At the recent literary event on October 23, 2024, students engaged in a lively discussion about the complexities of intelligence versus emotional understanding as depicted in the novel. They delved into the ethical implications surrounding Charlie's treatment, examining how his evolving intelligence alters his relationships and perceptions of the world.

Let us introduce some interesting facts about this piece of art:

1) The title Flowers For Algernon refers to a mouse.
Algernon is a white mouse who underwent the experimental brain surgery before Charlie joined the human trial. As they are going through a similar experience, Charlie comes to feel deeply bonded to the little critter. When the mouse backslides, suffers, then dies as a result of the experiment, Charlie mourns not only for Algernon (with flowers on a backyard grave) but also for what he knows lies ahead for himself.

2) Stan Lee missed out on making Flowers For Algernon a comic book ...

Keyes’s work in pulp magazines in the 1950s led him to work for a pre-fame Stan Lee—but comics weren't Keyes’s passion. In his memoir, Keyes described editing them as a survival job, writing, “Since my $17.25-a-month rent was almost due, I accepted what I considered a detour on my journey toward a literary career.”
As an editor, Keyes impressed Lee well enough that he was offered the chance to pitch stories and even write the scripts for comics. It was during this time that he first scribbled out the plot synopsis for the story that would become Flowers for Algernon.

3) Isaac Asimov was a big fan of the short story.

As an esteemed American sci-fi writer in his own right, Isaac Asimov’s praise came with great weight. But he also offered a wry edge of playful jealousy when penning an introduction for the “Flowers For Algernon” in the short story collection The Hugo Winners. “Here was a story which struck me so forcefully that I was actually lost in admiration as I read it,” Asimov wrote. “So lost in admiration was I for the delicacy of his feeling, feeling, for the sure way in which he plucked at my heartstrings, for the skill with which [Keyes] handled the remarkable tour de force involved in his method of telling the story, that I completely forgot to hate him. ... How did he do it?”

The NU Library, in collaboration with the NU Psychology Student's Club, hosted Stress Relief Week from November 11 to 15, 2024, offering a much-needed break for NU students during the intense exam preparation period. The event received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback, with students praising the variety of activities designed to help them relax, manage stress, and nurture creativity.

The week offered engaging workshops, including crafting on shoppers, spirography, mandala therapy, rock painting, and origami, held at the Main and NUSOM Libraries. Students also enjoyed table activities like coloring, drawing, and crafting, along with tea and coffee. At Blocks 8 and 9, interactive fun continued with coloring books, beads, Kahoot, Twister, and board games.

Students expressed how the activities helped them relax and recharge, making it easier to stay focused and calm during exam preparation. The positive response was heartening, and the NU Library is proud to have offered this opportunity to support student well-being. We look forward to hosting more events that help nurture your success and well-being throughout the year.

The Literary Lounge brought book lovers together for an evening dedicated to celebrating beloved authors and the books that have shaped our lives. This cozy gathering provided a space to share a passion for literature, whether discussing timeless classics or recent favorites.

Thirteen participants brought their favorite books and shared insights about writers they admired, with some presenting on authors’ biographies, their works, and fascinating stories from their lives. Specifically, they discussed Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, Lolita and Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov, among others.

On November 20, 2024, the NU Library, in collaboration with the Department of Kazakh Language and Turkic Studies of the School of Sciences and Humanities, hosted a special event honoring the life and legacy of Akhmet Baitursynuly (1872–1937). The highlight of the gathering was the presentation of Ахмет. Шығармаларының академиялық толық жинағы (Akhmet. Complete Academic Collection), a newly published five-volume set released in 2023 by the Turkic Academy and the M.A. Auezov Institute of Literature and Art in Almaty.

This comprehensive academic edition, edited under the guidance of Professor Aigul Ismakova of Nazarbayev University, compiles the collected works of Baitursynuly - a prominent Kazakh intellectual, poet, linguist, and leader of the Alash Movement. His profound contributions to Kazakh politics, culture, and education were celebrated during the event, emphasizing his lasting impact on the nation's history and identity.

As part of this celebration, a copy of the collection was donated to the NU Library. This invaluable addition enriches the library's resources, offering students, researchers, and the wider community access to the intellectual heritage of one of Kazakhstan's most influential figures. The NU Library is proud to support efforts that preserve and promote cultural and literary milestones. We encourage the university community to explore this extraordinary collection and join us in celebrating the richness of Kazakh heritage.