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Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Colonisation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Death of parent, War
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Racism
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Suicide, Colonisation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, War
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting
Moderate: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Alcohol, Colonisation
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: Bullying, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content
Minor: Death, Suicide