I should imagine most of you will have heard of ‘One Flew...’ in some form or another, most likely as the film starring Jack Nicholson. I haven’t actually seen the film although I know it is widely considered a classic and is one of my mum’s favourites (usually a good sign). I had, however, been intending to read this book for a while, partly out of curiosity regarding the author, and partly because I knew that the film was based on the book and not vice versa. I recently noticed it on my boyf’s bookshelf and decided that now was as good a time as any... Okay, enough about why I’ve only just read it, let’s get on to the ...  Read the complete review

"One flew East and one flew West and one flew over the cuckoo's nest." Ken Kesey's novel, tells you from the very title that this book is about madness, it's about trying to do the undoable. There is no such thing as a Cuckoo's nest and the novel's title, taken from an old proverb, implies that some people will use their freedom or 'flight' to be the bird that chooses to fly over territory that has no substance. The novel tells the tale of Randle Mc Murphy's fight against institutions and being institutionalised. The story is set in a psychiatric ward, ruled over by the despotic but apparently sane, Nurse Ratched. It is told ...  Read the complete review

Story This novel is set in a mental institution in America in the 60's. The narrator 'Chief' Bromden is a Native American confined the ward, who pretends to be deaf and mute. The ward is run by Nurse Ratched who the Chief views as ruthless and mechanical and represents order and control. The patients on the ward are split into 'Acutes' who are there to be treated and eventually return to normal society, and 'chronics' who will be in hospital forever. A new patient, McMurphy, who represents anarchy and freedom, is introduced early on in the book: he claims to be a psychopath but his behaviour shows he is in fact perfectly sane. He is faking insanity in order to ...  Read the complete review

I first read, 'One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest' when in my late teens. This American classic was recommended and was either given or lent to me by a male work colleague. I had my doubts about this as I thought it might be a very male read but, as I was an avid reader, who would try almost any book, I decided to give it a go. Well, I'm so glad that I did. This book was, and still is, a brilliant read and one that all adults should try. I have read it several times. 'One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest' was written in 1959 and published in 1962. It was made into a film, starring Jack Nicholson in 1975. The author, Ken Kessey, had spent some ...  Read the complete review

Vintery Mintery Cuttery Corn Apple Seed and Apple Thorn Wire Briar Limber Lock Three Birds in a Flock One Flew East and One Flew West And One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a fabulous book which was written by Ken Kesey in the 1960's. The setting is primarily that inside an American Mental Institute in Oregon and the book depicts the life of the inmates and their experiences at the time. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a classic, it is easily one of the best books I've ever read and it is one of the few that I have ever read twice. The story is told from the perspective of ...  Read the complete review