Plot Summary

Nutshell: A Novel

Ian McEwan
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Nutshell: A Novel

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2016

Book Brief

Ian McEwan

Nutshell: A Novel

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2016
Book Details
Pages

208

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London • Contemporary

Publication Year

2016

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Nutshell: A Novel by Ian McEwan, a fetus narrates his experience of learning that his mother, Trudy, and his uncle, Claude, plan to murder his father, John, and take over his million-dollar home. The intelligent unborn child tries to understand and react to the outside world through what he hears and feels, while being subjected to Trudy and Claude's scheme and subsequent police investigation.

Mysterious

Contemplative

Dark

Suspenseful

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

3.8

67,336 ratings

63%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Nutshell: A Novel by Ian McEwan has been praised for its inventive narrative and clever prose. The book offers a unique perspective and showcases McEwan's skillful storytelling. However, some reviewers find the plot somewhat implausible and the characters less relatable. Overall, it's a thought-provoking yet divisive read worth considering.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Nutshell: A Novel?

Readers who enjoy Nutshell: A Novel by Ian McEwan are typically fans of psychological thrillers with literary flair. They appreciate modern retellings of classic tales, as seen in comparisons to Hamlet. This audience also enjoys complex narratives and the intricate prose found in McEwan's other works and in titles like Atonement or Julian Barnes's The Sense of an Ending.

3.8

67,336 ratings

63%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

208

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London • Contemporary

Publication Year

2016

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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