41 pages 1 hour read

Ken Kesey

Sometimes a Great Notion

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1964

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Ken Kesey's Sometimes a Great Notion, the Stamper family of independent loggers defies a logging union’s strike against a larger company, leading to internal family conflict and external sabotage. This novel explores themes of resilience, family loyalty, and personal vendettas through an experimental narrative structure. Topics include infidelity and familial conflict.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Ken Kesey’s Sometimes a Great Notion offers a rich portrayal of a struggling Oregon logging family, praised for its intricate narrative and vivid character development. While the novel’s non-linear structure and shifting perspectives can be challenging, they contribute to its depth. The complex prose and raw depiction of resilience resonate, making it a compelling, albeit demanding, read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Sometimes a Great Notion?

A reader who enjoys Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey likely appreciates complex family dynamics and vivid depictions of nature, akin to themes in John Steinbeck's East of Eden and Norman Maclean's A River Runs Through It. Fans of multi-perspective narratives and rich, immersive storytelling would find this book compelling.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Lexile Level

1020L

Book Details

Genre

Modern Classic Fiction

Drama / Tragedy

Realistic Fiction

Topics

Business / Economics

Class

Relationships

Period

The Beat Generation

Themes

Natural World: Place

Relationships: Siblings

Identity: Masculinity