A review by cassidyehm
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

challenging reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It’s a classic for a reason. Kelsey’s command over his language is masterful. From the first scene he’s in, you feel like you’ve known McMurphy for a long time. Nurse Ratched is one of the more realistic antagonists in literature. The men in the book are misogynistic and racist, but I don’t get the sense that Kesey is. The book is based off a real mental institution that Kesey worked in, which is horrifying but unsurprising. I wish we had gotten more of Bromden’s backstory pre-institutionalization, but it makes sense why we didn’t. I liked this enough that I’m hesitant to watch the movie adaptation. I fear it won’t be as good.
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