Wow.

This book is incredible. I know that it's a classic of modern literature, considered one of the greatest modern novels, and was made into an Academy Award winning film starring Jack Nicholson, but honestly, I didn't know much about it until I read it. Now, I'm not sure why I waited so long. It's a poignant and heart-wrenching look at mental health institutions that asks fundamental questions about the nature of perception, psychology, and the human condition.

Kesey's hero, McMurphy, is a swaggering, self-actualized gambler with the most symbolic pair of boxer shorts I've ever encountered in literary studies. The view of his character as seen through the eyes of the Chief as he relearns to inhabit his own form is an incredible ride. I really enjoyed the lyrical nature of the text, which was well-developed to walk the line between sense and insanity. It's questionable whether or not some of the patients are truly mentally ill — especially the Chief, who reveals through the story that he has a greater grasp of the situation than anyone around him.

It's disturbing, it's tragic, it's terrifying, but it gives you hope for the future. It was hard to put this one down, and I missed out on a lot of lunchtime chat with my coworkers in favour of laying out in the sun with Kesey's text. This is an incredible, sensitive piece of literature and it deserves all of the accolades it is given. I highly recommend investing the time in this one if, like me, you've somehow avoided it this long. Hell, if you've read it before, I recommend giving it another go — it's really that good.
I was really glad to find out that the movie is on Netflix, because if the movie is half as good as the book, it's going to be a sight to see.