When Charlie Speaks: An Offline Themed Talk on "Flowers for Algernon"

Over these 21 days, we followed Charlie Gordon, from desperately wanting to become smarter to being forced to face the clarity of reality, from yearning to be loved to seeing the subtle and sometimes cruel distances between people; there were sentences we underlined, there were moments we silently turned the page, and some feelings remained in our check-in notes, unfinished and unspoken.

So we'd like to bring reading out from the screen—into a shared space where we can sit down together and revisit this book through conversation.

For this Offline Themed Talk, we have invited Fan as the main speaker. She will focus her talk on Flowers for Algernon, covering:

01 The book's historical and cultural context.
02 The author's motivation for writing the story.
03 The deeper metaphors behind Charlie's "becoming smarter".

Look at the story from the outside to gain a new understanding of it.   

After the main sharing, the floor will be open for all participants to join the discussion. Whether or not you took part in the 21-day reading program, if you are interested in this book, you are welcome to join—share your impressions of Charlie, or reflect on the distance between you and the book.

What To Expect

01 Lead sharing
02 Open discussion
03 Film Clip Appreciation

Event Information

When Charlie Speaks: An Offline Themed Talk on “Flowers for Algernon”

Event Time
2026.05.08 14:00-16:00

Event Location
SLAC 607 Academic Seminar

HOW TO JOIN

Scan the QR codes below to register:

（Left: ONCE registration QR code）
（Right: QR code for the Offline Themed Talk group chat）

We recommend joining the group chat to receive event notifications and real-time updates.
(Friendly reminder: Please arrive 10 minutes early to check in.)

Students who participate in this event can receive 2 hours of volunteer time.
And there'll be library surprise giveaways dropping on-site – stay tuned!

At the end, Charlie says, "Give Algernon a bouquet of flowers." Perhaps it is not just a farewell, but also a gentle act of remembrance. If you wish, bring here the thoughts, reflections, and unfinished words from your 21 days of reading.

Together, we will listen to what the "Charlie" within each person has experienced.

Content & Layout | GU Mengmeng & YE Yingtong

First Review | TANG Lianyi

Second Review | GU Mengmeng & REN Yuanyuan

Third Review | XIE Zhiwu