One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - *SPOILERS*

[Kaseadillla]

Opening discussions for the group's September 2016 Classics pick: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey!

This discussion is FULL OF SPOILERS. If you haven't read the book and don't want to know the ending ;), please head on over to the spoiler free discussion HERE.

Happy reading!!

[Kaseadillla]

Okay woah.

Just finished this. Holy... cannoli. Kind of don't even know what to say.

[Jerold]

Amazing book. ;)

[Kaseadillla]

I think my favorite scene was when they were all "playing" Monopoly. Just a bunch of crazies half playing, half eating pieces.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

This is on my list of Top Ten books of all times.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

My review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

I think Kesey had WAY too much fun in writing Nurse Ratched's part in this drama.

; D

[F]

I read this book years ago. So excited to see what you all think. Infact I studied this book for my 5th year English exam!

[Marilyn]

Wow! I second the holy cannoli. How had I made it this far in life and not read this book? Any comment seems too simplistic. There are so many layers to every aspect of the book.

[Luella]

Marilyn wrote: "Wow! I second the holy cannoli. How had I made it this far in life and not read this book? Any comment seems too simplistic. There are so many layers to every aspect of the book."

Ditto

[Kandice]

I love this book. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[[deleted user]]

I'll risk it by saying that I wasn't the biggest fan of it - I had to read it for varsity. However, after reading all of your amazing comments, I'll attempt to read it again with a fresh non-compulsory read perspective.

[Kaseadillla]

I think that reading it for an assignment would take away some of the impact for sure, especially the ending. I still feel residual emotion thinking about (view spoiler)[when Randle comes back from "surgery" essentially brain dead... was just deflating. (hide spoiler)] If I had to dissect every little thing about Randle and the Nurse's behaviors etc. leading up to it, I feel like it would have lost it's power.

[Sarah]

I'm with April, this book has been in my top 10 since I was a teenager!

[Kandice]

Kaseadillla wrote: "I think that reading it for an assignment would take away some of the impact for sure, especially the ending. I still feel residual emotion thinking about [spoilers removed] If I had to dissect eve..."

I think almost any book is ruined by the way they insist on dissecting them in school. You need to read a book at your own pace and then you need to question things on your own. When you are spoon fed (and eventually gagged) by dissection, you almost always end up resenting the material.

*sigh*

[Imsoo]

I recently watched the movie. Does it count? I'm planning to read the book too.

[STEPHEN]

Imsoo wrote: "I recently watched the movie. Does it count? I'm planning to read the book too."

The movie is very good, but not told from the point of view of Chief. This angered author Ken Kesey. The book explores Chief's childhood a little. Nurse Ratched is one of the most evil characters in literature, complete authority with a kind smile.

[Imsoo]

STEPHEN wrote: "Imsoo wrote: "I recently watched the movie. Does it count? I'm planning to read the book too."

The movie is very good, but not told from the point of view of Chief. This angered author Ken Kesey. ..."

Complete authority with a kind smile! That's quite right. I'll read it sooner or later. Thank you for the explanation!