TBR Feature is the chance for me to, every Wednesday, pick one of my unread books and discuss it: why I picked it up, when I'll get round to reading it, if I'm still interested in it at all etc.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
This is one of my unread books that needs to be featured ASAP because I really want to read it. Thanks to a few... up and down months, shall we say, I've found myself to be craving books that deal with mental health. However, I'm always very hesitant to actually read them because I have such high expectations.
One of the main things that's stopping me from finally getting to this is the fact that it's a classic. Okay, a modern classic, but a classic nonetheless. I don't always get on with the writing style of classics, but I'm hoping that this one will be easier, seeing as how it was written in the sixties.
The other main reason is that I'm worried it's not going to be an accurate representation of mental health. I can't speak about the hospitalisation aspect, as thankfully I've never experienced that, but I do know something about how people with mental illness act. I'm well aware that things were very different in the sixties, having looked at studies conducted, so I'm not expecting things to be great. Hopefully they'll be realistic for the time they're set in and will provide a good contrast between care then and the facilities we have now.
I just need exams to be over with so that I can give this my full attention.
One of the main things that's stopping me from finally getting to this is the fact that it's a classic. Okay, a modern classic, but a classic nonetheless. I don't always get on with the writing style of classics, but I'm hoping that this one will be easier, seeing as how it was written in the sixties.
The other main reason is that I'm worried it's not going to be an accurate representation of mental health. I can't speak about the hospitalisation aspect, as thankfully I've never experienced that, but I do know something about how people with mental illness act. I'm well aware that things were very different in the sixties, having looked at studies conducted, so I'm not expecting things to be great. Hopefully they'll be realistic for the time they're set in and will provide a good contrast between care then and the facilities we have now.
I just need exams to be over with so that I can give this my full attention.
Have you read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?
Have you seen the film? I saw the film before I read the book so had an idea what to expect, but the book is different in a lot of ways.
ReplyDeleteThe book is more about the perceptions and treatment of mental health. Set in America in the late '50s and early '60s - and is based on the author's real-life experiences as a nurse's aid.
You can read my review here: http://dickensdoesbooks.com/2015/02/16/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest/
I would definitely recommend reading it as soon as you can!
I haven't yet but it' definitely on my list of things to watch.
DeleteThe fact that it's based on Kesey's own experiences makes me hopeful that it will be an accurate portrayal - but that still makes me a little nervous as I know treatments at that time weren't as good as they are now!