Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

19 reviews

isd's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

I'm not up to speed with the current-day terms on what in this 1966 novel uses, so I'll attempt to avoid using either the ones in the book nor the ones I think we ought to use.

When I started with the book I had no idea what to expect, and it took me a moment to get used to Charlie's writing style. Following his journey and the changes in both his capabilities and traits was pretty interesting. In some ways he changed a lot and fast, and in some ways he had to learn - or should have learned - to behave accordingly, at a  more or less equal pace but failed.

Charlie's story was quite sad, especially the very end, but in a way I guess I should call it bittersweet as I had expected much worse as the events unfolded. Your kilometerage may vary.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexism, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Dementia, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

blaketisdebest's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Violence, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death

taleofabibliophile's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Excrement

bass_clarinet's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Wonderful book. You know and the main character knows what will happen, yet you can't put the book down. His struggles are a heavy burden, and you just want to yell at him through the pages to rely on his friends. The very last page of the book made me cry, in a good way.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

emmagreenwood's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Dementia, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content and Violence

Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, and Cursing

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.

---

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

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.  

---

Content Warnings

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

Minor: Misogyny and Sexism

mahry's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal cruelty

Minor: Incest