From the Bookshelf of Anchorage Public Library…

The story of Charlie Gordon is a poignant and touching narrative that confronts issues of medical research, treatment of those with mental disabilities, and the relationship between intelligence and happiness.

In my own reading of this book I was struck by the barely explored themes around original sin. This is briefly touched on at the beginning but not really developed explicitly. (view spoiler)[His increased awareness of how oth

The story of Charlie Gordon is a poignant and touching narrative that confronts issues of medical research, treatment of those with mental disabilities, and the relationship between intelligence and happiness.

In my own reading of this book I was struck by the barely explored themes around original sin. This is briefly touched on at the beginning but not really developed explicitly. (view spoiler)[His increased awareness of how others have treated him, and his coinciding negative behavior seems to carry the theme that knowledge and intelligence robbed him of his innocence and led him into something we may call sin. (hide spoiler)]

Overall it was a good story, though there are elements that date it, such as the way women are depicted and the casual way the ethical concerns of research are dismissed.