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Comments (32)

What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 32 items
Mar 29, 2022HujeBohoc rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This belongs to the very small category of novels where the narrator is an unborn baby. Original and entertaining, with a few well-placed commentaries on today’s world.
Nov 13, 2021wyenotgo rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Taking the notion of an unreliable narrator to a whole new level, McEwan has concocted a thoroughly vicious little piece of theater. A deeply cynical piece, populated by a couple of the most amoral, self-absorbed, slovenly jerks I've yet…
Mar 18, 2019
Unusual and unpredictable
Jan 08, 2019DBRL_MattS rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
In typically masterful prose, Ian McEwan tells the story of Hamlet if Hamlet were an unborn child still in Gertrude's (or in this case, Trudy's) womb. A fetus is an unusual narrator to be sure and in a less skilled author's hands may have…
Nov 11, 2018beetlebaily rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Superb book. Extremely clever and magnificently written. Initially when I heard the premise of the book I was put off. But I am so glad I read it. You have to rest your overly rational self aside when you start reading this book and…
Oct 26, 2018Martun rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
Intriguing way to convey a story, but my interest fizzled out after a dozen pages.
May 05, 2018empbee rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Great style; funny, sarcastic, mysterious, entertaining.
Nov 13, 2017Jakedesnake rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
While the perspective of the fetus was extremely interesting and well executed, this book is a snore fest. I can't recount how many pages of this 200-page novel are made up of the characters having sex and feeling worried. The story could…
Sep 09, 2017JCLMandaW rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I've tried to get into McEwan on multiple occasions, but I have yet to find one of his books that really speaks to me. While I did appreciate the humor and thought this was a unique perspective for a retelling of 'Hamlet', I did not find…
Jun 05, 2017tfwilliams rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Brilliant take on "Hamlet." Not a bad page.
May 28, 2017gumboot_tea rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A magnificent and compelling little read. Narrated by a fetus, so quite an unusual viewpoint.
May 25, 2017FVReader rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
What can I say? Ian McEwan's writing is, as always, wonderful. There are some great passages here. The protagonist is captive (being a fetus), so there is no action and yet, there's suspense. One wonders if the mother and uncle will…
Apr 15, 2017mjk236sb rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
This may have been different premise having the story told by an unborn child - but it did not hold my interest and decided after about 20 pages that there were better books to move on to.
Apr 08, 2017nannerl rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
I'm actually not keen on this author, so I don't know what came over me that I checked out this book. Soon enough, I was sorry. I'm sure he thought he was being very clever, but I found it to be silly and irritating, and so didn't finish…
Mar 13, 2017njon38 rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
I'll give him points for originality of point of view but it seems like more of a writing exercise than a novel. BTW I am a fan of his previous work
Mar 08, 2017emetz918 rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
Ugh. Really? Author must have been drunk when he conceived and wrote this, Never been a fan of British humor, maybe that's my problem. Gave up after chapter 6. Please don't bother. So many better things to read.
Mar 02, 2017DanglingConversations rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
The womb with a front row seat in a modern Hamlet drama. Brilliant concept. I would love to read more stories from the perspective of the foetus. A bit of a let down at the end, did the author run out of inspiration. Still a fun fast read.
Feb 20, 2017vancouverville rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book even though I suspected a baby-in-utero would make an odd narrator. But no. I enjoyed his observations and thoughts. He did seem like a stuffy old professor (mentioned in a previous review.) As I am not a fan of…
Feb 04, 2017
Definitely one of the strangest books I've ever read! The premise is what attracted to me to it - how would a fetus think, especially if he knew something awful was about to happen? McEwan certainly has a great imagination, but I wasn't…
Jan 08, 20172303tes rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Quick read and really enjoyed it as from such a unique perspective.
Dec 28, 2016claireswazey rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
Novel is written from the perspective of a 9 months fetus-- yeah, if the 9 months fetus were a pedantic old Oxford Don awash in pomposity. Fairly decent plot, annoying writing style. Writer also employed an awful fiction device where…
Dec 07, 2016KungFuAndrew rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I'm a fan of books that seem unique (at least to me), so McEwan's Nutshell, with its unconventional narrator's view, was a winner for me. Occasionally explicit and perhaps controversial to some, the book is a decent crime novel with a…
Nov 29, 2016JLMason rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I think McEwan had a blast writing Nutshell. A delightful read of black humour and beautiful prose, this short book is a twisted, clever retelling of the story of Hamlet who is embodied by the narrator, an unborn child with his ear…
Nov 25, 2016Marlowe rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I've never read any McEwan before, but have long wanted to try something, knowing the greatness of "Atonement." Swayed by the unique plot description, and easily digestible size, I took a chance. This is a fascinating and enjoyable read.…
Nov 21, 2016looper46 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I'm impressed by this book...What an idea, a fetus hears a murder plot being hatched by his mother and lover... True the "kid" is a bit pretentious; but he explains this by listening(thru his Mom) to BBC/NPR news and various…