One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey

This book isn't called an American Classic for nothing!  We all thought we knew the story, having either read or seen the movie many years ago, but reading it again you realise what a good book it is and why.  
Randle McMurphy arrives at Pendleton Mental Institution, Oregon from prison, relived as his days of hard labour are over, not appreciating  that now he has no date for release and he could be incarcerated indefinitely under the 'care' of the tyrant Nurse.  Nurse is the main character in this book.  McMurphy subverts and undermines her cruel, inhumane and psychotic authority bringing life, laughter and a reason to live into the lives of the inmates of the asylum.  It doesn't end happily.  It is a discourse on Big Brother, the affect of an omnipresent and autocratic government and the state of mental health treatment in the US in the 60/70's on people and a not so subtle elegy to the human spirit.

Words used to describe it:
mind fuck, captivation, chilling, excellent

Marks out of 10 between 8 and one 10!

Next Book

Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim

Next Meeting 

28th May 

at 

117 Harbord St