Have you read Flowers for Algernon?

[tk149]

I almost went to Med school because of this story. I should have gone into research.

 

[TehMac]

Read it, amazes and intrigues me. I can't quite grasp the idea of intelligence reverting back to its original level...maybe I can. I dunno.

 

[venkman]

Read it. So sad. Stargate Atlantis did a similar story about Dr McKay this season.

 

[CptObvious]

I read the short story in 8th or 9th grade, but went back and read it again today. I appreciated it a lot more this time.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Clair de Lune
It has to be my favorite HS reading of all time back in the days. If you haven't read it, I'd strongly recommend you so.



***SPOILER***
The story is told through journal entries of a mentally handicapped man who's put under a medical experiment to become a genius. His beginning entries are childish and full of grammar and spelling mistakes. Then it gradually gets to a PhD level writing.

While he's intelligent, he falls in love with this woman. But they find out the experiment has a consequence of reverting back to his original intelligence. You see his entries where he's becoming frustrated with himself becoming dumber. Inevitably, his entries finally revert back to his former child-like level.

The part that always gets me is where he writes about this woman coming to visit him, hugs him dearly weeping. Then she leaves. He wonders why she's so sad and feels bad.

She was his love during his intellectual peak.
***SPOILER ENDS***




The sci-fi aspect is just a plot device. It's a very well written and innovative drama... such a great book!

Yes, I've read it. It's one of those books you never forget.

 

[Toastedlightly]

gene-ass!

 

[jalaram]

Funnily enough, I only know of the book because it was the inspiration for the cd "A Curious Feeling" by Tony Banks.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

just fyi, this book is available for free from those project gutenburg type sites.