Nutshell: A Novel

Ian McEwan is a talented writer and his observations of humanity are worth reading. But the premise of the book, a fetus with full understanding of a world he cannot know, is far fetched. The fetus will ultimately be born to a horrible woman whose only redeeming trait is her beauty and an uncle one cannot help but dispise. Avoid this one.

McEwan enjoying a literary laugh in what's an obviously throwaway novelette about an unlikely murder plot. Hugely witty, the well read and erudite embryonic narrator ( thanks to the proliferation of podcasts he listens to in the womb) leads us through a tale of infidelity and fratricide to match anything in Shakespeare, even borrowing a few names,and ghostly apparitions, from the Bard. While,clearly not intended as a major work, it is still a page turner, and the unborn "hero" draws the reader into his tale without ever stretching the suspension of disbelief required to breaking point. Short, and probably not in the league of many of the author's serious works, Nutshell is nonetheless one of his most enjoyable productions. Incidentally, if it's ever filmed, I assume it'll be in Ultrasound.

As always Mc Ewan offers a story from a stunningly unusual point of view, the foetus considering all it has heard and experienced from the womb. Without spooling this thriller, we align ourselves with his understanding of events.

After the initial shock caused by the totally unexpected narrator, you warm up to the story. Of course that there are moments when the unnatural narration leaves you a bit unbalanced, but the story is well-built and it becomes credible. The writing is as always near perfect.

I love his use of descriptive language. As a mother, the idea that a baby could be so aware! I know they aren't, but it made me wonder just how much they hear and sense. I was in suspense right up to the end!

Not a fan. It was a little perverse, while never making much sense to begin with. It also felt as if the writer got bored with his own story and just ended it without much thought. Way below Ian's standard.

Difficult read but worthwhile. I enjoyed it even more after our Bookclub discussion including the Hamlet reference and vocabulary quiz. The author is a wordsmith and chose a fascinating and almost sci-fi perspective. The book settles in on the reader much like the development of pregnancy.

After reading the disappointing SOLAR recently, I knew that Ian McEwan could do better. His new book was getting good enough reviews (though now that I think about it, so did SOLAR) so I decided to give it a try and leave with a better feel. Fortunately, those reviews were more accurate this time around, with NUTSHELL indeed being a quick, exciting and very interesting read.

Apparently an homage to Hamlet, though as I am no expert on Shakespeare, I cannot say how it stacks up. I can say that, on its own, NUTSHELL is captivating. A murder mystery told from the perspective of the ultimate inside witness, a baby in his mother’s womb, it lays its plot efficiently yet delicately, taking each step at just the right time. The mother is in on the murder plot, with her new, stupid and loutish new lover her partner in crime. The father is the intended victim.

Told from this perspective, we get not only the details of the plot, the how, why and where, but we get it through the lens of the character with the least knowledge of the world but potentially the most to lose. Often pleasantly hazy from his mother’s wine, our baby’s monologue is tinged with just the perfect pitch of unreliability. McEwan is expert drawing these aspects out and tensing the action at just the right points.

What is wonderful about the book is that the reader genuinely has no idea what will happen. Genuinely no idea as to whether the killing will take place. If so, whether the culprits will be caught. And what will happen to our precocious narrator. This being McEwan, things might go all jolly well until at the last moment, poof, gone in a late-term abortion.

Well, I will not spoil the surprise for you, dear reader. I am just the messenger, with the message being to give this baby a go.

I recommended this most unusual book for my book club. I'll be leading the discussion. Can't wait to hear the response. I'm sure some will think it is utterly ridiculous, but maybe some will think it's pure genius!

An unique re-telling of the "Hamlet" story. Particularly timely for me as my daughter-in-law was 9 months pregnant as I was reading it. Interesting to look at the world from the POV of an infant in utero.

"Nutshell" is something of a murder mystery. The narrator overhears a plot being hatched but can do nothing to prevent the plotted death. You see, he is entombed in his mother's womb and completely helpless, Well, maybe not completely. McEwan is easily one of the best writers in the world today. He has taken on ultra-heavy topics in "Atonement," "Saturday," and "The Children Act" and many others. But here you will laugh out loud as I did, surprised at the fun he is having. Make no mistake, there is some heavy duty observing of the world but it is clear that McEwan is really having fun on almost very one of the 197 pages of this compact story. Does it help to have at least some knowledge of "Hamlet"? I don't know. It certainly heightens your appreciation of McEwan's genius. Read it as a comedy or read it as a tragedy, but definitely read it.

Preposterously weird little novel, original with touches of brilliance.
An original yet loose homage to Hamlet, with a villainous plot narrated by a rather snobbishly erudite fetus.
Characters have grotesque qualities fuelled by dark psychological aspects which drive them along a dastardly wicked plot line.
Surprisingly , the suspense is maintained with clever prose coupled with wicked humour.

It was difficult to believe that a few observations by the "hero" were learned as a fetus, but once I suspended my disbelief, I found it superbly entertaining. The author uses language beautifully, mixing Shakespearian style with flair, but not heavy handedly. Quite entertaining, even funny.

Well worth reading...enjoyed the complexities in the Children s Act more. Definitely different to have a story narrated by a fetus...and Ian's writing has many passages that you will want to highlight and share for the sheer joy of the language used. I did not like the ending...but that did not stop me enjoying the book overall.

Acrobatic wordplay with bursts of lyrical brilliance. One of McEwan's best. You'll be squirming in the agony of suspense by the end, as our fetal protagonist faces off against his selfish, murderous enemies (in the form of his mother and uncle). A modern-day Tristram Shandy.

You'll never read anything like it. I was skeptical about the plot, however it drew me in and didn't let go. I've read so many books and they all swirl together except for a few. This one will remain a standout. A one of a kind. The author was brave in writing this book.

McEwan continues with his personal challenges. This one has a narrator relating the story from the womb. Cleverly done. In ways, the cleverness of the narrative voice is the books strongest quality. The story that is unwoven is of lesser interest.

I loved this tasty morsel, it’s turn of phrase, it’s turn of fate it point of view,it’s crowning achievement. I recommend it to anyone who wants a fresh look at the world we live, but with a twist of lemon and justice in the end.

Well written, different and engaging but a little disappointed that there was no follow up on the father's girlfriend and why she was 'complicated' and why there was no explanation as to why the house was always mess.