anyone else read the short story Flowers for Algernon? I know it was later made into a novel but I haven't read that yet. I'm reading the short story with my 8th grade reading class and we are also watching the Movie Charly. I was equally impressed with both.
The Short Story was written in 1959 and won the Hugo Award. It was expanded to novel length in 1966 and won the Nebula award. In 1968 Cliff Robinson made the movie Charly and he won the Oscar for best actor for his portrial of the main character, Charly.
Just thought I'd mention this as I was never aware of it until last week and I've really enjoyed it. Check it out if you ever get the chance.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I read it in eighth grade, and it's stuck with me. I've been meaning to read the novel form for a while now, but haven't gotten around to it.
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
I don't know if I read the short story or novel, but I remember enjoying it very much and being very moved. It was quite a while ago, probably about 8th grade. I'll have to find it and read it again. Never saw the movie though.
Posted by beatnix19 (Member # 5836) on :
The movie is worth watching. I'm on a big classic film kick right now and it was really well done. Cliff Robinson really captures Charly well.
Posted by Javert Hugo (Member # 3980) on :
I LOVE that book. I reread it every year for almost ten years. The only reason I stopped is because I moved and it's in a box somewhere now.
Posted by solo (Member # 3148) on :
I liked the short story more than the novel but both were very good. I think we watched the movie in high school but I don't remember anything about it. I might have to check it out again sometime.
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
Well, you just ruined another good old memory. I always thought that I first read "Flowers for Algernon" as a magazine article in Esquire. After your reminder, I looked it up to check. Nope, it was published in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. I didn't even read MFSF in the 50's. Oh well! They say that memory is the second thing to go. In any case it is a great story. One that stays with you.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
We read the short story in my Reading class in 7th grade. I then read the novel myself later year during the summer. And I've only seen parts of the movie.
In any form, it is a really moving and powerful story.
Posted by 0Megabyte (Member # 8624) on :
Yes... I've read the hsort story as well as the novel.
Quite impressive, and something I doubt I'll forget, ever.
Posted by Pelagius (Member # 10965) on :
Definitely a great read. Tragic the turns it takes as... well, those who've read it know, and those who haven't, I won't spoil it in case you do. You totally should, too.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I read it years and years ago, too - the novel, I'm pretty sure - and watched the movie. Both stuck with me, too. Posted by ReikoDemosthenes (Member # 6218) on :
I've read both the short story and the novel at some point during high school. While I do not think that I will ever read either of them again, I found them both worth reading.
Posted by theamazeeaz (Member # 6970) on :
I really liked both, and also read them in eighth grade. It's a very sobering book about isolation at both ends of the spectrum, and I guess you could draw some parallels to Ender's Game. The novel also includes parts where Charly Gets Laid, something that shocked me at the time, as I wasn't quite used to finding sex in books (even just mentioned) at that stage in my life.
One of the lines that still sticks out for me form the novel is Charly's reflections on his visit the nursing home he'll move to when he gets dumb again. He describes it as testing out a coffin before you die. Weird.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
I've only read the short story, never the book and I've never seen the movie. I've actively avoided both, because I hate the short story.
Don't get me wrong. It's a beautifully written and compelling story. It's just too painful for me to read. Because of where I work, and my very dear friends from the past (see, for example, my landmark post), it's a very personal story and reaches into the deep dark well of me and pulls out the deep dark things that live there. You know, the things we pretend don't live inside of us in that well. It hurts so much to read that I hate the story, and I doubt I'd ever make it through a full novel in one piece.
Those are my extremely subjective feelings on it, and I do encourage other people to read it and enjoy it.
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
EL, you make a good point.
I think the short story (haven't read the book or watched the movie) is so powerful, and often considered one of the best SF short stories of all time, precisely because it cuts a lot of people pretty deeply.
For me at least, the story is painful because it's a story of great loss, even though initially there are great gains. The moment when well...I don't want to give it away...the last line of his June 10 entry (again, short story, I don't know about book or movie) brings a sob even now. That and the end of the June 15 entry.
Just that sense of loss, and of being aware of the loss, makes me emotional.
Wow...what a powerful story. It awes me.
Posted by beatnix19 (Member # 5836) on :
Obviously this is a story many people are familiar with. I'm glad I've found it and you are all very correct. It has a huge emotional impact. I have 8th grade kids who act like complete jerks on a daily basis, as most 8th graders have the tendency to do, but while watching this film and reading the story have made some very profound statements about how people are perceived and treated.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
It is a very powerful story, and I loved it when I was younger. I have an autistic cousin, so it always struck a special chord with me (I know that the main character isn't autistic), and I worked with a lot of special needs kids as a cub scout and a boy scout, so I too found it very painful to read.
But I admire how it is written, because it really affected how I see the world.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I saw the movie Charly because my husband said I should see it. I had had misgivings because a musical production had toured DC when I was quite young and the radio ad didn't serve the production real well. But I'm glad I saw the movie.
I don't know if a lot of you younger folks have seen ... What was it called? Based on a true story, similar plot, Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro, circa 1990. Awakenings. Not quite so much with the motorcycles and scantily clad babes montage, though.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
The short story is truly powerful; I felt the novel didn't really add anything. So Charly had issues with his father, who cares?
Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
Has anyone seen the 90s Hallmark movie 'Flowers for Algernon'? Matthew Modine plays Charly. That was my first exposure to the story and I loved it. It remains the only movie to ever make me cry.
Posted by krynn (Member # 524) on :
quote:Originally posted by beatnix19: anyone else read the short story Flowers for
i had to read and watch the same thing in 8th grade. i really enjoyed the story. the movie kinda sucked actually, but i was really impressed with the story that i bought a copy for my dad, only to find out he already had read it. I also really enjoyed The Giver. i had that one in 7th grade. did you have to read that one too at all?
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But I'm glad I saw the movie.