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59 pages 1 hour read

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1962

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Book Brief

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Ken Kesey

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1962
Book Details
Pages

325

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Oregon Psychiatric Hospital • 1960s

Publication Year

1962

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1040L

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Super Short Summary

In Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the story unfolds in an Oregon psychiatric ward where Chief Bromden, a patient who feigns deafness and muteness, narrates the struggle between the rebellious new patient, Randle McMurphy, and the authoritarian Nurse Ratched. The novel explores power dynamics within the ward as McMurphy challenges the oppressive rules, leading to significant changes and conflicts among the patients and staff. The book contains themes of mental health, coercion, and institutional control.

Mysterious

Unnerving

Challenging

Melancholic

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.4

759,227 ratings

81%

Loved it

15%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is lauded for its compelling narrative and complex characters, particularly McMurphy and Nurse Ratched. Critics praise its incisive look at institutionalization and control, though some feel the portrayal of mental illness lacks nuance. Overall, it remains a provocative, impactful read with enduring relevance.

Who should read this

Who Should Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?

A reader who enjoys One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey appreciates intricate character studies and themes of individuality versus institutional control. Fans of Catch-22 by Joseph Heller and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, who value deep moral questions and social critique, will find this novel captivating.

4.4

759,227 ratings

81%

Loved it

15%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

325

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Oregon Psychiatric Hospital • 1960s

Publication Year

1962

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1040L

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