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amanda1793's review against another edition
2.0
Here's the problem: this book is told by an unborn fetus who for some reason has a vast vocabulary to use. Which McEwan explains is due to the podcasts and radio news shows that Trudy listens to. Then, to the flip side of this argument, the fetus (who is never named), speaks about kind of obscene things (ie. the uncles penis poking his forehead during sex, and semi demeaning things about his mother and women, it seems to me at least, in general).
A major thing for me in this book was the use of alcohol not only in late term pregnancy (as what is shown in the book) and what the readers can assume started in early pregnancy. I understand that this featured in a fiction novel, and the mother very obviously didn't care about the fetus (as shown by lack of preparing the home for the baby and the assumed not buying clothes for him), and this again was featured in part of the plot in the story (a semi spoiler so I'll leave it out). I just felt that the alcohol didn't need to be as huge a part of the story as it was.
Along with the above, the story became blasé for me towards the end and I felt like skim reading to finish it.
This is the second McEwan read for me, and so far I am vastly underwhelmed by all that I have sat to read.
If you're interested in an odd way of telling a sort of mystery/thriller story this one is for you; otherwise, avoid this one.
A major thing for me in this book was the use of alcohol not only in late term pregnancy (as what is shown in the book) and what the readers can assume started in early pregnancy. I understand that this featured in a fiction novel, and the mother very obviously didn't care about the fetus (as shown by lack of preparing the home for the baby and the assumed not buying clothes for him), and this again was featured in part of the plot in the story (a semi spoiler so I'll leave it out). I just felt that the alcohol didn't need to be as huge a part of the story as it was.
Along with the above, the story became blasé for me towards the end and I felt like skim reading to finish it.
This is the second McEwan read for me, and so far I am vastly underwhelmed by all that I have sat to read.
If you're interested in an odd way of telling a sort of mystery/thriller story this one is for you; otherwise, avoid this one.
stanro's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a finely written balancing act.
Our first-person narrator is unschooled and knowing, innocent and cynical, powerless and effective. McEwan expertly and eruditely swings between these poles as two lovers, a pregnant woman and her husband’s brother, develop a plan. A plan to do what? And what role for our narrator? I’ll leave that to readers.
McEwan writes well. Good turns of phrase without overdoing it. The book’s plot has a welcome inevitability. #areadersjourney
ashablue's review against another edition
3.0
Not the greatest portrayal of women, but the prose is gorgeous and the premise interesting. Told entirely in first person from the perspective of a very articulate and omniscient fetus as it witnesses the horrifying disintegration of his parent's relationship.
antiintellectual's review against another edition
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
edenblackwell's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mollyss's review against another edition
4.0
Quite a quick read and a bit weird but overall enjoyable story and quite different to books I’ve read before
cf1990xxx's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bradbury's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.75
such creative perspective; i've never read anything like this. this novel wouldn't have worked if our narrator, an unborn baby, had been given a realistic and therefore indecipherable "voice". instead, the narration was bold and wholly adult, with this baby crafting such rich metaphors and critical thought that it reminded me of par lagerkvist's the dwarf (one of my fav reads of last year). the baby's commentary on the chaos inside and outside of his mother really worked for me. his commentaries on his favorite wine and food pairings was great dark comedy. favorite part was our narrator attempting suicide by umbilical cord to avoid the experience of sex!? loved it. a fun, quick read. my biggest gripe is the scientific inaccuracy at the end b/c newborn babies can't see color until they're like, 6 months old. fix it. jk
logolepsy_e's review against another edition
5.0
La noia, diceva tal Monsieur Barthes, non è lontana dal godimento. Si guarda alla noia dalle rive del piacere. Esatto! La condizione del feto moderno. Provate a pensare: niente da fare se non crescere, laddove crescere non rientra neppure negli atti consapevoli. La gioia del puro esistere, il tedio di giorni indistinguibili. Il godimento protratto è noia del tipo esistenziale. Questa reclusione non dovrebbe essere un carcere. Qua dentro mi spettano il lusso e il privilegio della solitudine. Parlo come un innocente, ma intanto evoco un orgasmo prolungato per l’eternità: eccomi servita la noia, nel regno del sublime.
Un Amleto moderno richiuso a testa in giù in un insolito guscio amniotico da cui sente, ascolta e percepisce tutto il mondo che si snoda intorno alla sua portatrice.
Non mi soffermerò su trama, storia o personaggi, perché non sono quelle le parti importanti. Quello che conta, qui, sono il narratore e la narrazione.
Un narratore inusuale, un feto all'ottavo mese in procinto di uscire a scoprire il mondo, che è però costretto ad assistere a una vicenda noir che coinvolge la sua indifferente madre e chi le orbita attorno. E il feto assiste, impotente, allo svolgersi di fatti che pur vorrebbe evitare, ma non può, o non ci riesce, racchiuso nel suo guscio di prigionia.
Ma il feto ascolta e assorbe tutto (compreso il vino, sua grande passione) e riflette, da narratore (quasi) onnisciente, su ciò che lo aspetta al di là dell'utero. Su quanto varrà la pena vivere una vita libera, su quanto e quale sarà lo squallore che lo accoglierà nel mondo, su cosa gli riserverà il futuro, se avrà un futuro.
La narrazione è magistrale. Lo stile è meraviglioso, spesso in bilico tra prosa e poesia, con qualche guizzo da commedia che richiama l'ispirazione amletica. Ispirazione che si sente molto anche in certe citazioni, alcune più sottili e altre meno, ma tutte sapientemente inserite nella storia.
Non mi dilungherò oltre, perché c'è poco da dire: rimane solo da leggere.