Luke Jones

Saw this described as ‘Anne of Green Gables for Adults’ and that’s exactly how it feels. The prose is gorgeous, doing an excellent job at describing growing up in a small working class town with the small town rivalries, relationships, and drama feeling like the center of the universe.

BUT, the hype massively dampened the impact. I was expecting a masterpiece that would move me to stay until 3am steaming through the book and immediately buying the second. Instead it was just pleasant. I can see why this series is adored; but I feel like I can set it aside after the first book.

I have a strong feeling that people are too blinded by nostalgia of the movie to give it the rating it deserves.

First of all - the movie is definitely better. Laura Derne, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill? Amazing cast.

Second of all - the characters are awful, and it made me angry at Michael Crichton that he'd created these people. Lex is more obnoxious and unintelligent in a way that no child ever is, Ian Malcolm is a total edge lord, and Alan Grant goes from college professor paleontologist to rugged military man with a mind for strategic combat.

The book isn't a bad book, but it certainly isn't a great book. It's the kind of book you pick up for $4 at an airport and steam through on a beach before forgetting you ever read it.

I started reading Nutshell in August 2023. I didn't have any intention of picking it back up again but had the nagging sensation that I was missing out on something special. I'm glad I took the leap and steamed through it in a few short hours.

Nutshell is a fast-paced visceral retelling of Hamlet from the perspective of a fetus who is building his own picture of the outside world through sound, vibration, and his mother's emotional state.
The writing felt flowery and highfalutin at times and, while this would usually be a turn off, a baby fancying himself a poetic Oscar Wilde type helped me get over that fast.

This book isn't for the faint of heart, but the originality of the storytelling and quality of the writing more than make up for any flaws I felt it had. This was my first McEwan book and I'd love recommendations on others.

I think I've read this book 3 times now (once when I was about 15, once when I was about 25, and now...). The portrayal of Lisbeth is frustrating and inconsistent. She's a strong-willed genius who is vulnerable. In some chapters she's childlike, in others she is a brutal kickboxer.

The ideas in the book are good fun, but the writing ages year on year.