Daniel Keyes (1927-2014)

Locus ^ | 6/17/2014

[InvisibleChurch]

Flowers For Algernon is such a good book.

[Borges]

You’ve probably read this.

[RIghtwardHo]

Flowers for Algernon is one of the greatest stories ever written. Period.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

I went to school from the 60s to the mid 70s, well before the Communist manifesto, Das Kapital an gay pornography became required reading for school children, and Flowers for Algernon was one of the books we use to read. I loved that book. Call of the wild was another. We even use to even say the Pledge of Allegiance before class if you believe it. This was well before it was replaced by "Ode to the Socialist Motherland" or "Obama, he's going to change it"

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

I always thought it was a metaphor for life- He starts out childlike, then he gets smart (grows into an adult) then he reverts back to a childlike state (old age) I know there is a connection between Charley and Algernon that Keyes was trying to make, but I never really thought about it - Maybe we go through life trying to get that cheese? lol I don’t know.

[Borges]

‘Flowers for Algernon’ is actually one of the most frequently challenged books on school reading lists.

[Borges]

‘Flowers for Algernon’ is actually one of the most frequently challenged books on school reading lists.

[jocon307]

RIP I read that book, it was very well done and very, very sad.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[A_perfect_lady]

You’ll be happy to know that Flowers for Algernon is still in the 8th grade Literature book that LAUSD uses, and I teach it often. I also have the movie, and many of my students are very struck by it whenever we cover it. I sometimes follow it up with Forrest Gump.

[Borges]

The film Charly is fairly poor. It’s not a patch on the novel.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Challenged? Why, because it doesn’t promote communism or homosexuality? Oh wait don’t tell me: It mocks the “mentally challenged”.

[Borges]

It has some fairly explicit sexual content. It’s been called “filthy and immoral”.

[DoodleDawg]

Flowers For Algernon is such a good book.

Made into such a bad movie.

[EveningStar]

I read the original short story right after it came out. Alas, I never read the novel expansion.

I saw Charly and the 1961, The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon, as well as the 2000 TV movie, Flowers for Algernon.

[Nowhere Man]

I remember reading Flowers for Algernon in junior high. There was another book, “Charlie,” that was based on it and it was also made into a movie in 1968.

[Gefn]

Oh wow. Daniel Keyes once came to my alma mater to give a talk on creative writing. He clearly loved teaching creative writing, and was one of a few minority of authors I have met professionally that were real people, not pompous, but down to earth, and genuine.

[A_perfect_lady]

The film Charly is fairly poor. It’s not a patch on the novel.

I actually agree.

[tang-soo]

Read this book in 9th grade - one of my favorites. Also liked the movie with Cliff Robertson. Will Smith owns the production rights to a new movie. This has been on his list for a couple of years. here