do you know where can I find this sound?

[@1957Shep]

I remember reading this book when I was a kid. At the time, probably a little too young to fully understand it. Recently read it again and watched the movie that was developed from the book. The movie wasn`t bad, but it is not nearly as good as the book. At least hollyweird didn`t completely butcher the story the way they do with so many books being adapted to film.

[@KakashiHatake-ou7mp]

A wonderful book. The ending was extremely sad

[@rickyconner6782]

I read it years ago and loved it. Wish I had time to reread it.

[@varsa507]

I relate a lot to the character. I cut away everybody in my life as I realized I couldn't prove them wrong with my mental capacity declining day by day. As someone who hasn't read the book(yet), I'm wondering, did Charlie really gain intelligence or did he just become more self concious?

[@adrianliung8374]

Hope you read the book by now. He became more intelligent and self-conscious.

[@flowaroundtherock]

Finished it last night. Still crying.

[@sherifffruitfly]

It's a very fine story indeed - I consider it a work of existentialism.

[@stuartrusso6948]

Great review of a great book. Its been a few years since I read it but I definately agree with everything. How such a short story can hit so hard for so many people is a testament to the skill with which it was written. One of those books that makes me go "Oh wow...never read anything like that before!" On the subject of uncomfortable language its an interesting debate, and I feel that we can only judge events and people of the time by the norms of the time. People are a product of their environment and do not have access to the years/decades/centuries of social evolution and learning that come after them. We read about issues such as racism, sexism, war, torture and genocide to both make sure these things are never forgotten by human-kind and also so we see it through the eyes of people who lived in those times from all walks of life; this applies as much to fiction as it does non-fiction as the author is effectively exposing us to their own their outlooks and predjudices and potentially indicating what expectations are upon the wider readership of the time. As an example, as a parent of mixed heritage children I have encountered people using the terms "coloured", "mixed race", "dual heritage" and even "half-cast" when trying to talk about children with mixed heritage ancestory. Often people are using a term that they think is more polite or socially acceptable than saying "black" and yet some of these terms used are often recieved as being more offensive. In 50-100 years from now what will the prevailing social-norm be? Will Sci Fi readers in the future look back with horror as the term BAME is used in novels written in the current time? I know that the term is used widely with the intention to be inclusive and promote debate about stronger racial integration and yet to many people from different ethnic groups the term is insulting and "catch-all" and they cannot identify with the term or reject it completely. I dont let myself get emotionally swayed by terminology but more by the sentiment from the user; it is the sentiment and context (tone, body language etc) that often communicate the truth from others rather than the clumsy / uncertain or awkward wording they may use (in seeking to not offend they acutually make it worse). If for example the author in 1960 is using terminology to descibe people with reduced mental capcity in a way we might find offensive today we must ask ourselves does the author portray that charactor in a good way or a bad way? In Flowers for Algenon the author creates a hugely emotive charactor that almost every reader feels powerful empathy for and also feels and senses the social stigma around Charlie before even Charlie aquires the ability to see it.

[@tartertime89]

I read this story every year without fail.

[@juliemonarch7364]

One flew over the cuckoo's nest!

[@joebaumgart1146]

I didn't need to read it. I lived it. I wish I was still level 3. I was happier then.

[@soffmusic9655]

Fantastic, fantastic story. Read it if you haven't.

[@juliemonarch7364]

Another great read, was Island of the Blue Dolphins.

[@WendyWatersctmm]

Most brilliant book I've ever read.

[@jameskantor0459]

Great review, profound book.

[@emotegisoda]

what song is used for this video?

[@jamesrogers47]

I first read "Flowers for Algernon" in third grade and the story has haunted me throughout the fifty years since.

[@gold_apple_vn4657]

Books that are out of my imagination: Love and wars, Flower of Al"something", 1984, The dark side of human

[@bradmiller9507]

Well worth Thinking a Thought!

[@bradmiller9507]

Thanks!

[@rory6939]

😂😂while reading, I made it my purpose to notice where the transition started

[@ling199508]

Nicely done video

[@joshcarvalho3352]

Where can I find the image at 0:59

[@antonnovo695]

Samantha Grove anyone?

[@1noetic]

Great book!

[@amaro6603]

cool vídeo

[@Queef_Inhaler]

Great insight into a wonderful book