Review of novel "Flowers for Algernon," By Daniel Keyes, 1966 (last copyright renewal 1987)

 

While this book was originally published  52 years ago, the subject matter, the characterizations, the writing skills are totally current. (Plus every Oscar season, the movie, "Charly" with a backward "r", starring Cliff Robertson in a stunning performance, is on Turner Classic movies.)

 

Charlie is 32 years old with an IQ, or as he says, "an eye-Q of 68," who wants "to be smart." Because of his motivation to learn and be smart, his teacher, Miss Kinnian at Beckman College Center for Retraded Adults, "where I go to lern 3 times a week," suggested Charlie as a good potential for a pilot surgery project to attempt to increase the intellectual capacity of the retarded. The surgery had already been done with initial excellent results on a mouse, Algernon.

 

Two primary plot devices will be Charlie's spelling ability, and, of course, his mental comprehension. Keyes cleverly uses Charlie's in-place spelling for the start of his journey, March 8,  the "operashun that dint hert," to the on-going mental acuity explosion that will be described in ever-increasing sophistication of spelling, vocabulary, and knowledge of a myriad of subject that will  surpass his teachers and surgeons.    

 

The third plot device of "wanting to be smart" is Charlie's growing awareness of the chicanery of the world, and the moral dilemmas of seeing people thorough his new lens of learning. In addition, While Charlie can now grasp the most complicated concepts of just about everything, his ability to deal with morality inconsistencies  has not developed.

 

Before Charlie burns into oblivion from his March 8 operation, it seems that by June Algernon who had been operated on before Charlie, was beginning to show erratic behavior within two months. By early June, realizing the scientists were going to euthanize Algernon, Charlie rescues him realizing that he will be replicating Algernon because they both have enzyme imbalance from the operation, and escapes from the program.

 

After six months (September) Charlie starting to forget, Algernon dies (Charlie buries him), and by end of November: "I wish I could be smart agen rite now. If I coud I woud sit down and reed all the time."  He also asks Miss Kinnin to "put some flowrs on Algernons grave in the bak yard."

 

Review by a Gulfport Library patron.