One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

The misogynist and racist overtones pretty unfortunate (to say the least), but man this book really is somethin' else

Kesey's prose is gorgeously simple - poetic and powerful, yet effortlessly readable. It has been quite awhile since I have been this engrossed in a book - not to mention the profound emotional impact it had on me throughout

McMurphy, for all his problematic traits and antics, might be my favorite character in all of fiction. You better believe I was grinning like a fool anytime he did or said basically anything - even laughing out loud half the time

I won't deny that, as a white male, I'm sure I am much more predisposed to liking this than other people may be. And I certainly don't blame people for not enjoying this book and/or finding it offensive - no doubt this book has some issues. But hooeee I sure did enjoy it

I ended up really enjoying this reading experience, which was a relief upon the disaster that was Catch-22. 
Kesey is great at making the characters feel both vividly realistic and caricature-like at the same time. They're incredibly enjoyable characters and they play off each other really well. Having the story told from someone who essentially is a fly on the wall, but literally is within the story is clever. The story feels less subjective and very observative in that way even though it actually isn't. Following McMurphy's storyline and how he affects the others is also a joy all the way through, and the only time that lags is when McMurphy himself has a temporary change of heart halfway through. 
It was an interesting, thoughtful, and enjoyable read that had to something to say about authority figures and how easily we trust (and betray) others.  

Pretty Standard, non-earth shattering book. I read this because Netflix is doing a spin off of Nurse Ratchet's life before she came to the hospital and all the shit went down that took place in this book. Overall, I think that this was good. There was a lot of substance here and I can see why in the '60s this was a big deal. We have come leaps and strides in the mental health sector of knowledge, however, we have so far to go. What is really interesting is the “total domination” factor of not wanting to ever address an issue (mental health) but rather asserting of total dominance over the subject through medication and a “we know best attitude”. The overtones and total Trump administration era, although this was written over a half century ago. If anything, the critics are right: this novel is a commentary on the inadequate treatment of mental health in this country, stemming from the fact that proper healthcare is not affordable and is essentially a privilege - not a right. The trickle down affect is that because of mistreatment, more violent tragedy is senselessly still present in this country today and no one is doing anything about it. Oh, is this what is meant by “keeping America great??” Do better America.

My feelings are very complicated. I've always kind of hated the term a problematic fave, but by golly, if this doesn't fit the bill. If I was rating this book solely based on enjoyment I'd give it 5 stars. The characters are so engaging and memorable that they practically erupt from the page. The unreliable narration is fantastically done. The world is claustrophobic and convincing. Overall it's damn fun and tragic at the same time.

But if I take any steps back and think about what this narrative is trying to convince me of, it all crumbles. Some of the issues are right on the surface. For a book trying to convince me of the humanity of marginalized people, it sure manages to caricature and dehumanize the POCs and women. The slurs thrown around in this book made me physically wince on multiple occasions. That meme about male authors writing female character who boob boobily could have been made after reading this.

And the problems aren't only skin deep. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the world of the hospital is out of order. The women (specifically unattractive and unmarried women) and black people hold the power and the white men (and our native american narrator) have been robbed of their manhood and convinced that they're weak. Our protagonist comes in and effectively puts these upstarts in their place, beating the black men in a contest of strength and silencing and sexually assaulting the woman in power.

The young sexy girls who put out and the old black man who doesn't seem intimidating are allowed to stay :))

And when you put it like that, it's a helluva lot harder to enjoy.


P.S. I'd be interested to get the perspective of a Native American on Chief Bromden. His depiction is the most sympathetic of all the POCs in the book, but I do wonder if Kesey is romanticizing them. Similarly with the Japanese nurse briefly mentioned.