Reviews

Nutshell by Ian McEwan

bexlrose's review against another edition

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4.0

Really good book, very strange premise but executed with great skill. A story about a marriage falling apart told from the point of view of the unborn baby inside the pregnant wife. The baby reminds me a lot of Stewie from Family Guy, kind of posh with refined taste and a love/hate relationship with his mother. All in all the book tackled some serious stuff, but my overwhelming sense of it was fun. It was a fun book and it embraced that.

catwithahat's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

embringaling's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

kayay's review against another edition

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funny medium-paced

4.0

yanloureiroc's review against another edition

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5.0

LENDO O MUNDO: Reino Unido

"Ainda está para nascer um narrador como este."

Imagina que louco ler sobre um caso de traição contado pelo ponto de vista do feto dentro da barriga da mãe

vezza's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jidkii's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

The whole story being told from the perspective of a fetus in the womb was such a unique concept. However, the plot itself felt a little flat. Entertaining for sure, but I finished it feeling like something was missing.

Also, as for a Ukrainian, reading about Ukraine in the book felt really eerie considering what's happening now. I know it was written way before the full-scale invasion started, but it felt almost prophetic in a way. It definitely added an unexpected layer of tension to the story.

fatkidatheartreads's review against another edition

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dark funny

4.25

4.25 stars 🌟 witty, observatory and entertaining. No one writes like McEwan. 

I loved him while reading Atonement. I loved him when reading 'On chesil beach.' I adore him now.  I mean, who else would write a whole thriller/comedy from the point of view of an unborn baby still in their mother's womb? 

Just sheer brilliance!

jwilding's review against another edition

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4.0

So entertaining. Never have I ever (up until today) read a book narrated by a wine-loving fetus. I did skim through a few of his many soliloquies. This was insanely fun and unique!

paola_mobileread's review against another edition

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3.0

Very entertaining little book, though it did not manage to keep the tempo of the fist few chapters throughout - which are, however, thoroughly engrossing. Witty, beautifully written, tragicomical take on the banality of evil.