Poor Charlie couldn't catch a break. It's a bit melodramatic in the author's whining but he had a rough life so I guess it's ok. I was a bit weird with all the focus on his sex life. I really didn't see the point other than as a way to bring up past memories and when he finally did do the deed, after the pages and pages of talking, he doesn't really comment on how it affected or changed him in any way. It seems like it would be a fairly life-changing moment for most people and especially for Charlie since it was all he talked about for a quarter of the book. All the psychobabble seems dated now too which a big part of the book's foundation. Memories are not videotape recordings so there's really no way he could just start remembering everything like it was in his dvd collection at least not accurately. Also didn't buy that there are the multiple Charlie's in one body thing. Unless he had multiple personality disorder that just doesn't sit right with me and also seemed like another dated psychological idea of the time. I'm not sure what is the point of this book the author is trying to convey. Life sucks and we're all just rats in a giant maze? That's all I can find because no good comes of anything here. The only thing that changes is the workers at the bakery inexplicably defend Charlie when he comes back. I do not get that payoff at all. They treat him like shit for 17 years but once he comes back from being a genius they find compassion. I don't get it. Can't say I really enjoyed the book but it was different.