lizdon's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Medical content, Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Excrement, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Vomit
m4rtt4's review against another edition
- 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
Spoiler
it was scary how he became possessive and aggressive and expressed his male sexuality and masculinity through those means after "gaining intelligence"Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Medical content, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
madread8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Mental illness
katzilla99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Ableism, Toxic relationship, and Bullying
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
ky001113's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Abandonment, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Cursing, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, and Dementia
Minor: Animal death, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Ableism, Animal cruelty, and Confinement
purplehulk713's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Spoiler
what happened in their family, even if he might not remember later.Spoiler
she was the only person who saw Charlie as a person after his operation and regarded him with care and respect likewise.Spoiler
will you lay some flowers on his grave?Graphic: Animal death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Child abuse, Dementia, Alcohol, Excrement, and Sexual content
Minor: Incest and Suicidal thoughts
alice_clay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
draconia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Dementia, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
leona's review against another edition
- 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
I really enjoyed the themes discussed in this book and I found them so incredibly relatable. It is particularly heartbreaking to see how Charlie is being abused and laughed at when he isn't capable of knowing better. I also picked up on some things that made me wonder if Charlie may have been autistic / on the autism spectrum, especially one scene where he remarks how his old teacher used to tie his hands around his chair to stop him fidgeting (I feel like this may have been a stim.) The moment with him attempting to learn how to make the bread rolls at the bakery was probably one of my favourite scenes, as it is one of the most detailed sections where we see how Charlie's brain used to function, and how he could learn but the impatience and lack of encouragement from others made it almost impossible. This scene really presses the need to be patient with people and recognise that all people learn differently. I also enjoyed the scene where Charlie gets drunk at the conference and argues with Nemur. I hate to use a cliche, but this book is very thought-provoking.
I had a couple of issues with the book though. Firstly, I felt like the pace dropped a bit near the middle of the book and my interest definitely started to wane a bit. This book is kind of plotless and winding, with lots of random flashbacks. This isn't necessarily a downside, but I didn't feel like the great quotes scattered throughout were always enough to completely hold my interest and make me feel inclined to pick it up. This is especially true because of my second point: the blurb and synopsis for this book I always see is way to spoiler-y
Spoiler
Algernon doesn't die until the last 30 pages, and we don't even find out about his regression until the second half of the book. When we find out that Algernon has regressed, (from the synopsis) it's kind of obvious that Charlie will as well. This kind of lessened the emotional impact as I always felt like I was waiting to be told the 'plot-twist' of Algernon dying. I also felt that the ending scene may have been a bit brief.My last complaint is the female representation. I understand that a large part of this novel is around Charlie's intelligence developing at a disproportional rate to his emotional / sexual 'intelligence' (if you will). This leads to Charlie often describing women based on how attractive they are. It makes sense, but it didn't mean I was any less annoyed about it. I also kind of felt bad for Alice in this book, she was kind of treated like shit whilst Charlie was trying to banish the fear instilled in him by his mother, but then she came straight back. It just kind of rubbed me up the wrong way to hear about how attractive every woman he met was. Is it so much to ask to have a decent female character in a classic sci-fi novel?
Little rant over, I want to rate this book 4.5 stars. I enjoyed it immensely and would strongly recommend it, however I don't think it will make it in with my very favourite books.
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Child abuse
Minor: Death, Dementia, Grief, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Stalking