One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Although the narrator is mentally insane, he does a mostly-alright job of telling the story from a first person standpoint. His ‘mental illness’ kind of gets in the way when he has flashbacks and when he explains how the Combine affects the other patients.
Speaking of the other patients, what a lively bunch (for a group of mentally insane men in a ward run by a big-breasted nurse set out to crush their spirits in order to follow society’s rules)! With this cast, twists and turns and lots of sympathy should be expected; although don’t feel TOO much pity on them. You’ll find out why. Also, don’t get too attached to any of them; they don’t die in a gruesome fire of anything, but not everyone makes it…
McMurphy was quite a character when he first barged in- right from the start he took a different path. But by the end he had changed- did the Combine get him? Did he manage to upset it enough to destroy it? Did he decide to join the other side? Did he commit suicide? The options are numerous, but the only way you’ll find out about his fate is if you read the book. I was gripped the entire time, the clogs in my brain constantly deliberating each new idea the narrator reveals.
And yes, I am aware that many people think the movie was fantastic; but I am a firm believer that the book is always better than the movie!
-Camilla Piechocki
Although the narrator is mentally insane, he does a mostly-alright job of telling the story from a first person standpoint. His ‘mental illness’ kind of gets in the way when he has flashbacks and when he explains how the Combine affects the other patients.
Speaking of the other patients, what a lively bunch (for a group of mentally insane men in a ward run by a big-breasted nurse set out to crush their spirits in order to follow society’s rules)! With this cast, twists and turns and lots of sympathy should be expected; although don’t feel TOO much pity on them. You’ll find out why. Also, don’t get too attached to any of them; they don’t die in a gruesome fire of anything, but not everyone makes it…
McMurphy was quite a character when he first barged in- right from the start he took a different path. But by the end he had changed- did the Combine get him? Did he manage to upset it enough to destroy it? Did he decide to join the other side? Did he commit suicide? The options are numerous, but the only way you’ll find out about his fate is if you read the book. I was gripped the entire time, the clogs in my brain constantly deliberating each new idea the narrator reveals.
And yes, I am aware that many people think the movie was fantastic; but I am a firm believer that the book is always better than the movie!
-Camilla Piechocki