I just finished "Nutshell" Ian McEwen's latest book. Wow!

[CTyankee]

You remember him; he wrote "Atonement," a fabulous book made into a great movie.

"Nutshell" is a shorter book. It is told by a fetus who is overhearing a plot by his mother and her lover to kill her soon to be ex husband and then get his money and inheritance of property. Her lover is also her husband's brother!

McEwen writes beautifully. If you want a fast, really gripping read this book may be for you. I don't read a lot of fiction (I primarily read nonfiction, most often on art history). But it got good reviews and it sounded intriguing.

This book doesn't have the twist of plot that was so surprising in "Atonement" but it gives you little, pleasurable zaps on the way.

[femmocrat]

1. I loved Atonement.

Both the book and the movie. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Laffy Kat]

2. It's had great reviews. On my list.

[CTyankee]

3. The plot device alone is fabulous. He pulled it off beautifully, tho. What a great writer!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I'll have to load that onto my Kindle.

I've always liked McEwen's writing.

[hermetic]

5. Thank you for telling!

I loved all of McEwan's books so I am thrilled to hear about this. He always uses amazing plot devices like no one else.

Hope it comes to my library soon.

[CTyankee]

6. Can you recommend another one of his books that you found especially wonderful?

We have a consortium of libraries in the area and can get an inter-library loan...

[hermetic]

8. Well...

I've yet to read one I didn't like but Sweet Tooth comes to mind. You do have to slog through a lot of detailed descriptions of British Intelligence, but the end is just mind-blowing. Here is where we were discussing this last year.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11937034

On Chesil Beach is another.
http://www.fictiondb.com/author/ian-mcewan~on-chesil-beach~179304~b.htm

That website, fictiondb.com is a great place to find out about books you are contemplating reading. Just type in Ian McEwan in the search box and then you can find out what each one is about. He certainly isn't someone you can pin down to any particular theme.

Enjoy!

[bikebloke]

7. I have it in my library reserve queue.

I just have to wait.

[CTyankee]

9. I have two books in my library's queue...eagerly looking forward to The Art of Rivalry, an art

history book about painters who were rivals in their time for fame and glory. It is by Sebastian Smee, the great art critic of the Boston Globe. The other is an interesting sounding novel by Ann Patchett.