Reviews

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

smithsmithsirisiri's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

phelps2519's review against another edition

5.0

Great book that delves into how society views the ‘mentally ill’ and the machine that the world is.

Excellent book that will have a lasting impact on you. I’m sure I will be remembering this book and it’s message for a long time

busystressedbutbookblessed's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

naocacao22's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

J'ai eu un peu de difficultés avec la plume de l'auteur, probablement en raison que le livre date des années 70, mais j'ai adoré l'histoire et les personnages. Une belle critique de la psychiatrie du 20e siècle et des pratiques coercitives de ces années ! Heureusement que notre mentalité a évolué...!

dk_d1337d's review against another edition

1.0

Unpopular opinion time!

I hate this book so much I would have given up on reading it if it wasn't assigned. I hate the characterization of Nurse Ratched, the aids, and all women in this book actually. I hate the way McMurphy is framed as this christlike figure when he is literally the worst. I hate how Chief Bromden is written as a mixed race person by someone who clearly has no idea what that experience is like.

In short: thanks, I hate it.

misterchairman's review against another edition

dark

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Interesting perspective of reality from the mind of a mental condition. Great character development and story arc. 

cjk424's review against another edition

3.0

Was really good. Made me reevaluate people from time to time. Former job was a bit too similar to the book's setting from time to time, eep!

jekaluleka's review against another edition

4.0

This was a great book. It's extremely well-written; the writing transports you to the world of the story, and the characters are larger than life. I love the messaging of people who don't fit like cogs into a machine being steamrolled by society until they do. All this being said, this book was /hella/ racist and misogynistic. The misogyny is maybe half-excusable because the main object of the misogyny (the Big Nurse) is more of a metaphor than anything, and all the comments about her body are meant to symbolize this interplay between The Combine/machinery of society and the physical humans who perpetuate it, but those parts were still pretty hard to read. The racism, on the other hand, serves no purpose that I can see and is inexcusable. I know for the time this book was radically progressive with its depiction of the problems in mental healthcare, but reading it now it feels very regressive. Still giving it 4 stars because it's genuinely a good book, and for its time was probably a great book.

mnm1015's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

alisarae's review against another edition

4.0

The book built from something incredibly dull to something interesting, funny, sincere, and engaging. I enjoyed it and I can see why it's such a hit in literature classes—there's a lot of possible angles to think about and explore. I'm glad I read it (even with its machismo overtones).