One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest Audio Cassette: Amazon.ca: Ken Kesey: Books

Product Description

From Library Journal

This excellent version of Kesey's classic novel does not supplement the fine Recorded Books edition (Audio Reviews, LJ 2/1/93). However, this Blackstone version is a worthy companion, based on the reading skills of narrator Tom Parker. Parker does an exceptional job of bringing to life the characters of Randall Patrick McMurphy, Big Nurse Ratched, Chief Broom, and the others occupying the Oregon mental hospital. He is especially good with Chief Broom, the story's narrator, presenting the chief's state of mind in seeing dark forces behind the nurse's actions plus the changes he undergoes through McMurphy's rebellious, fun-loving nature. Parker's skills and the continuing popularity of this work make this version a required purchase for all collections, even those libraries that have the earlier edition.?Stephen L. Hupp, Univ. of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, PA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

'Kesey can be funny, he can be lyrical, he can do dialogue, and he can write a muscular narrative. In fact there's not much better come out of America in the sixties... If you haven't already read this book, do so. If you have, read it again' SCOTSMAN --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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267 Reviews

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4.5 out of 5 stars (267 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Should it be a classic?, Dec 3 2001

By

Mike Roluti (Arvada, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest Audio Cassette (Audio Cassette)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a book about an insane asylum in the mid part of this century. It is told in a distinctive style that lets you identify with the insane people (along with a few that are not quite so crazy). You can genuinely feel the power in certain events, like when Chief Bromden looks out the window for the first time.

I have never read a book dealing with mentally handicap, and it was an eye-opening reading. The idea that the handicaps were treated this way is disheartening, and the thought of continuous poor treatment is overwhelming. Ken Kesey did an exquisite job of portraying the struggle between McMurphy and Nurse Ratched for the upper hand - an endless game where the power hungry witch eventually came out on top. Despite his selfless and somewhat blind attempts to obtain equality and respect, McMurphy was perhaps responsible for the saving of at least one life - Bromden's.

Over all I see why many people have considered this book to be a classic. With the intriguing thoughts on insane people to the intense detail that Kesey shows though out the book sets a good example of what a classic book should be like.

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5.0 out of 5 stars i couldn't put it down, it really drew me in..., Feb 10 2006

By

Michael Herman (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is phenomenal. The way that Ken Kesey has developed the characters drew me in to the book, and made me eager to see what would happen as the plot developed, I could hardly put it down and was always dying to pick it back up. At times the book is sad, at times hilarious, but all the way through it created a real emotional connection for me. This, in my opinion, is one of the keys to excellent fiction. Another of the keys to excellent fiction is when the reader can read it as a metaphor for larger issues and ideas. This book is packed with themes that question what insanity is, in a world that seems to be insane (another one that would tie in pretty well with this is Joseph Heller's "Catch 22"). The whole book deals with issues of authourity and control, and the efforts of powerless people to regain control in their lives.

I believe this book is based on Ken Kesey's experiences working as a janitor in an asylum or mental health institute. His life and personality are fascinating, he seems to have been an absolutely amazing man. Another amazing book, which is based on Ken Kesey, is "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" by Tom Wolfe... it depicts the adventures of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, who drove through America taking loads of acid and giving it to people they met along the way. I would highly recommend "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" to anybody and everybody, and I would also highly recommend not to watch the movie. I couldn't even get through it, and it really is a great example of a movie that does injustice to the book it is based on. If you must watch it, read the book first so that you don't know the story and ruin the experience of reading this excellent book.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Aug 21 2005

By

Katherine "Kathy" (Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Mass Market Paperback)

Great characterization and writing style. The characters were well developed and portrayed, the antagonists were destestable, and one really cared for the protagonists. McMurphy, the novel's hero, was wonderfully 3-dimensional. Though not perfectly good, one was able to look past his flaws and see the depth of his character--the good he did in the asylum/hospital greatly outweighed his past wrongs. The people in this novel were realistic, with emotion and feeling. Great book! Highly recommended.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Both book AND movie are great
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST is often said to be allegorical in its depiction of the rebel versus the establishment, but that aspect of it doesn't really interest me because... Read more

Published on Mar 7 2006 by Farnold Arnsworth

5.0 out of 5 stars Unforgetable -- and Brilliant!
In his attempt to convey what he believed to be "the essentially schizophrenic nature of mankind," Kesey, rather than telling the tale from the perspective of an... Read more

Published on July 22 2005 by Frank Vargo