I truly wish that I had read this prior to seeing the film.

Because throughout the reading process, all that occupied my thoughts was him:

and, her:

and, of course, this guy:

It is a prime example of a brilliant movie overshadowing its original source material. I was glad to discover that the movie remained faithful to the book. However, it was so extremely faithful that I didn't feel I gained much new from reading the book that I hadn't already experienced through the movie. I must give credit to Ken Kesey for crafting a remarkable trio of characters. McMurphy is a complex and captivating protagonist, Chief Bromden a poignant narrator, and Nurse Ratched an iconic villainess. I have to admire the story he told, which, back in 1962, shed a crucial light on the abuse of power and the improper use of treatment in mental health facilities.

But, all of my emotions were felt approximately 20 years ago when I watched the wonderful movie version on a rented VHS tape, on a square-shaped television, alongside my dad. Surprisingly, not a great deal of those emotions were replicated in the literary version. I could potentially blame Kesey for a rather simplistic plot that seems almost spelled out in capital letters, misogynistic portrayals of nearly every female character, and Bromden's irritating habit of referring to the black orderlies as "boys" every single time. Personally, though, I prefer to hold Jack and Louise 100% accountable.

3.5 stars

(Book 436 From 1001 Books) - One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1962) by Ken Kesey is a captivating novel. Set in an Oregon psychiatric hospital, it delves into institutional processes and the human mind. It critiques behaviorism and celebrates humanistic principles. The story is narrated by "Chief" Bromden, a large, docile half-Native American patient who pretends to be deaf and mute. He focuses on the rebellious antics of Randle Patrick McMurphy, who faked insanity to serve his sentence in the hospital instead of a prison work farm. The head administrative nurse, Nurse Ratched, rules the ward with absolute authority. McMurphy constantly challenges her and disrupts the ward's routines, leading to power struggles. He engages in various activities like running a card table and organizing a fishing trip. After failing to lift a heavy control panel, his words inspire the other patients. The Chief eventually reveals to McMurphy that he can speak and hear. A violent incident after the fishing trip results in McMurphy and the Chief receiving electroshock therapy, but it doesn't stop McMurphy's behavior.

The novel has been adapted into a successful film. It has also been published in different translations in Iran. The story explores themes such as power, rebellion, and the human spirit. It shows how the patients are affected by the strict regime of the hospital and how McMurphy tries to bring change and hope. Overall, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a thought-provoking and influential work of literature.

The story takes place in a mental institution, which is actually a reflection of society. The patients are ordinary people, and the big nurse represents absolute power, while McMurphy is the rebel against this power. This authoritarian power controls every detail and spares no effort in suppressing any kind of rebellion or legal violation. Everyone is under its extensive control. When the rebellious McMurphy appears, challenging those restrictions, the machinery of power starts to move, activating its mechanisms to crush and defeat his uprisings. We can see where those uprisings lead in such an authoritarian system.

We view the events through the eyes of Bromden, an Indian-American patient. The author didn't choose him randomly. Instead, he wants us to know what happened to the original American citizens whose land was taken away by the whites, and whose history was erased and defiled. Through Bromden's narration of the lost memories of the Red Indians, the narration intertwines with his chanting, which is a reflection of the sorrow of this man who has been uprooted.
Ken Kesey has truthfully presented the real situation of American society in this wonderful novel. It is a great novel that deserves to be read again and again.

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"They don't just raise their hands to watch TV, but they raise them against the big nurse, against her attempt to send McMurphy to the 'crazy people', against the way she talks to them and treats them and defeats them for years"

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It is the first time that I watch the film before reading the novel, and I thought it was not translated into Arabic. After watching that eternal cinematic gem, I searched and found that the novel has been translated for a long time, which prompted me to read it quickly.

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The Individual in the Face of Authority

It seems difficult for us to realize for the first time that the mental institution where the events of the novel take place is nothing but a projection of society. The patients are ordinary people, and the big nurse is absolute authority, and McMurphy is the rebel against this authority. That authoritarian power, which is dictatorial and controls every detail, does not hesitate or refrain from crushing any kind of rebellion or legal violation. Everyone is under its wide umbrella. And when the rebellious McMurphy, who refuses those restrictions, appears, the machinery of power begins to move and activates its mechanisms to crush and defeat his uprisings. So we see where those uprisings lead in the face of this authoritarian system.

And we see the events through the eyes of Bromden, one of the patients in the institution, who is an American Indian. The author did not choose him randomly; rather, he wants us to know what happened to the original American citizen, whose land was taken away by the whites and whose history was erased and defiled. So we see through Bromden's narration of the lost memories of the Red Indians, the narration is intertwined with his chanting, which forms a reflection of the sadness of this man who has been uprooted from his roots.

Ken Kesey has presented to us in this wonderful work the real situation of American society with all honesty.

A wonderful novel that deserves to be read many times.

Reading Road Trip 2020


Current location: Oregon


Last week, I took a nasty spill on a few steps and hurt my right foot badly. I'm unable to drive and have to rely on a cane to walk. To make matters even worse, it snowed for a couple of days, and now both my front and back porches are covered in ice.


As if I hadn't already endured two partially collapsed lungs from COVID earlier this year. As if I haven't been home 24/7 with my two youngest children since March 13. As if I didn't already have a plethora of other personal problems that have reared their ugly heads this year.


Now, not only can I not drive or walk properly, but I can't even stand on my back porch and enjoy the beauty of nature. I'm confined to a chair with my foot propped up, listening to my daughters bicker and looking out at scenes that resemble the Arctic Circle.


I mean, really. Who needs "soft leather cuffs to fit our arms?" The truth is, we don't need a blatant and condemning setting like a mental institution to feel trapped. I'm so desperate right now that I'm ready to bite off my own hand to free myself from these metaphorical cuffs, and yet I have central heat and a stocked fridge.


But how ingenious was Mr. Kesey to go to such extremes and give us the most exaggerated example of what it feels like to be truly stuck in an actual cage? And not just stuck in a cage, but constantly watched over by an evil witch who misses nothing through her looking glass.


Sure, there's the appearance of a young maiden with her bouncy breasts and steps like "copper springs in the sun," but mostly, it's a life filled with fear for these mentally emasculated eunuchs who had the misfortune of wandering into the wrong woods under the spell of this wretched witch.


All I know is this: nobody is very big in the first place, and it seems to me that everybody spends their whole life trying to tear everybody else down. But then, into these dark woods walks a "big redheaded brawling Irishman," a gambler (a woodsman?), a man who is not mentally ill but has "escaped" a jail sentence by being committed to this particular institution. He's Randle (Randy?) McMurphy, a man of great gusto and a voracious sexual appetite. The only thing perhaps bigger than his erections is his laughter.


Maybe he couldn't understand why we weren't able to laugh yet, but he knew that you can't really be strong until you can see the funny side of things. Over the next few weeks and months, this McMurphy brings new life to these inmates. Sure, he sometimes takes advantage of them with his unfair wagers, but he also brings music, laughter, and gusto.


When he manages to secure a rare "day pass" to take a small group of men from the mental ward out onto a boat for deep sea fishing, we see "McMurphy surrounded by his dozen people," and we realize that he's being compared to Jesus and his twelve disciples. He's an unlikely savior who has arrived. But the wicked witch senses the trouble and notices that "he seems to do things without thinking of himself at all, as if he were a martyr or saint." She won't let some randy woodsman chop her down. What follows is truly heart-wrenching. Well, it broke me. This is the 48th book in my 50 state Reading Road Trip project, and I declare it the winner. If you're ever unsure of what a five-star book looks like, it's this one.

I’ve mentioned in a previous review (The Enchanted, I think it was) how much I have a passion for stories about incarceration. There might be some psychological aspect within me that I need to sort out, perhaps some deep-rooted issue that I’m overlooking, but who really cares! I adored this book, just as I loved The Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption, The Enchanted, that one show on HBO, and so on.

This is also an outstanding movie that I highly suggest if you haven't watched it yet. Jack Nicholson is simply remarkable in it, and all of the supporting cast is of the highest quality. Do check it out.

And the book offers the same kind of experience. It's all about shaking up the status quo, questioning authority, pushing the boundaries, and partying on a boat. It's like a wild and institutionalized good time for the whole family. Well, probably not exactly for the whole family. Maybe it's better to read it on your own. Also, it's not necessarily always a good time. Part of what I said earlier was true, but other parts were inaccurate.

This is the second time I’ve read the book, and I watched the movie before reading it. In this case, I would actually recommend doing that. It helped me keep track of the characters, but I guess I did just envision them all in my mind as I read the book. When McMurohy would speak, I heard Jack Nicholson's voice. Do as you wish, I suppose. I think the movie might actually be just a little bit, just a teeny tiny tiny bit better than the book. You can disagree with me on that and easily convince me. They are both amazing, so just experience both.

I already knew the story through watching the movie as a teen - it's one of my mums favourites.

So once I found out that it was based on a book, I just needed to read it.

The one aspect that I really loved about the novel was the story being narrated through Chief Bromden's eyes. The half-native American allows for the rest of the state hospital to believe that he is deaf and dumb - it's a perfect way to allow the character to be placed in perfect situations as he casts his eye on the various dramas.

Jack Nicholson rightly won the Oscar for best actor in the role as McMurphy, the rebellious new arrival who shakes up the status quo in the center. The power play between him and the authoritative Nurse Ratched (again brilliantly played by Louise Fletcher) is the real tension in the story.

It might seem like simple requests like switching the allotted TV viewing time to the afternoon for the World Series might seem like a simple request, but McMurphy is really playing a long game in seeing how far he can go in terms of stretching all the rules. There's a constant ominous feeling that he will go too far which feels even heightened in the text.

I knew I was going to enjoy this from the outset, in fact I think I enjoyed the book even more. Definitely one of the great modern classics.

Moreover, the book delves deeper into the characters' minds and emotions, providing a more comprehensive understanding of their motives and struggles. The descriptions of the hospital environment and the interactions between the patients and staff add a layer of authenticity to the story. It makes you question the nature of authority, the power of the individual, and the meaning of freedom.

Overall, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is a thought-provoking and engaging read that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. It's a must-read for anyone interested in literature, psychology, or social commentary.

"It's the truth even if it didn't happen." This statement may seem paradoxical at first glance, but upon closer examination, it holds a certain depth and significance. Truth can often exist independently of whether an event has actually occurred in the physical world. It can be a concept, an idea, or a moral principle that remains valid regardless of its manifestation in reality. For example, a fictional story can convey profound truths about human nature, emotions, and the human condition. Even though the events in the story are not real, the underlying truths they reveal are still applicable and relevant. In this sense, truth is not limited by the boundaries of what has actually happened. It can transcend time and space and exist in the realm of the imagination and the human mind.

My choice for Flashback Saturday is something truly deliciously thought provoking and liberating for this meaningful day!

When the jurisdiction on the psych ward gets controlled by dictatorial, forceful, and dangerous people due to the uncontrollable power thirst of the management, rebellion and chaos become inevitable!

Tyrannical Nurse Ratched is not only a great metaphor for the mental institution but also a symbol of dictatorial governing. Society often tries to control and categorize people by putting pressure on them to mandate strictly.

The book truly questions the thin line between sane and insane. With McMurphy's arrival, the institution starts to change, and the patients slowly wake up from their deep sleep! Is he insane? Actually, he is not! He represents freedom, sexuality, determination, and the fight against restrictions and taboos!

This is what makes this book one of the most provocative and challenging readings in American literature! It was banned from school libraries in the seventies, and in 2000, a teacher in California was fired because she assigned this book to the students' reading list! Yes, it's still too thought provoking for our new century!

That's why this is one of my all-time favorite books! And Milos Forman's amazing adaptation and Nicholson's McMurphy performance are among the most remarkable successes in motion picture history!

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing."

"If you don't watch it people will force you one way or the other, into doing what they think you should do, or into just being mule-stubborn and doing the opposite out of spite."

"He knows that you have to laugh at the things that hurt you just to keep yourself in balance, just to keep the world from running you plumb crazy."

I truly enjoyed this book way more than I had initially expected.

It is indeed a really great story that is filled with a plethora of fascinating characters and profound insights.

Although what actually occurs in the book might not be the most light-hearted or enjoyable subject matter, Kesey manages to write this novel with a remarkable blend of subtle humour and bouts of tragedy.

The ending, in particular, is so powerful that I have a feeling it will linger in my mind for many weeks to come.

It has left a lasting impression on me, making me reflect on the various themes and messages that the author has conveyed throughout the story.

Overall, it has been a truly engaging and thought-provoking reading experience.

“All I know is this: nobody’s very big in the first place, and it looks to me like everybody spends their whole life tearing everybody else down.” - Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

This is a book that initially held little appeal for me. A novel set in an insane asylum? No thank you. I had spent four years of my legal career defending indigent clients facing commitment before the local Board of Mental Health. It was an experience I was ill-prepared for, yet it provided an eye-opening look into the world of mental illnesses. Underfunded and understaffed hospitals, patients with deep paranoiac beliefs, terrifying hallucinations, and sudden mood changes. The stigmatization and alienation these patients faced were palpable.

One of the lasting impacts of those years was a healthy skepticism towards the portrayal of mental illness in popular culture. It typically presents either a psychopathic killer or a person whose mental illness is seen as a moral failing. With these prejudgments in mind, I would likely have ignored Ken Kesey’s counterculture classic. However, it was chosen by the Eastern Nebraska Men’s Biblio and Social Club, leaving me with no choice but to read it.

Hesitantly, I opened the book just a few days before our meeting. The first odd lines immediately caught my attention. Chief Bromden, the deaf and dumb Columbia Indian narrator, is able to see and hear things others can’t. He relates the story of Randal P. McMurphy, a red-haired Steve McQueen-type, and his battle of wills with Nurse Ratched. The novel unfolds episodically, with Ratched and McMurphy trading blows as they vie for the souls of the other patients. Kesey’s use of an unreliable narrator adds depth and complexity to the story.

The power play between Nurse Ratched and McMurphy is a classic of “the Man” versus “the Rebel.” Published in 1962, it also critiques the mental health establishment. Kesey’s own experiences in a psychiatric ward and with psychoactive drugs are evident in the story. The patients are subtly controlled, and it is McMurphy who shows them the light. The book is filled with memorable scenes, such as the inmates’ fishing trip, which is both humorous and poignant. The ending is unforgettable and near-perfect, working better on the page than on the screen.

To be sure, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is not without flaws. There are ugly strains of racism, misogyny, and violence against women throughout the book. However, these do not fatally detract from its overall impact. The sense of unsettledness is pervasive, mirroring the imperfections of real life. This, for me, is what makes it a masterpiece.

Okay, I figure now is a good time to write a full review for this because I should be editing and it gives me an excuse to procrastinate.

This will have spoilers so read on at your own risk.

It's also incredibly rambly so again sorry.

Firstly, I didn't hate the book. I know 3 star reviews for some reason on here are treated like a failure, kinda like how C's no longer mean average in school, but in reality a 3 star from me means I can find more in the book I liked than hated.

I'll touch on the overall philosophy of the book first. The idea of a big machine crushing the souls of the individuals and smiling while they do it is quite profound. Nurse Ratched, also known as Professor Umbridge in the world where she has wizard powers, is the head nurse and chief bureaucrat of the mental facility this book takes place in. She rules the ward in a much more dangerous way than a dictator. She manipulates a system that sounds fair and balanced to an outside observer and keeps both those in charge and those in treatment in a constant state of fear. The setting and overall tone Kesey depicted here was masterful. It created physical reactions. You HATE Nurse Ratched. You want to see her fail. You want to see her lose. You want to see the hospital overrun.

Apply that to the macro of our country and it's not difficult to see a clear comparison. Something that appears to be fair is manipulated by people who are close to the highest position but not quite there and any attempts to sway that power away is stalled. In the book Nurse Ratched keeps the ward tense by encouraging patients to rat on one another in an observation journal where they publicly discuss embarrassing indiscretions in a sharing circle once a day. There's no camaraderie and no desire to get better. In fact, as we learn later on almost all the acute patients are there voluntarily.

Which brings us to McMurphy who is so firey even his hair glows. He's the perfect foil to our Native American narrator, who the entire hospital assumes is deaf. Most importantly he's human. He's incredibly flawed, brash, a former military man who fights, gambles and fucks. McMurphy isn't a good man, the only reason he's in the hospital is because he was transferred from a work farm, but he's the first injection of life the ward has ever gotten.

And while it looks like for a time he is going to win. He's going to be the hero who overthrows the system and takes down the big nurse, we are reminded that he is no hero. He is too flawed, too selfish, and too tired to overthrow the system and all he could ever be was a disruption. I thought McMurphy's ending was fitting for him. The system exercised its right to take away his humanity (I'll keep my harry potter comparisons alive and say the Dementors kissed him).

However what makes this book so cool is that it has two main characters, the protagonist and the hero and while that's nothing new, what is unique about it is the narrator becomes a proactive character. The chief starts the book sweeping in the hall and slowly takes on a more active role, eventually talking to the other patients proving he's not just able to hear and speak but think! What this allowed the book to do is give the narrative a victory even after the hero was defeated.

The narrator killed the hero then took on his role and escaped the hospital. By killing McMurphy he stole a victory from Nurse Ratched who would've used him as an example of what happened to disruptions. The hospital would not be able to use him as a cautionary tale and it lost one of its chronic patients.

So where did the book lose me? While it dehumanized everyone, I couldn't get past the depiction of the black orderlies. I would never discourage someone from reading this book, would never cancel it, would never censor it, but the animalistic depictions of the black staff and the lack of any personality outside of fearing the nurse and punishing the patients in the name of revenge against a racist system that let them down was difficult to get through.

While I think it could've been an interesting point to make, adding to the failures of large systems, I thought it wasn't explored enough. We were told they were recruited by Nurse Ratched and were given brief backgrounds of the three of them but it wasn't enough. It was the least explored part of the story and the fact they were such important roles made the lack of depth incredibly stark.

So that's my review, sorry if it was long-winded and too rambly.

Maybe when it first came out, there was something to it. But this is not a book that has aged well.

First, it's important to note that I'm not railing against the idea that the mental health treatment system has any problems. Nor am I defending lobotomies and electroshock treatment. However, it's worth bearing in mind that lobotomies were already on their way out by the early 60s when this book was published, although they were still being performed.

Now, my problems with this book are twofold. Firstly, whether intentional or not (and I believe it is intentional), the stance that mental illness, as a serious and actual problem, doesn't exist is highly concerning. Looking back, nearly no one in the ward actually has any real problems. They're just tired or feel emasculated by society, as will be discussed later. But as for anything else? No. This is a major issue for me. Honestly, a lot of people do believe that mental illness isn't medical, isn't treatable, and can be cured by simply deciding to snap out of it, like Bromden at the end. Did Kesey think this? I'm not sure, but the evidence seems to point to yes.

Secondly, the portrayal of women in this book is deeply flawed. Women are at the root of every problem that every man in the book has. Some have an emasculating mother, some an emasculating wife, some a father married to an emasculating wife, and some just find everyone (except the hookers) emasculating. It's significant that at the end, when McMurphy ultimately defeats Ratched, he does so by exposing her breasts and causing her to lose her voice. This is a prime example of rape culture. Am I saying she's an admirable character? No. But that doesn't change my problem with her ultimate fate. Yes, some men may have problems with women, but when you write an entire novel in which there isn't a single female character who wouldn't benefit from what one might call a good rogering, then that, my friend, reveals more about you than you might like.