Nutshell

By: Ian McEwan

Narrated by: Rory Kinnear

Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Nutshell is a classic story of murder and deceit, told by a narrator with a perspective and voice unlike any in recent literature. A bravura performance, it is the finest recent work from a true master.

To be bound in a nutshell, see the world in two inches of ivory, in a grain of sand. Why not, when all of literature, all of art, of human endeavour, is just a speck in the universe of possible things?

©2016 Ian McEwan (P)2016 Random House Audiobooks

An classic story with a new perspective.

Nutshell has a very interesting premise - It’s a novel narrated from the womb by a soon-to-be-born, highly articulate protagonist. Unique? Quite possibly. Engaging from the outset? Absolutely.

It’s a story about relationships between unborn child and mother, and a tangled web of lies and deception. Based on a classic, to say more would be to give the game away, and this is a story where you’ll enjoy the journey as the narrative unfolds.

The narrator (Rory Kinnear) is well-chosen, and brings life to all the characters. His voicing of the protagonist’s inner thoughts effortlessly flips from the urbane to those driven by juvenile desire and focus. An excellent characterisation of such an unusual protagonist.

If I had one thing to state in criticism, the novel was a touch too long than it needed to be, however, I did enjoy listening to it, and would recommend it to anyone after a highly literary listen with an usual perspective at its core.

Great performance, reader and author well matched.

My wife and I listened in the car during a long drive. We both loved it. Very erudite. Highly recommended especially if you like wine tasting. The nutshell perspective works brilliantly.

Best Ian's book

One of best book i ever read. It shall be awarded by a Nobel prize

Riveting perspective on the plotting of a murder!

Having a fully conscious as-yet-unborn baby provide the first person perspective on the plotting of a murder, is absolutely unique. Definitely my book recommendation for this month!

Both the writer and the narrator have done a great job.

i wanted more

beautifully crafted, creative, insightful - i wanted more . I will listen to it again.

Hilarious, thrilling story

What a blast! A terrifically funny and thrilling murder story, told by an unforgettable narrator. One of the most entertaining books I've read in quite some time: this is Ian McEwan at his mischievous, exuberant best.

"a lucky beach"

Bless me! Here is Rory Kinnear reading Ian McEwan

I have only enjoyed language as much as I have this, with my first reading of Virginia Wolf.

We read or listen for all sorts of reasons. I am 'catching up' on all those decades when I had to get up for work in the morning. Taste does change and still some books can only be read in hard copy to be slowly enjoyed like Nabakov and. I had begun to think like Virginia Wolf. And Ian McEwan.
My choice of genre ranges far and wide and at times takes huge leaps of hope in choosing an audiobook.
Here we have Ian McEwan being read on audio by Rory Kinnear
Delight.

I will have to find a hard copy though to learn if Ian M wanted a 'bow' to mean a pretty knot or a masculine curtsy. Such (maybe small) things pull up my blissful enjoyment of both story and words being read with so easy a voice.