Brexit, Johnson, Trump, alles komt voorbij in dit hyperactuele maar even goed tijdloze verhaal over een kakkerlak die premier wordt. Zelden met zoveel plezier over zoveel ellendigs gelezen.

A satire on the monumental shitstorm which is Brexit with a nod to Kafka's Metamorphosis.

I love McEwan, he's a fave, and I'll always get on board with a story which parodies the farcical "governing" that we've had to endure from BJ and his merry band of criminals, but I feel like such a short story should be literally that - a short story. To release this as a stand alone novel, for stand alone novel prices, seems a tad on the self-serving side.

I did enjoy it though.

A very humorous and accurate portrayal of the lunacy that is currently in the UK government, with particular focus on a certain referendum that we shan’t mention…

This was an interesting and enjoyable read, though I initially struggled to understand it. I was focused on how the author might reinterpret Kafka's Metamorphosis, but soon found myself confused by the strong political themes. When I first picked it up at the library, the back cover only said: "That morning, Jim Sams, clever but by no means profound, woke from uneasy dreams to find himself transformed into a giant creature." I thought, "Okay, cool, I loved Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis, let's see what McEwan has done here."

It wasn't until I did some research that I realised the book was a parody of the Brexit and its people behind it, which completely changed my perspective. While I appreciated Ian McEwan's wit, I do wish I had a better understanding of the British government and Brexit in general to fully grasp the political references. A few things definitely went over my head, but overall, it was still a fun and engaging read. Despite missing some deeper layers, I enjoyed the clever satire and would recommend it.

Actually laughed out loud at this one. A thinly-veiled satire about Brexit, this is 100% worth every second of your time

3.5 stelline! Grazie ancora alla mia amica @Domizia per questo regalo!!

Absurd, ambitious, amusing and completely contemporary. On the day of publication Parliament was accused of using terrible language. Their behaviour is even worse than in McEwan’s satirical novella. I suspect this will be a divisive read both in terms of its quality and its intent. It is elegantly written and captures the mood of the UK in late 2019 perfectly. For that it will be remembered. As a literary achievement it is one of McEwan’s lesser works. But it demands to be read.