Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

44 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.

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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

acarbonbasedlifeform's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Dementia

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

rjselby's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Medical trauma

Minor: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

benegesserwitch's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Dementia

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

ellaticonstellation's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

I actually liked this a lot. Charlie's journey is inspiring! Damn, what happened was mad. I mean, he started as mentally challenged and ended the same way. Amazing! I mean, his dream of becoming smart happened, but it's not as glittery as he thought.

Remembering a lot of painful memories sucked. There's a reason why the unconscious is there to help us cope with life's greatest challenges. Being knowledgeable has its perks and curses. 

Experiments may be magical, but not an assurance of permanence. It's like being sharp, but we need to maintain it in our own way. 

Algernon! You're a great metaphor! 

I will never forget this story. 

Thank you, Daniel✨

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting

moxiereads's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Dementia, Abandonment, and Alcohol

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

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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

ajay913's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Excrement, and Alcohol

Minor: Homophobia and Suicidal thoughts

milly_gm01's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Medical content, and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Dementia

scifi_rat's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

3.5

the reviews that talk about how sad charlie's journey made them and how this is generally a very sad and tragic book feel inherently ableist. if anything this book is about trauma and learning and coming to terms with the kind of pain that self awareness can bring.

some of the psychology and sociology feels dated in many ways but ultimately it does the job it sets out to do.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Medical content, Dementia, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis