Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - Flowers for Algernon

Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

19 reviews

efsimpkin's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I understand why this is lauded in the science fiction community and I appreciated some of the more mysterious aspects of the book. I also really think this was a lesson in how writing style can tell a story for you. However there were multiple parts of the book that sat uncomfortably with me - most of it including Charlie’s pursuit of women, and the author’s mostly misogynistic descriptions of the women - that mean I can’t rate this higher.

I was expecting to be crying my eyes out with how this was sold to me, but I feel just kind of… resigned.

I pity Charlie at the start and at the end but I hated him otherwise.

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acarbonbasedlifeform's review against another edition

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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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cyndakeel's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad 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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scifi_rat's review against another edition

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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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bookishfaye's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

I think there are things about this book for its time that are important & in some ways foundational in literature depicting disability; however, man oh man does this NOT hold up well over time. From the violently ableist language used repeatedly, to the constant misogyny and overall written by a man vibes this book simply does not age well.

I think as a response to Frankenstein/the Prometheus myth and with commentary about man playing god within science and also monstrosity, there are some interesting things at play within this book. There were moments where I felt very seen by Charlie, and at times very beautiful/important language towards disability as well, it’s just a very very hard read that has extreme ableism/misogyny culture from the late 1950’s marked all over it.

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caseyjayner's review against another edition

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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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