One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Rating:
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.

Rating:
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!!!

Rating:
Summary: This book keeps teens reading past their bed time at night.
Review: I'm an 11th grader in High school and Im one of those slackers that doesn't like reading at all. When my teacher assigned me this book i was like "great, another book to read," but no matter what page i turned to there was some type of action going on. This is the best book I've ever read and this may make me start reading more authors that have the same style. This book deserves a 5 no matter who reads it.

Rating:
Summary: Be careful how you approach those in power.
Review: The hero made a mistake...he wanted out of the sun, out of the hard days spent working county land for no personal gain. He fakes insanity...too well. Winding up in the asylum, he finds that though he's only faking, he's still crazier than many of his fellows. But he enjoys it, and pulls them together. One of the top 100 books I have read.

Rating:
Summary: Possibly the best book I've ever read.
Review: It is questionable whether there is a point in reading or writing another word after reading this incredible masterpiece. There has probably been no book in the history of the world like it and it would be an incredible shame not to read this book. If you have any intrest in Orwellian, dark types of books then this is your meat. I repeat that this is a masterpiece of the very first quality, one of the greatest books, and probably the greatest ever written.

Rating:
Summary: A literary classic
Review: When one thinks of summer reading, many start picking up the latest magazine off a shelf. I, on the other hand, decided to pick out a book to enjoy. I am now very thankful for the book I chose. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a riveting tale that sets it apart from other books of it's time. The narrator's point of view gives this book much more defining charactersitics than many other pieces of writing. I urge anyone who hasn't read this book to give it a try and be captivated by it's astounding writing.

Rating:
Summary: The Nest is OUR Nest!
Review: Kesey's novel is without question one of the great works of American literature. While it offers much food for thought on the nature of mental health therapy and the authoritarianism which imbues many mental health institutions, it is far, far more than that! The hospital where McMurphy raises havoc is a metaphor for our own society. The dreams of the "Chief" are like windows to the outside world, revealing that it is all too similar to the mental hospital which confines the characters. The real joy of reading this novel is not so much in finding criticism with the "nest' of mental health institutions; but instead seeing how all of us are trapped in a restrictive and maddening "nest" of our own making. Truly a novel to be read over and over, at various stages in one's life!

Rating:
Summary: Why can't more writers write books like this?
Review: Okay, so it usually takes me about 100 pages to actually get into a book. But, because of the pure genius and imagination of Kesey, I was sucked into the novel during the first paragraph. I stayed up that night from 9 o'clock to somewhere around 5 that next morning, not just reading, but relating to every connotation and metaphor that Ken laid in. I have never been more consumed by a single book in my life. Nor have I ever read a single book more than once. If you are looking for a book about individualism vs. society, don't pass this gem by.

Rating:
Summary: This is the BEST!!
Review: You cannot get better than this. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and it makes you see.

Rating:
Summary: This is one of the best books I have read!
Review: Ken Kesey did a fantastic job with this novel. The constant struggle between the patients and Big Nurse makes for a great plot in such a confined area as a mental institute. McMurphy is a charismatic Irishman who is sent there for rowdy behavior, but during his stay he makes a giant impact on the patients as well as the facility.