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Summary: WOW!!! Kesey and existentialism--a powerful combo!
Review: Ting. Tingle tingle tremble toes. She's a good fisherman, catches hens, puts 'em inna pens. Wier blier, limber lock, three geese in a flock. One flew east. One flew west. One flew over the cuckoo's nest. O-U-T spells out. Goose swoops down and plucks YOU out.WOW. This book is amazingly powerful but is especially so when it's far reaching social implications are taken into account. Harding, Bibbit, and Scalon aren't any more insane than you or me, but THEY were in an insane asylum. Reading this book causes the reader to question his/her personal definition of insanity, happiness, and finally freedom. Those who enjoy this book may also enjoy Tom Wolfe's THE ELECTRIC KOOL-AID ACID TEST. Or, if you want to explore Kesey's existentialist theme's even further, Albert Camus's MYTH OF SISYPHUS.
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Summary: Men in a mental institution get their "guts" back
Review: This was a great book. It was never boring and spoke it's point clearly. The symbolism and imagery was classic.
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Summary: This book is THE masterpiece of American literature
Review: One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest was without a doubt the best book I've ever read. The incredible imagrey provided through the veiw of Chief Bromden, as well as the struggles of the characters are captivating. This novel exists on two levels; on as an incredible piece of storytelling, on the other a metaphor for our own lives. This book is an incredible expeirience. If you only read one book in your life, this should be it.
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Summary: This was an exceptionaly well written and gripping book.
Review: "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest" by Ken Kesey is one of the most impressively well writen and exceptionally intuitive book. The plot line was followable and the story ideas were such that you could easily connect with the characters. Before reading the book I had seen the movie(starring Jack Nicholson) and as is often found to be true in such cases the book was incredibly better. I thought the movie followed very closely though and was impressed by this but none the less this was the best book I have ever read thank you Ken Kessey this was truely an accomplishment
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Summary: Cuckoo leaps off the page and grabs you by the throat
Review: Outside of Sartre's "Nausea" and Lester Bangs' "Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung," I'd have to say this is the best book I've ever read and read. I've seen the movie and stage presentations numerous times, as well. Even a community theater presentation by a bunch of old farts did the job for me. I think it's not really the subject matter that is so beautiful -- you know, individuality vs. authority, tho that is a good starting point -- it's just that Kesey has such a wonderful grasp on language that it leaps off the page and grabs you by the throat time and time again. By the way, if you like this book, and haven't read Tom Wolfe's "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test," it's got great descriptions of Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters going all over the country creating sheer havoc while Kesey was working on this novel.
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Summary: The Greatest American Novel of The 20TH Century
Review: More than any other book I've ever read, Mr. Kesey's book helped me cope with life. It's like an amazing and scary acid-flashback
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Summary: well, I liked it, I could kind of identify with it.
Review: Though a little confusing at times, it was a great book with a surprising end. If you want to read a book that has to do with psycho's, and their attempt for independence, then this book is for you!
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Summary: like watching two beta fighting fish tear each other apart
Review: Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a literary masterpiece. Seen through the eyes of a madman, this book leads us through a whole different world; a world where paranoia runs rampant and chaos is second in command only to The Big Nurse. The book opens with a vivid description of "the fog" that clouds the truth, consciousness, paranoia, and terror which imprison the mind of Chief Bromden, a chronically insane Indian and the first person narrator of the book. Scene by scene, the plot unravels, separating truth and insanity to reveal an extraordinary war of the mind; the power of strict, systematic control, verses the power of rebellion. Any of the acutes that lived on this ward could state in a heartbeat the ultimate source of power; The Big Nurse, Nurse Ratched. That is, until convict Randall Patrick McMurphy convinces the courts that he is a madman, laughing his way from the prison farmyards to the nuthouse dayroom, "bucking the system" at every bump. When Ratched meets McMurphy, it's battle from the start. The Nurse uses her strong intimidation, backed with logic, reason, and "the system", against Randall's boisterous rebellion, fueled with chaos, brawn, and temptation, both striving to attain the support of the deciding party; the acute insane patients and those chronics who are still enough there to vote the outcome. The magnificent war the follows stretches the mind to comprehend and tickles the imagination. At every turn in the plot, action is pursuing, leaving the reader to contemplate while providing nonstop laugh-out-loud entertainment. Kesey ties together the shoes of character, theme, and conscience, giving them a quick shove from behind to create the shocking climax that will change the book completely.
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Summary: One of the greatest pieces of literature of all time.
Review: Kesey offers an excellent portrayal of what it would be like to be in a mental ward only a few years ago. He doesn't try to make it seem like a nice place; he writes about what might be the harsh and awful truth. The plot of this book is always going up and down, keeping you interested and wanting to read more. The plot involves the conflict between the inmates and the ward staff, particularly "Big Nurse". This conflict is seen through the eyes of many characters, especially "Chief" and "R.P. McMurphy". R.P. is a small-time criminal who thinks life in a mental ward will be easier than hard labor in prison. He learns that life in the mental ward isn't close to what he anticipated; it's a lot more nerve-wracking. The characters Kesey creates are full of personality and each one is very distinct. Chief seems quiet and subdued because he pretends to be deaf and dumb, but we eventually learn how deeply the ward has altered him. R.P. McMurphy is loud, abrupt, and commanding. He has silent battles with the nurse to see who is really in charge of the ward. With the amazing plot and outrageous cast of characters this book is not to be missed.
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Summary: Gripping- parts make you want to kill the Nurse
Review: I think that this book was great, although I preferred the video. The only flaw with the video was that Bromden was not a main character until the end, whereas, in the book, his character is vital. The book has some great qualities, with parts making you want to give Nurse Ratched a real good slap. The characters are loveable and when watching the video you can really sympathise with certain characters. Jack Nicholson was great and really fits the character of McMurphy. I think that the book should be read by all, and the video should certainly be watched!!!
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