Title: Sometimes a Great Notion
Author: Ken Kesey
First published January 1, 1964
640 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780140045291 (ISBN10: 0140045295)
Rating: 4.25
Overview
Ken Kesey’s Sometimes a Great Notion is a breathtaking novel that follows the gripping story of the Stampers, a family that is determined to stand strong against a bitter strike tearing a small lumber town along the Oregon coast apart. As the family is plagued with rivalries and betrayals, they fight tooth and nail to keep their lumber business going.
Kesey’s exceptional writing style creates an epic tale with the same mythic impact as Greek tragedy, cementing this book as one of the greatest American novels of the last half century.
Editoral Review
Ken Kesey’s Sometimes a Great Notion is a monumental novel that defies easy classification. Published in 1964, this novel grapples with timeless themes of family, loyalty, ambition, and social injustice.
Kesey’s stunning novel deftly blends elements of the American Western, the family saga, and the literary epic, imbuing the tale of the Stamper family with a raw and visceral power that will leave readers breathless. Kesey first gained notoriety with his debut novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, but Sometimes a Great Notion is a more ambitious and sprawling work.
The novel is set in the Pacific Northwest, where the Stampers, a logging family, are locked in a bitter struggle with the local union. Hank Stamper, the charismatic and ruthless leader of the family, is determined to hold on to his land and livelihood, no matter the cost.
He is opposed by his half-brother, Leland, who has returned home after years of estrangement to put down roots and form a new family of his own. The conflict between the Stamper brothers is the fuel that propels this novel forward, but Kesey’s storytelling is not content to rest on this foundation alone.
The author delves deep into the psyches of his characters, exploring the complex relationships between fathers and sons, husbands and wives, and brothers at war. As the novel unfolds, we come to understand the motivations and desires of each character, and we are drawn into their world, even as it spirals out of control.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Kesey’s writing is his ability to weave together different narrative threads without losing sight of the overall arc of the story. The book is divided into four parts, each named after a season (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer).
Within each section, the author shifts between different characters, using first-person narration to give readers insight into their thoughts and feelings. Despite this, the novel never feels disjointed or confusing, as Kesey maintains a taut and gripping narrative structure throughout.
The historical and cultural significance of Sometimes a Great Notion cannot be overstated. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the countercultural revolution of the 1960s, the novel is infused with a sense of urgency and social criticism.
Kesey was openly critical of American capitalism and the way it left working-class people behind, and this novel is very much a reflection of those concerns. However, the book’s themes of environmental destruction, family conflict, and generational divides are just as relevant today as they were over 50 years ago, making Kesey’s work a truly timeless masterpiece.
While Sometimes a Great Notion is an unquestionable triumph of literature, it is not without its flaws. The novel can be slow-moving at times, particularly in the middle sections where the author spends a lot of time exploring the inner lives of his characters.
Additionally, some readers may find the frequent use of dialect and colloquial language to be distracting or off-putting. Overall, Sometimes a Great Notion is a work of staggering ambition and literary excellence.
Fans of American literature, family dramas, and sprawling epics will find much to love in Kesey’s masterpiece. The novel is a testament to the power of storytelling and the human spirit, and it is a must-read for anyone who considers themselves a lover of great books.
On a scale of 1-10, Sometimes a Great Notion earns a solid 9 for its remarkable writing, memorable characters, and timeless themes.
