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A review by nessawesley
The Cockroach by Ian McEwan
3.0
This was an interesting and enjoyable read, though I initially struggled to understand it. I was focused on how the author might reinterpret Kafka's Metamorphosis, but soon found myself confused by the strong political themes. When I first picked it up at the library, the back cover only said: "That morning, Jim Sams, clever but by no means profound, woke from uneasy dreams to find himself transformed into a giant creature." I thought, "Okay, cool, I loved Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis, let's see what McEwan has done here."
It wasn't until I did some research that I realised the book was a parody of the Brexit and its people behind it, which completely changed my perspective. While I appreciated Ian McEwan's wit, I do wish I had a better understanding of the British government and Brexit in general to fully grasp the political references. A few things definitely went over my head, but overall, it was still a fun and engaging read. Despite missing some deeper layers, I enjoyed the clever satire and would recommend it.
It wasn't until I did some research that I realised the book was a parody of the Brexit and its people behind it, which completely changed my perspective. While I appreciated Ian McEwan's wit, I do wish I had a better understanding of the British government and Brexit in general to fully grasp the political references. A few things definitely went over my head, but overall, it was still a fun and engaging read. Despite missing some deeper layers, I enjoyed the clever satire and would recommend it.