Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

49 reviews

peakstar's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Excrement, and Medical trauma

sharktwoth's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

bookishfaye's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

I think there are things about this book for its time that are important & in some ways foundational in literature depicting disability; however, man oh man does this NOT hold up well over time. From the violently ableist language used repeatedly, to the constant misogyny and overall written by a man vibes this book simply does not age well. 

I think as a response to Frankenstein/the Prometheus myth and with commentary about man playing god within science and also monstrosity, there are some interesting things at play within this book. There were moments where I felt very seen by Charlie, and at times very beautiful/important language towards disability as well, it’s just a very very hard read that has extreme ableism/misogyny culture from the late 1950’s marked all over it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

phantastic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Dementia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Animal death, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Abandonment

Minor: Forced institutionalization

chickpeawagon's review against another edition

reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Excrement

Minor: Animal death

lizdon's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content

Moderate: Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

m4rtt4's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

incredibly thought-provoking AND heart-breaking; I wish the mouse had been in a bigger role but overall very interesting and an important read.

it was scary how he became possessive and aggressive and expressed his male sexuality and masculinity through those means after "gaining intelligence"

, really makes you think what should even be called intelligence and how easily we exclude emotions and kindness from it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Child abuse

Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

stargirlmolly's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, and Grief

caseyjayner's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I really loved and appreciated much of this, especially for it’s time.  I mostly read contemporary lit so I had to get used to outdated language and misogyny throughout, but when I set that aside I see this is a book arguing for the personhood of intellectually disabled people.  The main character is complex- both likable and self-centered and traumatized by physical and emotional abuse.  I didn’t like the end, but the last couple lines were more hopeful than the rest of the end. 

Easy words, tough read.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Misogyny and Sexism

wizardingwisteria's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

OUCH. This is my second time reading it in full and it still punched me in the gut. I knew what was going to happen but it was still so impactful and emotional

Being from the 1950's some of the language is outdated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, and Mental illness

Moderate: Child abuse and Medical content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail