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The Cockroach
The Cockroach | Ian McEwan
8 posts | 8 read | 3 to read
Kafka meets The Thick Of It in a bitingly funny new political satire from Ian McEwan That morning, Jim Sams, clever but by no means profound, woke from uneasy dreams to find himself transformed into a gigantic creature. Jim Sams has undergone a metamorphosis. In his previous life he was ignored or loathed, but in his new incarnation he is the most powerful man in Britain and it is his mission to carry out the will of the people. Nothing must get in his way: not the opposition, nor the dissenters within his own party. Not even the rules of parliamentary democracy. With trademark intelligence, insight and scabrous humour, Ian McEwan pays tribute to Franz Kafkas most famous work to engage with a world turned on its head.
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Melismatic
The Cockroach | Ian McEwan
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Pickpick

This was available by the #AuthorOfTheMonth — a short novella but a garish and politically focused metaphor on the state of UK (& USA, sadly) and their political choices (read: mistakes).

Granted, I agree with his political points (although I don‘t know as much about the state of the UK) but I do genuinely enjoy his writing style. Definitely on the alternate end of the tone spectrum from ‘Atonement‘ but still good!

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TheEllieMo
The Cockroach | Ian McEwan
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Panpan

Billed as a ‘Brexit satire‘, this slim volume (98 pages) is not so much a novella as a Doctor Who style plot thrown over an essay of McEwan‘s political opinions. There are some mildly amusing moments, but nothing new or enlightening. A bit disappointing, really.

On the plus side, that‘s the “#satire” box on my #JennyIs30 bingo card crossed off.

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ClairesReads
The Cockroach | Ian McEwan
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Mehso-so

A (sort of) fun Brexit satire/homage to Kafka from Ian McEwan. Is it well-written? Yes of course. Is it entertaining? At times, yes. Is the characterisation of the politicians of our lives accurate? Unfortunately yes. It‘s all recognisable stuff, but I‘m left feeling it‘s a bit undeveloped, or unrealised. It‘s a step up from Machines Like Me Mr McEwan, but you can do better.

BarbaraBB Great review. I not as big a fan of McEwan as I used to be. 5y
Emilymdxn I feel like ‘could do better‘ has been my reaction to new McEwan books for like the last decade now 😒 at least it‘s better than machines like me! I‘ll probably still read this one if it comes in the library as it‘s short (edited) 5y
ClairesReads @Emilymdxn I feel like for me he comes in waves, I enjoyed Nutshell, and The Children Act more recently, but he‘s definitely on a down buzz at the minute 5y
ClairesReads @BarbaraBB thanks! I find him very hit and miss more recently 5y
BarbaraBB Me too but I agree that The Children Act was very good. I have Sweet Tooth on my shelves but am in no hurry to read it. 5y
37 likes5 comments
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ClairesReads
The Cockroach | Ian McEwan
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A quick wee first up for 2020

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Dogearedcopy
The Cockroach | Ian McEwan
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Purged about 25 books from my stacks today and then rewarded myself by buying *one* book!

This 100-page novella is a Kafkaesque satire about a cockroach who wakes up as the Prime Minister of the UK. Deliciously pointed jab at the current PM at the helm of Brexit. 🇬🇧