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41 pages 1 hour read

Ken Kesey

Sometimes a Great Notion

Ken KeseyFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1964

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Book Brief

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Ken Kesey

Sometimes a Great Notion

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1964
Book Details
Pages

640

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Oregon • 1960s

Publication Year

1964

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1020L

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Super Short Summary

In Ken Kesey's Sometimes a Great Notion, the Stamper family of independent loggers defies a logging union’s strike against a larger company, leading to internal family conflict and external sabotage. This novel explores themes of resilience, family loyalty, and personal vendettas through an experimental narrative structure. Topics include infidelity and familial conflict.

Gritty

Contemplative

Melancholic

Challenging

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.4

24,130 ratings

81%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Ken Kesey’s Sometimes a Great Notion offers a rich portrayal of a struggling Oregon logging family, praised for its intricate narrative and vivid character development. While the novel’s non-linear structure and shifting perspectives can be challenging, they contribute to its depth. The complex prose and raw depiction of resilience resonate, making it a compelling, albeit demanding, read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Sometimes a Great Notion?

A reader who enjoys Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey likely appreciates complex family dynamics and vivid depictions of nature, akin to themes in John Steinbeck's East of Eden and Norman Maclean's A River Runs Through It. Fans of multi-perspective narratives and rich, immersive storytelling would find this book compelling.

4.4

24,130 ratings

81%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

640

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Oregon • 1960s

Publication Year

1964

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1020L

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