If you are a McEwan fan, you will not be disappointed.  The narrator is an eight month old male fetus,  and the plot is a take-off on Hamlet.  Claude, the uncle and Trudy, the pregnant mother want to murder John Cairncross(the name may sound familiar to some), the unnamed baby’s father.  Scattered throughout this short novel are allusions galore, mostly Shakespearean.  McEwan’s intellect is on display throughout-I went to the dictionary and Google often.  His knowledge of literature, science and even wine are to be highly admired.  And while Nutshell is a learning experience, it is far more fun than educational.  Sit back, suspend belief and enjoy the ride!