1.27k reviews for:

Nutshell

Ian McEwan

3.6 AVERAGE

emotional sad tense slow-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: Yes
dark slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

it's an interesting concept, but it was poorly executed and not compelling. there was also a really strange sustained transphobic turn that was abandoned after a few pages.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

Not my cup of tea. But very good writing
dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
inspiring reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated

I am normally a huge Ian McEwan fan; however, I did not enjoy this one as much as his others. I found the narrative perspective to be gimmicky, for one thing. McEwan does turn a murder plot into an opportunity for an exploration into a wide range of human experiences, problems, and values. Possibly it's just too dense for my current frame of mind.

This book has the most fascinating narration style I have come across in a long time. A quick read, quite the page turner. This won't disappoint.
dark funny reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I was unsure if I could believe a fetus would know about everything around itself, but who cares. It was well done and I loved it!
dark emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes