What I'm Reading Now: 9/27 UPDATED

Another book I've had for a while that I've just gotten around to reading.  "Flowers for Algernon" is a book from 1959 about a retard (that's the term they used back then) who undergoes an operation that is intended to increase his intelligence.  The entire book is told through Charlie, the retard, by way of his progress reports, or "progris riport" as he initially spells it.  I already know the premise and major milestones of the book prior to picking it up, and as such I was tempted to just not read it, but something has me intrigued.

Stay with me to see if I stay with the book, or tap out at 75 pages.
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And the answer to the question I know you're dying to know is, did I finish the book or not... and I did.

It's a fairly easy read, which made finishing not much of an issue, but it kept me intrigued about what was going to happen with the main character, Charlie.  Speaking of which, I find it weird that the cover would have the character's name spelled wrong when that was one of the few multi-syllable words he knew how to spell when he was a retard (again, this is the term that was used in the book because of the time it was written).

There's something special about reading the book by way of the progress reports that Charlie writes, giving an intimate view of his thoughts and feelings throughout.  However, I also feel that this format also leaves something to be desired of an outside perspective of what the character is going through.

Given the year the book was written I was surprised by how in depth some of the knowledge of mental deficiencies was, unfortunately this goes back to a flaw of the writing style, by leaving out the doctor's point of view of the procedure, or even his understanding of what Charlie is going through.

On to the rating:

Cover to cover.

This is a departure from my typical readings, but I'm glad I decided to give it a go, and recommend it for anyone who has a few day lull in their reading schedule.

Rejection 14: "Under the Hood of Winter"

It's been a while since I posted a rejection, sadly not because I haven't been rejected, but because the majority of rejections sent out are generic and not personalized to the author.  That makes for boring reading for you, and for me if I'm being honest.

However, I recently received a rejection for a story I was positive would make it, and after not hearing back from the editor when I was expecting to I allowed myself to get my hopes up that it may actually make it.  Then I got the following email;

Dear Alex, 

Thank you for sending "Under the Hood of Winter" for consideration in the M*** H***  anthology. I appreciate the chance to read it. Unfortunately, the piece did not make the final cut. 

Again, I do thank you for submitting to E***, and I hope to read more from you for future anthologies! 

Sincerely, 
M*** B***
E*** P*** 

So it was a generic format rejection, that's fine, I've dealt with it before its just a part of being an author.  But below that form rejection, the editor added the following little bit;

*** Hi Alex, Hood was a tough choice to decline and I thought you'd like to know that it made it all of the way to the last step! I'll be reading Liquid Marble and Old Habits in the coming weeks and get back to you. Thanks! M***

There it is, that personal touch that makes rejections not only more bearable, but also informative.  he let me know that not only that he actually did like the story, but that it had a shot at actually being published in the antho.  I currently have the two other stories with him, that he mentioned, and it makes me a little more confident that they'll find homes with his company. So here's to the next, and remember to keep reading.