One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey | Books Young Kamil Loved, Older Kamil Reread

[@rachelsturgis1214]

Really loved this! One flew over the cuckoos nest is one of my favourite books but I read it at the age of around 17 so many of the themes you were talking about completely passed me by at the time. Now I want to re read it!

[@WhatKamilReads]

Same here as you know already. Let me know how you feel about it when you get around to rereading it.

[@KayAmpersand]

The intro to this is just precious!

[@WhatKamilReads]

Thank you Kay :)

[@bewitchinglyparanoid]

I have watched the movie, we have the book at home but I was so sad and heartbroken after the movie I couldn't even think about picking up the book. I just simply adore the movie and I am sure there are a lot of things mentioned in the book missed out in the movie but I just love it! But someday, when I want to get my heart broken again, I am gonna pick this book!!

[@WhatKamilReads]

I felt the same when I read it for the first time. Now knowing what to expect I discovered a different layer to it, the one that made me look at the book very differently than I did in the past.

[@bewitchinglyparanoid]

WhatKamilReads I could notice that slight change of expression when you started talking about the book, I think I need to read it now 😞

[@elizabethabraham2695]

Read it for the first time last week and loved it. I agree with the problematic themes you raised, but also think it's a wonderfully written novel that captures a place and time really well.

[@WhatKamilReads]

Agree, the question remains though if one that doesn't understand the historical spectrum won't be affected by reading something so sexist... or maybe it will be just like in my case when I was younger, read-only from the perspective of the main theme - individual against the brutality of the system... not sure... nonetheless, I definitely feel much less respect for the writer, as much as his skills are there, and I agree with you it's a well-written book, his view of the world is unacceptable, even in the sixties.

[@kisiwa82]

Interesting. As a feminist woman of color there were certain things that really irked me, but I also appreciate the honesty in the telling. It's hard to address issues that people pretend they don't feel/believe/act a certain way. Also the story is told from the POV of a person who sees fog and people floating in it, so there is a wonderful unreliable aspect to it all. I think setting this story in this an asylum was a brilliant device, and I seem to remember reading that this book helped change/ started a dialog about how the patients were treated, so there's that too. I'm quite enjoying your project and look forward to your thoughts on the rest of the books.

[@Sallyy150]

Man! I was really sad u did not make any new videos for awhile, my heart smiled when I received a notification :)

[@WhatKamilReads]

Lovely to hear that Noah, I'm smiling now too.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

We had to watch One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest as part of our Mental Health Nursing training. It was all about stigma/ public perceptions of MH care. I can promise you I've worked in some not so great places but none as bad as what is portrayed in the film

[@WhatKamilReads]

I don't think there are places like that in modern societies anymore, for sure I hope there aren't. It's extremely interesting to hear you read it in your Mental Health Nursing training. Very interesting. Anything else that you read and would want to recommend?

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

WhatKamilReads do you want Recommendations for Mental Health , Neurology?, psychology? What areas are you interested in?

[@WhatKamilReads]

No, I probably wouldn't understand it :) I was thinking contemporary literature you would read during your studies, if there was something else aside of One Flew Over?

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

WhatKamilReads Not so much books that helped with my training( now 30yrs ago). More books that helped me understand Autism when my son was diagnosed in 2005. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime Neurotribes by Steve Silberman Freaks, Geeks & Aspergers Syndrome by Luke Jackson

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

I admit I haven't read the book but watched the movie and it was amazing. Didn't think I would like it in the beginning but it was a serious and fun movie to watch.

[@WhatKamilReads]

Jack Nicholson is a fantastic actor while Forman was a brilliant director, the movie is the first class.

[@KayAmpersand]

I loved this video, Kamil. I have never read this book, as it never sounded interesting to me, but your discussion makes me want to hate-read it :) Also, your impersonation was excellent - we need more! I will try to make time for Crime and Punishment in August so I have more to contribute than I did to this video :)

[@WhatKamilReads]

Thank you for such an encouraging and heartwarming comment. That would make my month if you'd read Crime and Punishment to discuss it with me.

[@KayAmpersand]

How can I say no to that?! :)

[@literaturelessons6333]

Currently reading it.....

[@curioushmm9027]

i love the representation of yourself and i believe most of our young selves "buying what the author is selling' and i'd say most of all when it's idealism and or romantic..and that's just how it is to be a young reader...but then we mature and read more reflectively and unfortunately see thinks like kesey's fear and misogyny...i saw the movie when i was really old enough to know better and still was pretty unreflective...i trust any number of your selected reads for this series will hold up better.

[@WhatKamilReads]

I haven't seen the movie for almost as many years as when I read the book for the first time, I wonder if those problematic elements were tuned down? I need to watch it as I love Forman and Nicholson. Re next reads I cannot imagine myself disliking Crime and Punishment, really can't. There's Murakami on the list and I already know how I feel about him but decided to pick up Norwegian Wood as I really loved it when I was younger, continued reading him though and the older I got the more bananas his books became.

[@curioushmm9027]

lol...there's only two murakami i don't love that i've read..norwegian wood because it's not crazy and kafka on the shore which starts like a house afire and drifts off like smoke at the end.. i reread crime and punishment within the last two years and it had nothing like the impact it had on me in my late teens. so be prepared.

[@BookishTexan]

Ordinarily I hesitate before assuming that the ideas expressed by the characters in a book are the ideas of the author. However, in Kesey's case I think this is accurate. Kesey was a macho man, sexist, who, in my opinion, was overrated because the release of Cuckoo's Nest coincided with societal changes taking place in the early 60s. I really enjoyed your review.

[@WhatKamilReads]

I agree, but when the main character that is built to be likable and all other characters also built to be sympathetic share the same views I believe it makes it a pretty safe bet to assume that is what author thinks. It's pretty shocking I have not noticed that reading it being 19 or something.

[@tinafromadelaide2073]

Haha I haven't read this (living under rock 🙋), but enjoyed your video. I think there might be some truth in what Kesey said about how to "tame" a woman. I think most women find sex causes an emotional connection. So in theory, this would mean the partner then has some power over them. Just a thought! Can't wait for the C&P video.

[@kristiana8911]

Before I read the book I had seen the play and the actors who were playing the black men were white because we don't have native black people in my country, so while I was reading the book I kept imagining them as white men and have never realized how racist the book is. I definitely agree with what you are saying. But even if I know how problematic the book is, my 19-year-old self, who is my current self lol still loves it. I'll make sure that I reread it when I am 34 though.

[@WhatKamilReads]

hahah :) I love the promise at the end of the comment when you are promising yourself to pick it up being 34. I think the book is even more sexist than racist. It's a very readable and heartbreaking piece of literature so no surprise it evokes such positive feelings.

[@moynkey]

I love that cover! What version or what imprint edition is that one?

[@WhatKamilReads]

Folio Society

[@moynkey]

WhatKamilReads Thanks!!

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

You've come a long way in your interpretations! Kamil the feminist, I salute you :-).

[@WhatKamilReads]

boys become men :)

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

Amen to that!

[@booksandallthatjazz1654]

Here is a link to an interesting 4 minute interview with Ken Kesey talking about his inspiration for writing the book. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4nCl4h4eL6dZ7c

[@WhatKamilReads]

Thank you, let me go ahead and watch it.

[@marianryan2991]

Wow, very interesting discussion. I have not actually read the book or seen the film--maybe I had some instinct about it being too macho/toxic masculinity for me--but it sounds pretty warped. Really well done review and reconsideration. I would probably replace "shag" with `'assault."

[@WhatKamilReads]

I used "shag" to distinguish it from physical violence - mentioned slapping around. Shag is consensual and it this macho caveman philosophy it's seen as men weapon of dominance. Not sure how it supposed to work as one may as well claim that women having sex with a guy is using her weapon to dominance, and it would just as s"sensical"...

[@marianryan2991]

I will probably not read it so I'm just guessing of course. The episode of ripping the clothes off is violent, no? Or is it presented as consensual?

[@duhaars4468]

Could anyone tell me why Mac killed by Indian guy at the end of the movie? Cuz they seemed good friend in movie. Why Indian huge guy also broke the wall in bathroom then escaped 🤔🤔 l m curious why why cus Mr. Murphy wanted to run away and broke the wall but he was not able to come true his wishes 🤔🤔 wondering. If any of you reply my comment l would be appreciated your time and idea 🙏🏻 thanks in advance

[@thedeepend4419]

I take it One Flew Over you...

[@SGC90-t5y]

McMurphy was lobotomised and to be used by Nurse Ratched as a warning to the other patients of the consequences of going against the system. Chief Bromden thought that McMurphy would be better off dead than to be used for this purpose while in a vegetative state.