Flowers for Algernon - Journal Entry 1

37% into Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes and this is my first journal entry. Usually, I wait until I'm done and write on final book review but there is too much to unpack in this book for me to try to pack all of that into 3 paragraphs. It would not do it justice! Hence this journal entry.

Page 114 -

We have now reached the point where Charlie is intellectually ahead of those around him. He has lost his job at the bakery because his coworkers were afraid of him, now that they no longer laughed at him, they feared him. Humans have a way of fearing what they do not understand and hating those they see as smarter than they are.

I genuinely think that Charlie losing his job at the bakery is for the best, it will push him outside of his comfort zone and push him more towards adulthood. PLUS! I HATED THOSE JACKASSES HE WORKED WITH!!! (including Gimpy). I feel as though there is so much more he could be doing with this newfound intelligence; it's kind of being wasted by staying at the bakery. Don't get me wrong, I would also say that the bakery has thought him a lot when it comes to emotional intelligence. For instance, when he faced the moral dilemma of whether to snitch on Gimpy's theft vs looking the other way because he considered Gimpy a friend.

Page 117 -

His mom pisses me off!!!!! Why does she have to be such a (BLEEP)? Ya'll know what!? Norma too! SHE CAN GO TO HELL! she's such a brat, urgh.

Today (2/20/25) was a short read, I had a lot of socializing to do. No worries, It was the good kind of socializing, the kind with people's companies I enjoy :D

Quotes that I've underlined

"Language is sometimes a barrier instead of a pathway. Iconic to find myself on the other side of the intellectual fence." - Page 114