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angelofthetardis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I don't know what it is with me and books that are labelled 'classics', but I don't think I've found one yet that I've truly enjoyed. This was no exception - I just couldn't immerse myself in the story or even pick out moments of clarity that stuck with me. While I understand that this is written from the point of view of a mentally ill person confined to a hospital ward, and by choosing this narrator the author has allowed the reader to experience the 'fog' of confusion and twisted logic experienced daily by the patients, it's rambling relaying of events left me more lost than confused. I followed the general plot, but had no inclination to take more care with my reading to study the text and events in depth.
From a modern perspective, the methods outlined in the story are clearly not the right way to treat mental illness. But then I queried whether several of the characters illnesses were all that acute anyway. Yes, some people (the narrator included) clearly did have delusions or other issues that may require in-patient care, but there seemed so little character building on much of the supporting cast that it felt like they were there purely to pad out the cast list.
I guess the author's main aim was to try and make the reader consider whether McMurphy's illness was feigned or genuine. He reminds me a little of Campbell Bain in 'Takin' Over The Asylum' (although I'm sure in reality the latter was in some way influenced by the former); a manic depressive who, after a moment of inspiration, starts to subvert the normal order of things within his environment. But this right here sums up how hard I found the book to relate to; if I'm drawing parallels with the works of David Tennant (rather than just picturing him as my leading man), then you know my mind has wandered to a better place!
I also can't understand where this reputation for Nurse Ratched being one of literature's great villains has come from. To me, she seems like a no-nonsense, firm but fair person who is doing her best to do what must be an incredibly difficult job without letting it affect her, and doing what she thinks is best for her patients based in the knowledge of the time. Yes, it's clear that McMurphy gets under her skin and she does start to become a little vindictive about punishing him for his transgressions, but I just can't equate that with the totally twisted person I had been expecting going into this. I can only suspect that it's because the story is written through the male gaze at a time when women in positions of authority were rare and dangerous creatures...
Not what I was expecting or hoping for, and quite underwhelmed. Never mind. I tried.
Graphic: Medical content, Racism, Mental illness, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical trauma, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Ableism, Cursing, Murder, Suicide, Drug use, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
en0mad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt
brimclala's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Mental illness, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Xenophobia and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
mintii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The ending was not at all what I thought it would be.
It's like when people say "Don't be sad because it's over, smile because it happened." Taking the initiative to control whether or not you or other could be sad perhaps shows the influence of such an institution as this mental hospital and Nurse Ratchet's power.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Drug use, Alcohol, Death, Blood, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexism, Mental illness, Classism, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Cultural appropriation
redraven01's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol, Murder, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
isirla's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Suicide, Confinement, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Misogyny, Drug use, Racism, Death, Dementia, and Incest
lidia7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, and Racism
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Mental illness, Self harm, and Gaslighting
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Dementia, Body shaming, and Alcohol
traingossip's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Suicide, Sexism, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racial slurs, Mental illness, and Ableism
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Confinement, and Eating disorder
te_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Racial slurs, Suicide, and Mental illness
Minor: Self harm
arinheck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Racial slurs, Suicide, Body horror, Confinement, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Drug use, Death of parent, Ableism, Bullying, and Alcoholism