This was an excellent book. A heavy read, not for size of the book, but for content. It is a very intellectual book, that required my full attention.
It is the story of a mentally retarded man, Charlie, who is used in an experiment on intelligence. The book is written as progress report entries of Charlie's journey through the experiment. He is a lovable character, for whom you can't help but feel pity. There are parts of this book that will haunt me.
There is much deeper meaning in these pages than what is actually written on them. There are deep emotional and moral issues on every page. The treatment of mentally retarded people, both children and adults. The struggles of a family as they try their best to be "normal". The errors one mother makes that affect her child for the rest of his life. And the most controversial theme of them all...the use of humans in science experimentation.
Is it better to be a genius or an idiot? Is Charlie better off after his journey, or worse? I am still struggling with that question. He has lived a much different life than that which he would have been able to live. But at what cost?
Not a book to be taken lightly, but an excellent, thought provoking, page turner.
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