sirocane's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
solomonaria's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
llinthelibrary's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the first half of the book and read it quickly. The second half of the book was slower for me, and there were parts I was bored with and had to force myself to get through. I did overall enjoy the story.
ndkumaragama's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful and emotionally profound story. One I will never forget.
Key themes/ ideas:
- An analogy for the rise and fall of life, to truly value when our minds are able to learn and experience reality. There will be a time when our minds will not have the same capabilities. "A flower is more beautiful because it doesn't last."
- The value of emotional intelligence as opposed to IQ
- Having empathy for those who struggle to grasp concepts, extending to the broader picture of discrimination: persecution of different race/ sex/ class. Learning to understand from their perspective, life's experiences and genetic makeup. "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him".
- The dramatic irony that one experiences when Charlie is being bullied by his friends, achieved by a first person writing style
- The beauty (unconditional love) and tragedy in how Alice still takes care of Charlie when he regresses and how Charlie refuses to let her see him this way. Akin to how a partner looks after their significant other who has dementia
- To be a miserable Socrates or a happy pig? Charlie would argue the former, when he was looking in the bathroom mirror at his old self, because he would be serving a greater purpose of helping more people.
- The influence of his past on the present, dealing with past trauma (sexual shame instilled from mother)
- "please if you get a chanse put some flowrs on Algernons grave in the bak yard" - What we remember on the death bed/ later stages of life
Key themes/ ideas:
- An analogy for the rise and fall of life, to truly value when our minds are able to learn and experience reality. There will be a time when our minds will not have the same capabilities. "A flower is more beautiful because it doesn't last."
- The value of emotional intelligence as opposed to IQ
- Having empathy for those who struggle to grasp concepts, extending to the broader picture of discrimination: persecution of different race/ sex/ class. Learning to understand from their perspective, life's experiences and genetic makeup. "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him".
- The dramatic irony that one experiences when Charlie is being bullied by his friends, achieved by a first person writing style
- The beauty (unconditional love) and tragedy in how Alice still takes care of Charlie when he regresses and how Charlie refuses to let her see him this way. Akin to how a partner looks after their significant other who has dementia
- To be a miserable Socrates or a happy pig? Charlie would argue the former, when he was looking in the bathroom mirror at his old self, because he would be serving a greater purpose of helping more people.
- The influence of his past on the present, dealing with past trauma (sexual shame instilled from mother)
- "please if you get a chanse put some flowrs on Algernons grave in the bak yard" - What we remember on the death bed/ later stages of life
twitchyredpen's review against another edition
5.0
This book makes me cry. I think I'm going to get through it, and then Charlie is praying he'll still be able to read and rite, and I can't hold it together anymore. "Ugly sobbing," agreed a friend I was talking about it to.
But it's worth it. It's not written just to be a weep-fest. It's about humanity and compassion and empathy and it's one of the few books I'd recommend to any adult or teenager regardless of their usual book-interest/s. It's good reading, and it's good for you.
Edit to add: My brother's wife said she read it and didn't cry (despite crying over Nicholas Sparks-type books), and I never trusted her after that, and now they're divorced.
But it's worth it. It's not written just to be a weep-fest. It's about humanity and compassion and empathy and it's one of the few books I'd recommend to any adult or teenager regardless of their usual book-interest/s. It's good reading, and it's good for you.
Edit to add: My brother's wife said she read it and didn't cry (despite crying over Nicholas Sparks-type books), and I never trusted her after that, and now they're divorced.
drkeith's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
melaniemia's review against another edition
5.0
My FAVORITE book of all time. I don't care how old I am, I still love this book. I could re-read it again and again.
sathurnina's review against another edition
5.0
Refleti durante toda a leitura e devo seguir refletindo! É daqueles livros pra dar de presente pra todo mundo hehe mais ainda pra galera do meu meio, acadêmico, traz uma mensagem, dentre outras muito importantes tb, sobre a arrogância que tende a vir de mãos dadas com o conhecimento. Incrível!
ellenclifton's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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