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Flowers For Algernon

The must-read literary science fiction masterpiece

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Flowers For Algernon

By: Daniel Keyes
Narrated by: Adam Sims
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'A masterpiece of poignant brilliance . . . heartbreaking' Guardian

Charlie Gordon, a floor sweeper born with an unusually low IQ, has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery that doctors hope will increase his intelligence - a procedure that has been highly successful when tested on a lab mouse named Algernon. All Charlie wants is to be smart and have friends, but the treatement turns him into a genius.

Then Algernon begins to fade. What will become of Charlie?

Read by Adam Sims
(p) Orion Publishing Group 2017 Classics Genetic Engineering Science Fiction Fiction Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Tear-jerking
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Critic Reviews

This is one of the greats: a story and a central character that have stayed with me for thirty years, from the first moment I picked it up
A masterpiece of poignant brilliance . . . heartbreaking, and utterly, completely brilliant
A timeless tearjerker
Excellent . . . extremely moving
Unflinchingly honest . . . it will make you reflect on your own life . . . and completely and utterly break your heart
A narrative tour de force, very moving, beautiful and remorseless in its simple logic
Strikingly original
A tale that is convincing, suspectful and touching
All stars
Most relevant

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

Challenging, moving, interesting

What does Adam Sims bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Really well read. Good character voices without trying to be overly theatrical

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, but dont want to spoil the plot.

Any additional comments?

This is an amazing book and well worth the listen. I knew the concept before I started it but never imagined how deeply it would be explored.

Amazing novel

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Powerful and moving, this book changed my life for the better. Well narrated and written.

One of the best books I’ve listened too

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it's a demanding listen, but doesn't shy away from the depths of what it is intelligence, what it means to be human and the generosity/spiteful characteristics we're all capable of

what a wonderful book

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they have done such a brilliant job, loved but hurt so much for this book

heartbreaking and thought provoking

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a poignant and heartbreaking tale, narrated to perfection. sure to make one reflect deeply

breathtaking and moving

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