The Nut Hut

by Kathleen Taylor

In late January, 1971, eighteen-year-old Becky Decker reported for her first day of work at Byerley State Hospital and School, a state-run institution spoken of mostly in whispers. She hoped to make friends, and to "make a difference" in her very first job. What she found during that week was a world of heartbreak and hope in a universe that no longer exists."Kathleen Taylor is one of the best storytellers around. The Nut Hut is a total-immersion into the 1971 world of residential care for the mentally retarded. It is ruthlessly honest, but at the same time extraordinarily moving. A totally captivating novel that will draw you in and not let you out until the last page is read." -- Denise Swanson, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Scumble River and Devereaux's Dime Store series"The Nut Hut is a chilling tale about the cold heart of state institutions. A smart, insightful novel, it’s full of more truths than any ten works of nonfiction and way more entertaining." -- Reed Farrel Coleman, three-time Shamus Award-winning author of Gun Church"Kathleen Taylor's brilliant novel "The Nut Hut" takes the reader on a harrowing trip inside a state institution for people with mental disabilities, circa 1971. Through young Becky Decker's baptism of fire -- her first week on the job -- we explore Byerley State Hospital with the eyes of an innocent. Our appreciation for the workers and the patients and their day-to-day dance of survival grows along with Becky's own. By the end, we're confident that she -- and we -- have a better understanding of them all. Highly recommended." --Steve Brewer, author of the Bubba Mabry mysteries"A sweeter, less caustic version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the Nut Hut by Kathleen Taylor is the story of attendant Becky Decker’s first week in a mental institution during the early 1970’s. Still, the story retains a bite. The prose is velvety smooth, and the sharp characterizations make for a fast, unputdownable read. I recommend it highly, if only to remind those of us who are not impaired how blessed we really are."-- Libby Fischer Hellmann, author of A BITTER VEIL

294 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 20, 2012

About the author

Kathleen Taylor is a freelance knitwear designer and a prolific writer. She is the author of the popular book Knit One, Felt Too, and her knitting designs have appeared in more than 50 different magazines. She lives in Redfield, South Dakota.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book!!! Kathleen Taylor's mystery series is one of the best, and her move into a different genre with The Nut Hut is just as good if not even better.She always writes so that you can picture the story in your head and with The Nut Hut it is so clear I feel like I know Becky Decker. I wanted to cheer for her, or give her a hug. Mrs. Taylor you need to write more books!!!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen Taylor found a way to entertain us with truth's about state run institutions in the 70's.
Becky Decker is young and fresh from high school. She wants to go off to college, but with her brother in service of his country, she needs to earn her own way in. To do so, she finds herself a job at "The Nut Hut", a facility for the mentally handicapped, where she feels she can make a difference while working. Her experience is eye opening, difficult, and something that would make a lesser person turn tail and run. She makes friends with people that offer her help and humor during her first week there, and makes enemies of those that would seek to make changes that wouldn't benefit the facility as a whole.
Each chapter is introduced by bits of information that come into play in that chapter. For example, words from a letter in Becky's pocket, which ends up in the mouth of a particularly interesting patient, other times it's information from the handbook of Byerley State Hospital and School.
There is heart and humor enough to offer counterbalance to the dark and sad realities within, and by the end, we feel confident in Becky Decker's chosen path.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

New fiction from Kathleen Taylor! It has been way too long since the untimely demise of her Tori Bauer mystery series, notable for the humor and great characters.

The Nut Hut is quite different in that it is not a mystery, and the humor is less prominent. Still, I really did enjoy reading it, especially for the characters who seemed quite real to me. The plot was rather predictable, but still I am so glad that she published this. Looking forward (with any luck) to her next fiction title.

[Tara Engel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick read and interesting to read about institutional life in the 70s.

[Craig Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this look into a fictional mental/retardation hospital. This is the story of Becky Decker, an 18 year old nieve girl that has her first job at a well known institution and her first week and how it changes her. It's interesting that at first she fears the clients but soon learns the staff is more dangerous than the clients, sort of like in zombie books when the other humans become more evil than said zombies. My nitpick is that this is the story of her first week on the job, which was very newsworthy, but that she becomes this comfortable, strong woman in only a few days. I'm all for growth of a protagonist, but just felt she grew too fast. That's a nitpick though. A fun fast read especially enjoyable if you've ever had a job dealing with the mentally ill in a restricted setting.

[Tope2u · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book thanks to recommendations from M'Lou and my sister, Amy. It is a very inexpensive ebook on Amazon, and my expectations were relatively low.
The writing is fine although not particularly distinguished. The story is a bit like a Billy Joel song: A slice of life in America, with a gritty sense of truth and reality on the side.
Surprisingly, Taylor's work continues to stick in my mind suggesting that the work may be deserving of closer reading. But, not by me - I'm a "one and done" kind of reader with VERY limited exceptions!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having worked with those with special needs, I was brought back to all the nearly unbelievable scenarios we encounter day-to-day. Taylor writes with an authenticity I did not expect. And in the middle of all the character-building and setting of the scene, she somehow manages to weave a tale with twists and turns I didn't see coming.

[sarah parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book lives up to it's name. Having a job means everything to an unprepared but determined new employee of a mental institution. No two days are the same regarding the patients, adding the pressures of the management and other employees can make or break a person. This is a good eye-opening story.

[Michelle Harmdierks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read by Kathleen Taylor!

Kathleen Taylor gives you details enough you feel like you are involved in the story, the Nut Hut and all of Kathleen Taylor books keeps you reading and wanting more.

[Marilyn Stein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye opening. Realistic.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strikingly honest look at working at a mental institution during the 70's. So much happened in a very short time span. Love Kathleen Taylor!