Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 29

Thread: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

  1. #1
    Veteran Member NoCoverLover's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Toronto ON
    Posts
    483
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    How many of you have read Flowers for Algernon, and how many of you remember it?

    The novel is about a 32 year old mentally challenged janitor (back in 1959 they described him as retarded ) who underwent a surgical procedure to increase his intelligence. He narrates his experiences and feelings about his changes. He went from an IQ of 68 to an IQ of more than 180. This in itself is profound! I can't imagine that! When he starts to lose his intelligence, he also comments on it and it's loss. That is the really sad part.

    That summary doesn't do the novel justice. How could it!?

    This novel tore my heart out. I have my intelligence and I can't imagine losing it. I doubt anyone here could either...

    Why did I bring this up? Over the last few months, a team of researchers from McGill University (in Montreal Quebec) took the first steps towards doing this in real life!

    They have identified a gene in mice, eIF2a, that when suppressed, increases the mouse's ability to form memory. These mice were able to find an underwater platform in an underwater maze, significantly faster than their unmodified counterparts.

    Another article I saw in the last 2 days reminded me of Flowers for Algernon. The article talked about 'neuroplasticity'. A woman named 'Michelle' was born 29 years ago with the left hemisphere of her brain missing. The notion over the last 100 years or so is that the brain is 'hardwired'. In other words, this part of the brain does this and nothing else.

    What that translates to was 'if you lose the ability to speak or walk, hear or see, it's permanent'. We've come to realize, over the last 5 years or so, that this is wrong!

    If that were the case, Michelle would have died. She didn't! Her brain reorganized itself. Everything that the left side of her brain would have normally done was simply transfered to her remaining right side. She is pretty much normal. This is PROFOUND!

    This tells us something about what are brains are capable of. It is BEYOND imagination!

    Here are the Toronto Star articles on this:

    Memory Increase:
    http://www.thestar.com/News/article/200271

    neuroplasticity:
    http://www.thestar.com/article/198170

    We will deal with specific questions/concerns as they come up.
    Last edited by NoCoverLover; 04-06-2007 at 03:06 PM. Reason: Typos

  2. #2
    Featured Member
    Joined
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    1,887
    Thanks
    169
    Thanked 171 Times in 131 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    I read it and saw the movie...it was in Elementary school though....a while back for me. I liked the movie more...didnt have to read ftw.

    *ftw = for the win

  3. #3
    Veteran Member Laylas's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Somewhere, NC
    Posts
    656
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    Read it as part of a class in eighth grade....

    Liked it okay; but I read The Fountainhead later that same year and LOOOVED it.

  4. #4
    Veteran Member
    Joined
    Apr 2006
    Location
    houston
    Posts
    513
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    It was required reading in junior high school. Liked it. Fountainhead was way too long.

  5. #5
    Yekhefah
    Guest

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    I read it in high school and liked it. The ending is so sad.

  6. #6
    Banned gingerlee's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Where the cool kids hang out.
    Posts
    4,103
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    I read it in school, and it made me cry. Constantly. Everybody thought I was nuts because I would cry during most of the class, since we had to read it on our own on occasion.

  7. #7
    Veteran Member NoCoverLover's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Toronto ON
    Posts
    483
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post
    I read it in high school and liked it. The ending is so sad.
    Like I said, it tore my heart out.

    What really struck a chord in my heart was this. In 1959 that 'medical procedure' was science fiction. That novel was written to make you think about how you would feel if that were to happen to you. In 1959 that was wishful thinking! Today, doing this is a real possibility.

    We are starting to turn sci-fi into reality. The effect this will have on us is profound. How that character felt went from being a mental exercise to being a reality now. What he felt will be relevant, whether we like it or not!

  8. #8
    Veteran Member Minette's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Western Massachusetts
    Posts
    491
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    Quote Originally Posted by NoCoverLover View Post
    These mice were able to find an underwater platform in an underwater maze, significantly faster than their unmodified counterparts.
    God, I want to see a video of this - I have this mental image of the mice wearing little scuba outfits and navigating a maze underwater. If only life was like it is in my mind.

  9. #9
    Featured Member
    Joined
    Feb 2005
    Location
    SoCal (aka the Evil Vortex of Doom)
    Posts
    1,617
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    Quote Originally Posted by NoCoverLover View Post
    Another article I saw in the last 2 days reminded me of Flowers for Algernon. The article talked about 'neuroplasticity'. A woman named 'Michelle' was born 29 years ago with the left hemisphere of her brain missing. The notion over the last 100 years or so is that the brain is 'hardwired'. In other words, this part of the brain does this and nothing else.

    What that translates to was 'if you lose the ability to speak or walk, hear or see, it's permanent'. We've come to realize, over the last 5 years or so, that this is wrong!

    If that were the case, Michelle would have died. She didn't! Her brain reorganized itself. Everything that the left side of her brain would have normally done was simply transfered to her remaining right side. She is pretty much normal. This is PROFOUND!
    I don't think the idea of neuroplasticity is particularly new. I think we've known for a long time that people who suffer brain injury can re-learn skills that were wiped out by the injury. This is especially true if the injury happens early in life.

    In fact, who saw that episode of House where they decided to remove the entire left hemisphere of a patient's brain? They said he wouldn't be able to speak for awhile, but would probably re-learn speech production after a time. I understand that's just fiction, but it implies that the idea of a brain re-wiring itself after injury is pretty well-accepted, doesn't it?


    As for the book: Oddly enough, I never read it. It seemed like everyone else was assigned this book in school, but somehow, I never was.
    "Doc still loved true things, but he knew it was not a general love and it could be a very dangerous mistress." - John Steinbeck, Cannery Row


    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  10. #10
    Moderator Djoser's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Key West
    Posts
    16,343
    Thanks
    1,395
    Thanked 5,487 Times in 2,768 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    Quote Originally Posted by Laylas View Post
    Read it as part of a class in eighth grade....

    Liked it okay; but I read The Fountainhead later that same year and LOOOVED it.
    What junior high school did you go to, I wish I'd gone there, too! I had to get books like that on my own.

    That's pretty cool. You should read Atlas Shrugged, too--though it's a bit out there by comparison.
    You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
    Friedrich Nietzsche

    Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
    George Clinton

    ______________________________________

  11. #11
    Featured Member xbloodydewdropx's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2005
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    967
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    I loved that story too....and it does raise some really profound questions/ideas.
    "Seeing the landscape at this superficial level only captures its boring uniformity, not allowing you to immerse yourself in the spirit of the place; for that you must stop at least several days."

    ~Che Guevara, "The Motorcycle Diaries"

  12. #12
    Senior Member sleepyboy's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Houston
    Posts
    189
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    Quote Originally Posted by gingerlee View Post
    I read it in school, and it made me cry. Constantly. Everybody thought I was nuts because I would cry during most of the class, since we had to read it on our own on occasion.
    Awwwwwwww you really have a soft heart! You sound so hard in some of your posts.

  13. #13
    Moderator Djoser's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Key West
    Posts
    16,343
    Thanks
    1,395
    Thanked 5,487 Times in 2,768 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    She sounds like a total sweetheart to me--unless maybe she is talking about some of the cretins who want to treat her like a toy doll, etc.

    The woman has spirit, and that is a very good thing.
    You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
    Friedrich Nietzsche

    Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
    George Clinton

    ______________________________________

  14. #14
    God/dess
    Joined
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    4,704
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    I read it in the 7th grade, but honestly I don't remember it striking such a chord with me that I recall the specifics of the story ..

  15. #15
    God/dess LuckyOne's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2006
    Location
    LAS
    Posts
    3,118
    Thanks
    28
    Thanked 259 Times in 98 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    I read Flowers for Algernon, but I wish I remembered more!!! Some other tear jerkers I loved were The Scarlet Ibis and To Kill a Mockingbird... (LOVED To Kill a Mockingbird!!!)

  16. #16
    God/dess Silverback's Avatar
    Joined
    Jun 2004
    Location
    On board the Kobayashi Maru
    Posts
    2,387
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    The movie was called Charly. I saw that, but never read the book. Good movie, but, I know, "the book's better".
    "He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!"

  17. #17
    God/dess Casual Observer's Avatar
    Joined
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Boston MA
    Posts
    5,670
    Thanks
    35
    Thanked 144 Times in 74 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    Eighth grade--which may as well have been a hundred years ago. I remember liking it.
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

    William F. Buckley, Jr.

  18. #18
    Featured Member
    Joined
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    1,945
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    Own it. It was a really good book. Thought the movie sucked though.

  19. #19
    God/dess Embyr's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Schlong Beach, Cauliflower
    Posts
    2,558
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 14 Times in 5 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    I read this story when I was a little girl- I think it was one of the readings for my gifted and talented program... I remember crying for days... then again, almost ANYTHing makes me cry. I certainly am not surprised that some rodents have super-rodent capacities for which we have not given them proper credit... being the owner of a super-intelligent rat (and... did anyone read/see The Rats of NIMH?? or, as the book title, Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH?) I see this type of learning and memory every day- it's not just repetition, either... Rats have been shown, in other studies, to LAUGH. As in, they have senses of humor. Is that amazing??? I will try to find the study...

    We need to give these guys more credit. When I was paying bills today, my rat was out and wanted to play- as I was busy, he kept walking all over the bill, sticking his nose my fingers, nudging my hands, chewing on the paper- and finally, as if he KNEW it would get my attention, galloped off with my pen-cap. They're smart little fuckers.

    ... i just re-read the OP... hmm maybe all I remembered about Flowers for Algernon was "mice are smart." oops. welcome to looking back on 12-yr old memories. I certainly agree that BRAINs, not just mouse-and-rat-brains, are capable of amazing things. Next time I'll read more thoroughly. (*so much for "gifted and talented...*)

  20. #20
    God/dess Silverback's Avatar
    Joined
    Jun 2004
    Location
    On board the Kobayashi Maru
    Posts
    2,387
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    Quote Originally Posted by Embyr View Post
    I certainly am not surprised that some rodents have super-rodent capacities for which we have not given them proper credit... being the owner of a super-intelligent rat (and... did anyone read/see The Rats of NIMH?? or, as the book title, Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH?) I see this type of learning and memory every day- it's not just repetition, either... Rats have been shown, in other studies, to LAUGH. As in, they have senses of humor. Is that amazing??? I will try to find the study...

    We need to give these guys more credit. When I was paying bills today, my rat was out and wanted to play- as I was busy, he kept walking all over the bill, sticking his nose my fingers, nudging my hands, chewing on the paper- and finally, as if he KNEW it would get my attention, galloped off with my pen-cap. They're smart little fuckers.

    ... i just re-read the OP... hmm maybe all I remembered about Flowers for Algernon was "mice are smart." oops. welcome to looking back on 12-yr old memories. I certainly agree that BRAINs, not just mouse-and-rat-brains, are capable of amazing things. Next time I'll read more thoroughly. (*so much for "gifted and talented...*)
    Yeah! Did you ever read/see "Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy". Turns out mice are the most intelligent species on the planet. (We're third, after dolphins).
    "He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!"

  21. #21
    Veteran Member Minette's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Western Massachusetts
    Posts
    491
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    Quote Originally Posted by Silverback View Post
    Yeah! Did you ever read/see "Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy". Turns out mice are the most intelligent species on the planet. (We're third, after dolphins).
    Those books are so frickin' fabulous it's almost obscene. Has anyone read his Dirk Gently books? Although, just for the record, if anybody's secretly running the world - I'm pretty sure it's cats. I'd say it was ferrets, but the sad truth is that they just don't have the necessary attention span.

  22. #22
    God/dess Embyr's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Schlong Beach, Cauliflower
    Posts
    2,558
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 14 Times in 5 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    Quote Originally Posted by Silverback View Post
    Yeah! Did you ever read/see "Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy". Turns out mice are the most intelligent species on the planet. (We're third, after dolphins).
    No, but I've seen An American Tail waaaaaaaay too many times.

    ".... cause there are NOOO cats in america, and the streets are paved with cheese..."

    I think I even used the damn movie to study for an AP US History test ... sad...

  23. #23
    Darcy Foxx
    Guest

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    'Flowers for Algernon', 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Lord of the Flies' were my three favourite books out of all the ones we had to read at school. Flowers for Algernon always made me cry

    I haven't read it for years... maybe I will try to find a copy, and read it again!

  24. #24
    Banned gingerlee's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Where the cool kids hang out.
    Posts
    4,103
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    Quote Originally Posted by sleepyboy View Post
    Awwwwwwww you really have a soft heart! You sound so hard in some of your posts.
    I'm totally hard, bad ass even. Actually, I'm a pretty wussy chick most of the time. Shit, there is a Home Depot commercial that makes me cry, so this book made me bawl.

  25. #25
    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Another Country
    Posts
    18,664
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 148 Times in 100 Posts

    Default Re: How Many of You Have Read 'Flowers for Algernon'??

    I have been thinking about getting this book again for WEEKS now because I remembered it.... <3


    Look like a woman
    Think like a man
    Act like a lady
    Work like a dog

    - My Great Grandmother Bessie's Recipe for Success

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Wedding Flowers
    By got2havespunk in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 07-16-2008, 09:21 PM
  2. Saving my flowers
    By LuckiCharm in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 08-02-2007, 11:45 AM
  3. Yellow Flowers
    By disk_druid in forum Member Boards
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 08-27-2006, 07:15 AM
  4. Flowers!!!!
    By Becks in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 12-04-2004, 06:15 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •