Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

94 reviews

chromiumboron's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Bullying, Abandonment, Ableism, and Child abuse

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.

Spoiler

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

patrickfarris's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

This book was beautiful. Powerful reflections on what it means to be human and who or what decides worth. Also includes reflections on family, and the need for connection, companionship, belonging and acceptance. I have already suggested it to my neighbors, my spouse, my coworkers, everyone! And I will definitely read it again. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual content

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

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, Forced institutionalization, and Violence

Minor: Sexism and Misogyny

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: Bullying, Mental illness, Animal death, and Ableism

Moderate: Child abuse and Medical content

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

tungstenmouse's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Certain sentences haven’t aged well but this was excellent. I’m very sad but also very happy I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Dementia, Racism, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Ableism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Excrement, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Incest, Homophobia, Medical content, and Misogyny

It’s an older book so expect language and character attitudes that are not okay now.

plbngrs's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Sexism, and Child abuse

this_koala_reads's review against another edition

challenging reflective fast-paced

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

It feels weird to rate this book but it deserves a good rating. It’s difficult to look at sometimes, it’s almost too honest, too human. I can see myself reading it again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

writingcaia's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

As Charlie became smarter I knew it would be hard to follow what was to come.
I’m not even sure I’m intelectual enough to understand everything the author meant with the story, but one thing I did learn, whether on the bottom or the up of intelligence (IQ) as you get farther away from the norm the more isolating it is.
With intellect you question everything, your emotions grow, but you also start to feel contempt for those with less smarts than you. 
This is a very humane story, a sad story, a story about intelligence and how it affects the way you see yourself, others and the world around, and also how you form bonds of love. 
I saw the twist at once, as it was the worse and more realistic outcome. 
I liked it, at times a lot, especially the first half but as Charlie’s smarts grew it became harder and less interesting, at the end it was hard and sad, but still beautiful somehow.
Definitely an interesting story with a great insight into human nature and how it relates to our intellect.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Bullying, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts