Sunday, December 12, 2010
Which Do You Prefer?
Considering I have commons after my English period, I find that my table regularly discusses aspects of English class. Amoung these discussions, we have debates over which book we prefer, The Namesake or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. While many swayed toward The Namesake as a more enjoyable read, I have found that One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest has been more intriguing and entertaining for me. Similar to The Namesake, this novel creates many complex stories that connect to the main character of the novel. However, with a first-person narration, I desire to hear the thoughts of other characters other than Chief Bromden resulting in a much more intriguing story line. I feel that throughout the novel, I have questioned reality and the accuracy of the narrators thoughts. The input of the character McMurphy has intensified the tension within the hospital. His unpredictable attitude leaves me wondering the events yet to come and suprised after every action he makes. After the previous uprising against the Nurse, I have continually hoped for another outbreak to bring her down completely. Ken Kesey's timeline of events throughout the novel has added suspense as the Nurse slowly loses then regains her power. Unlike The Namesake, I find myself enjoying the book even more after every eventful and suspenseful chapter.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hi Kelsey! I totally agree with your observations. While The Namesake was a fairly interesting read, I wished for more plotline in addition to the well-developed characters. I feel that One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest satisfies all of these aspects- we get an in depth look into the minds of the patients along with suspense and tension to keep the story going.
ReplyDeleteI too prefer One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest to The Namesake. I found myself constantly loosing faith in the character of Gogol, to the point where reading about him just annoyed me and caused me to dislike the novel as a whole. So far, Kesey's novel has held my interest. I feel that Kesey's novel is more thought provoking and intriguing than The Namesake. Also, I feel that the character's themselves are more likable, which I am aware is ironic given that they are mental patients.
ReplyDelete