Thanks to everyone who voted in the poll. The KR Book Club's book for November - untill January/ February will be 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' by Ken Kesey.

"Boisterous, ribald, and ultimately shattering, Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is the seminal novel of the 1960s that has left an indelible mark on the literature of our time. Here is the unforgettable story of a mental ward and its inhabitants, especially the tyrannical Big Nurse Ratched and Randle Patrick McMurphy, the brawling, fun-loving new inmate who resolves to oppose her. We see the struggle through the eyes of Chief Bromden, the seemingly mute half-Indian patient who witnesses and understands McMurphy's heroic attempt to do battle with the awesome powers that keep them all imprisoned."

Link to amazon.uk

Link to amazon.com

The way we read the last book worked well, with people reading at their own pace and discussing ideas as they went along. Once we had all finished we spent about a month having a more rounded discussion and talking about other things to do with the book, such as the movie, critical essays and our own ideas. I hope the same thing will happen with this book so I hope lots of people take part, all are welcome. If you have any questions just post or you can PM me, ella luciana or zindy.

Happy reading!

Ella could you sticky this please when you get a minute? Cheers x

Haha, I think I did it just as you posted...
Looking forward to reading this book, although I probably won't be discussing it until January as I have a super-mad December workload...

__________________

He he thanks. I have just ordered my copy now, should arrive in a few days and then I'll get reading. Best of luck with your work, I used to get so many essays to do over the Christmas period, it really sucked!

is it a new book? I`ll try and find it at the library first..

How are you guys by the way?

its not a new book, i think it was published in the late 60's or early 70's but your local library should have a copy.its an amazing book, i studied it in 1st year of university and theres also a film starring jack nicholson as mcmurphy, though its quite different to the book as its not told from the chiefs perspective

Hey Zindy,
Yeah like oceanofstars says it's from the 60's. I've just started reading, I am enjoying it, a lot funnier than I expected in parts, considering that it's set in a mental hospital. As yes after seeing the film I was really suprised when I started reading and it was from the Chief's perspective; I just assumed it would be from McMurphy's.

I am doing fine thanks, getting ready for Christmas and all that.
Hope you find the book at the library.

Kesey linked the beats and the hippies, it's a really wonderful book and one of the best films ever made, but unfortunately i've read it before as with Rebecca. Also i can't keep saying this enough but his second novel 'Sometimes a Great Notion' is as good as Grapes of Wrath, immense novel.

Also i heard from a friend once that Kesey hated the film, he said he was just flicking through the channels or something and saw it on and thought it was rubbish.

Cool, then there will be a great chance that I actually might find this one too!

I just read this increadably booooring book of Grisham.. the chamber or something so I need some good bathroom reading again... always read when I`m in the bathroom..

i'll be getting it from the library some day =)

I had my desired edition of this in my hand last month, didn't buy it because my beau promised to buy it for me, he flaked, and now I can't find it. I keep not ordering it from Amazon because I don't want to wait for it... but I've been doing that for over a month now. I know I shouldn't be picky, but the one I want has Kesey's sketches from when he worked at the hospital, and a putting-it-in-context intro. Just checking to make sure that this installment will last all the way through January-- I know 3 months was too long for Rebecca but it seems the holidays are messing with this one, at least it is for me... Thanks!

__________________
You deceive yourself. Suffering is amusing and may even do work in a situation where two people are connected with each other. Where there is no mutual connection it is undignified, grotesque and ugly. It is seen to be something totally pointless and unnecessary, like all the rest of the suffering human beings do every day. There is now no relationship between us and I find your contortions merely embarrassing.

i have just ordered it

Its been a while since I've read it, but I think this point is part of the genius of the book. It'd be too maudlin in a sense if told from McMurphy's point of view.

me too. I'll actually try to get it today or tomorrow. I take forever to read books so I'm gonna get started asap. I havent read a good book in so long. I can't wait.

__________________
getting tired of the collective orgasm at the public declaration of the word "change"

Dr. Nathanson

fuck. I think I have to skip this one. I just can`t get the time right now. Sorry.

Oh that's a shame Zindy. I understand if you don't have time but we haven't really gotten started yet. I was going to post some inital thoughts and discussion suggests over Christmas to get the ball rolling. If you can't join that's fine but it was really good having you invlolved for Rebecca

Yes you're right, I really like how it is being told from the Chief's point of view. I feel because he has been there for so long and he is largley ignored (due to his supposed deaf and muteness) that he is almost omnipresent which makes him a wonderful narrator as from reading you get a real sense of the hospital and the people within it.

I don't have the book with me now so can't quote the chapter but I love the description of how Rachet sometimes stops the clocks so they lose track of time, so 'the laying down of a card can take a whole afternoon'. I really got the feeling of this place where time stands still, it was wonderful.

i started it driving in the car today and I'm around page 25 or so (not far, I know) but I like it so far. I can't wait to see what happens to "the big nurse" at the end of the story (er, not quite sure what her name is) but as soon as I started the book, I was unsure of what this meant. Anyone want to help me interpret this??

"They're out there. Black boys in white suits up before me to commit sex acts in the hall and get it mopped up before I can catch them..."

?

Yeah I wondered about this too, I took it to mean they jack off? But I'm not sure. Anyone care to enlighten us?