Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

49 reviews

grizzlysnack's review against another edition

dark reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Suicide

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Incest, Rape, and Sexual content

sofipitch's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

I loved this book. It's late at night and I can't think of much more to say other than WOW. I actually caught the ending on tv a few years ago so I had a vague idea of how it ends but it didn't hit me as hard as reading this book having known and grown attached to the characters.

I was nervous starting this book that it would have racist content, since the aides are black and refered to as the black boys and the main character is Native American named Chief. But other than a few expected outdated terms used I think this book was very respectful to all different kinds of ppl, which surprising considering when it was published.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence

mwreadings's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.75

I study this for A-Level so I had to read it. I hate it with a passion. The racism, ableism, homophobia and the misogyny are so deeply ingrained in the characters and the plot. Ken Kesey's descriptions often reveal these prejudices and make him such an unlikeable author. I think the premise of society being a Combine that creates identical people is such a good concept and he is a decent writer but his political opinions are not aligned to mine. I dislike the message of the book and the depictions of women and African Americans in particular.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

ashley_mcfadden's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting

sklu's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I prefer stories with setting changes and detailed scenery, so this story which focused mainly on the people in the ward was different for me, but still interesting.

Having a possibly unreliable narrator was a bit fun, but obviously challenging to trust.

Not necessarily my cup of tea, but a good read.

I especially liked the fishing scene and the party scene.

 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Suicide

squelchyworm's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

i hate this book and they should stop teaching it in schools

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

lilyrb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Mental illness

Moderate: Emotional abuse

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

I had no idea what to expect going into this book. I've seen the film so had an idea of the plot, but I was blown away by the inner workings of Chief Bromden's mind. He is a hugely unreliable narrator and is not always easy to follow as a result. But it is so cleverly constructed that you can literally see Bromden's mental health journey through the story, which is compelling and heartbreaking.

It's a bleak, emotional story. Ratched is a classic villain but there is so much more complexity here than good versus bad. To see all these men through Bromden's eyes is to see their vulnerability laid bare, and their various strengths grow under McMurphy's volatile influence. The story feels like it is driving to an inevitable conclusion, but it's a brilliant and devastating one and I was so drawn to this group of troubled men right through to the end. I never felt I could completely relax because the tone could change so quickly, from triumph to tragedy.

I think it's worth noting that some of the content has severely dated over the years. I know it's a product of its time but reading the book now, I did struggle with the stereotyping of black and native American characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Racial slurs

ejoyce's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

ah, yes! the source of all problems in society is... women! women oppress men! not the other way around! women oppress men and men need to use sexual violence to reclaim their rightful place at the top of the food chain, only then will society flourish!!!

(if you can't tell, that was sarcasm.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, and Grief