Book review: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

Nurse Ratched is a bully who administers her own form of medicine to her patients in a mental ward. When Patrick McMurphy is admitted to the ward she finally may have met her match. Patrick goes head to head with the nurse; Patrick is tough and he realizes someone should stand up for the other patients and battle this bully.

Seen through the eyes of Chief Bromden we witness the tumultuous battle that occurs when these two lock horns in a fight that may just change the way things are.

I actually read the book after seeing the movie and I was amazed by how well the book describes the main character Patrick McMurphy. He’s an amazing character part brawn and part comedian; this combination gives an insightful look into the potential for madness inherent in such a head strong character.

The book is far more vivid than the movie; it really delves into the characters and brings them to life in a very frightening and real way – it’s one of the only books that really has sent chills down my back as it shows a very possible (and probable) vision of life within a mental institution. The book clearly shows the anger and brutality prevalent in the ward, and you really feel as though you are part of it all rather than someone reading the book.

It’s this ability of Kesey to really portray the starkness of the ward, and really show what is happening inside the heads of the ‘inmates’ that make this such a compelling read. As you learn about the characters you sense a strange futility and forlornness from them;  Kesey really has done a great job of portraying these feelings in a way in which you can almost experience them yourself.

Out of all the classics I’ve read, and re-read, this is perhaps one of my favorites because it is so real and so daunting. The writing is amazing, and the characters simply jump out into your reality. The movie does a good job of bringing this to the big screen, but if you want to really feel the reality of the power abuse of one nurse, and the mental anguish this abuse causes, as well as the frustration and anger then you must read the book – you simply will not get the same intensity or depth of understanding from the movie.