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We Need to Talk About Kevin: A Novel
 

We Need to Talk About Kevin: A Novel (P.S.)

by Lionel Shriver


In this gripping novel of motherhood gone awry, Lionel Shriver approaches the tragedy of a high-school massacre from the point of view of the killer's mother.In letters written to the boy's father, mother Eva probes the upbringing of this more-than-difficult child and reveals herself to have been the reluctant mother of an unsavory son. As the schisms in her family unfold, we draw closer... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  contemporary fiction,  family,  disturbing,  death (all tags)

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Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

3 of 3 members found this review helpful.
Ma Titwonky
  • Rated 5 stars

“This is the story of a family that bears the stigma of one of its members having performed a Columbine-type massacre at his high school. The story is told from the perspective of the mother, and it is compelling reading for a number of reasons.

What happens between a husband and wife when they have a child together, and that child causes what was once a happy, secure marriage to slowly but surely spiral into distrust, suspicion, and constant disagreement. And that's just what happens...”

Ma Titwonky’s full review »
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Didn’t Like It

Victoria F
  • Rated 2 stars

“Werghgh, horrible.

Do not read if you have a weak stomach/are prone to nightmares, or even if yu are not. Fairly disturbing and not all that great.”

Victoria F’s full review »
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Community:
  • Rated 4.129683 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • bhargavi18

    bhargavi18 said:

    “I started the book twice, and had to put it away... it was too tough to deal with someone who's life is such a miserable litany, even given the context.. given that the protagonist is supposedly a brave entrepreneur I can't understand how she gave up and didn't fight back at all.... then some weird fancy caught me and i read the book... backwards! That just rocked... the book is a brilliant work read backwards.. one section at a time, chapter by chapter.. bit by bit the whole thing unfolds and you see who did what, why, when and how. The linear version is too hard to read... so my reco is - read the first 2 chapters for a little context and then start backwards.”

    posted Tuesday, July 8 2008
  • ghendrich

    ghendrich said:

    “I couldn't put this book down. Great writing. If the author has never been a mother, she sure has a lot of the feelings right. I think Eva is depicted as many young mothers feel: scared, hopeful, but trying so hard that whatever might be that natural isn't given a chance. This book shows there are things you can't begin to control/handle as parents, and this is one extreme example. All children are different, as are parents, and all need different things from each other. The fact that we can't always express what we want or need is very painful for all concerned, but even when the need is expressed it's not always possible to meet it. When you're in the situation, sometimes you cannot see the obvious. Even if you see it, others in the same situation may not--and then you just feel crazy or trapped. You may be doing your very best to do the right thing, but you're also human as a parent. This book ended in the only way it could have. Very sad.”

    posted Sunday, July 6 2008
  • ditzy

    ditzy said:

    “This book was so shocking but it had to be read. It left me feeling "grubby" but I couldnt put it down .Every parent should read this. I heard it dramatised on the radio recently-compelling. ”

    posted Saturday, February 9 2008
  • ophelia

    ophelia said:

    “Two points here:
    1- FICTION.
    Some readers criticized Shriver for writing about something she didn't know about-- ie, motherhood.
    I think that perhaps, as the subject was so sensitive, at this stage such a book could ONLY have been written by someone who is not a parent,and as fiction.
    What do you think?

    2- American society.

    There have now been two school killings on the American model in Europe-- one in Germany, and one in Finland. In both cases the attacker was 18 and was a member of gun club (the only way of getting a gun legally in many European countries).

    So there is a concern, and an interest in the novel: "We need to talk about Kevin" has been translated into several languages and I know quite a few people in France who have read it.”

    posted Thursday, January 31 2008
  • Rivka S

    rivka s said:

    “scary story but amazing writing...”

    posted Sunday, December 2 2007
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