Post 1: Flowers for Algernon - Joseph Huynh

Daniel Keyes novel Flowers for Algernon portrays a man named Charlie. Charlie is a retarded man who has a menial task working at the bakery. He is made fun of daily by all who surround him. Charlie lives a life no one would hesitate feeling sorry for. Charlie takes classes at a university from a teacher named Alice. Alice teaches Charlie how to read and write, but Charlie doesn't still does not understand. Two researchers from a local university discovered an experiment that will boost anyone's IQ to high levels. The two had tested their experiment on a rat named Algernon and it became stupendously intelligent. Charlie went though the same phase and his IQ tripled. He found out that the results were only temporary and he will soon revert back to his old self. So he ran away to a place and no one will ever find him. He requested someone put flowers on Algernon's grave. I think that he asked what he did because the rat was excited about becoming intelligent as well but his dreams were crushed. Overall, I think that the book was an exciting book and a sad book at the same time. It is truly unfortunate for a poor person to get his hopes up for an improved life only to have it knocked down. The novel is written as journal entries which was a pretty cool asset to the book that other books don't have. It adds to the personal aspect of Charlie. Royce, what are your thoughts on this book and did you enjoy like I did?