The fifth book that I’ve finished reading this year is Daniel Keyes’ “Flowers for Algernon”. Thanks J for sharing. As mentally retarded Charlie Gordon works desperately to increase his intelligence, he is given the opportunity to undergo a brain surgery which may lead to a surge in his IQ. Will its effect be wholly beneficial, or would it be a mere flash of futile hope? With the progression of Charlie’s IQ, he becomes more sensitive of how others perceive him and finally understands the malice and mocking that he previously thought were friendly gestures. Eventually, his IQ outgrows all those around him, including the professors behind the experiment, and he again plunges into loneliness; he is unable to connect with anyone on the emotional level. However, lurking behind his new veneer of education and intelligence, the old Charlie continues to exist, though passive, peering out of his childhood window behind which he was always confined by his hysteric mother. His stagnant emotional intelligence lets him down in his attempts to form a relationship with his adult centre teacher, Alice Kinnian, and he continues to struggle with nightmares of his childhood scenes, where his mother gives him up and turns him away to protect his normal sister. Charlie is angry at how nobody seems to acknowledge that before the operation, he was already a living human being who deserves to be respected just like everyone else. Indeed, our society tends to overlook its sub-normal members, failing to realise that they need acknowledgement just like their normal peers. The only member in which Charlie can confide his feelings and come to a mutual understanding is lab rat Algernon, who has undergone a similar operation as him. As Algernon begins to show signs of erratic behaviour and deterioration, Charlie senses that his end is near and desperately tries to hold on to all the new knowledge and skills that he has acquired, only to see them slipping through his fingers like sand. Is it crueler to be forever oblivious, or to be given then deprived? That brings me to ponder upon those in old age, where one’s condition only continues to deteriorate and never improve. It is important to anticipate such a stage of life and learn to cope with it when it comes. As I read through the final words of this book, I couldn’t help but feel a wave a sadness overcoming my chest. Charlie has returned to his initial kind-hearted state. Though he does not have any recollection of the significant intellectual deeds that he has accomplished, he still recalls the pleasant feelings that he had when he read those books that he no longer understands. Perhaps it’s those feelings that we seek for when we reminisce the old times, though blurred by the fallibility of the human memory, still warm with the embers of solace.