Nutshell

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.