Flowers for Algernon

By: Daniel Keyes

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Charlie Gordon knows that he isn't very bright. At 32, he mops floors in a bakery and earns just enough to get by. Three evenings a week, he studies at a center for mentally challenged adults. But all of this is about to change for Charlie. As part of a daring experiment, doctors are going to perform surgery on Charlie's brain. They hope the operation and special medication will increase his intelligence, just as it has for the laboratory mouse, Algernon. Meanwhile, each day Charlie keeps a diary of what is happening to him. This is his poignant record of the startling changes in his mind and his life.

Flowers for Algernon was first published as a short story, but soon received wide acclaim as it appeared in anthologies, as a television special, and as an award-winning motion picture, Charly. In its final, expanded form, this haunting story won the Nebula Award for the Best Novel of the Year. Through Jeff Woodman's narration, it now becomes an unforgettable audio experience.

©1966 Daniel Keyes (P)1998 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

• Nebula Award, Best Novel, 1966

"A tale that is convincing, suspectful and touching." ( The New York Times)

beautiful and heartbreaking

this is deservedly a classic. there is much to think about regarding intelligence and enhancement. if you value what makes you an individual this novel will grip you and haunt you. one of my all time favorites.

GET READY TO CRY!

It won't seem like it a first.. but if you're not distracted.... and you let yourself feel the story... you will be moved... so much so... I dare say... that everything you ever thought about those less fortunate than you are... will slowly melt away...This is a beautiful... sad... story.. worth every spare minute of your time... I don't want to ruin it for you... but... you need to know... that it will enrich your soul... and... it will break your heart...

A wonderful story, an excellent narration

I have loved this story ever since I saw the movie version, "Charly," with Cliff Robertson. So I was looking forward to reading "Flowers for Algernon." The audiobook did not disappoint. The narrator did an excellent job of adapting his voice to the many characters in the novel, which enhanced the listening experience. The story, which was originally a short story and was expanded by the author into a full-length novel, was as moving as the movie had been. All-in-all this was an enjoyable audioibook.

A Moving Story

Any additional comments?

Really good book! I wish science had come that far. You have to love Charlie with all that he went through. I cried alot.

great novel

This is a great and well designed story it captured me slowly but firmly as the book proceeded. An interesting psychological novel on three major topics:
a) The secret horrors of the life of mentally less able persons.
b) The potentially devastating effect of being too intelligent.
c) The Hubris in science
All characters are interesting and lively, vivid, especially the main one and the women he interacts with. The plot has many turns and interesting viewpoints on the life of the main character.
It is also very well narrated, with an almost neutral tone, but still well characterized individual voices. I warmly recommend it.

Good story. Interesting characters.

Narrator did good work. This book gripped my emotions more than expected. A good audio book.

Second listen

and it was superb all over again. I can highly recommend this book to anyone

Great classic to rediscover

If you could sum up Flowers for Algernon in three words, what would they be?

Classic story

What other book might you compare Flowers for Algernon to and why?

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Same reader.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Woodman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. He is great. Adds depth to the characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Just great

Sad, and I got into the story right away. Narrated amazingly, and definitely is worth the time.

Truly a classic, full of emotion and depth

Like someone else said, knowing the ending already does not ruin the book because it is about Charlie's journey. Also, they hint at it the whole way along so it's not exactly a surprise twist. Anyone who has studied psychology, worked with or known people with mental disabilities, or is interested in very realistic and down to earth science fiction is sure to love this book. Despite some very obviously glaring experimental flaws in the beginning of the book, the exploration into Charlie's character, past, present, and future is astoundingly insightful and believable. Flowers for Algernon is an emotional journey that at the very least, will cultivate in you a greater respect and understanding for all people.