We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

[Inver]

Phew...at last I am finished it. Can't say it was one of my favourite reads and found the way of writing a bit of a bind at times. I couldn't help but be on Eva's side being a mother of a 16 year old at the moment. How other mothers have come to terms with the tragedy of something their offspring has done like this is beyond me!!! Too many of these tragic kind of stories in real life though in USA isn't there?!?

Anyone else read it :reading:

Must stop reading such harrowing books.:blush:

[Kell]

I read it last year for the Posh Club and absolutely hated it. I kept expecting it to get better and persevered to the end, but I found it very predictable and didn't manage to "get on" with any of the characters at all. I only rated it 3/10 and that was being generous - it was one of my most disappointing reads of the entire year. My review here (http://undermindbooks.blogspot.com/2006/07/we-need-to-talk-about-kevin-by-lionel.html).

[happyanddandy]

I read this last year and I had to concentrate and work hard to read it - I liked the way it was written - I thought it was very clever - I had to reread lots of bits because of her use of English. It was one of the best books I have read recently - it made me think deeply about parenting but then I do that anyway!!

I also read another of her books about tennis, a bit dull...

[Kell]

It seems to be a bit of a "marmite" book - you either love it or hate it. Either way, it's certainly one that makes you think and gets discussion going.

[Gyre]

I read it last year as well, I didn't think a lot of it as well, I found Kevin a wee bit of a scumbag (I know I am stating the obvious, but still):D

[happyanddandy]

It seems to be a bit of a "marmite" book - you either love it or hate it. Either way, it's certainly one that makes you think and gets discussion going.

Yes I agree. I gave it to hubby to read thinking it was the kind of book he liked and he read about a quarter and gave up! :smile2:

[Sofia]

I have this on my TBR shelf....I don't think I'll be in a hurry for it;)

[JudyB]

I've been lent it and I can't face it.

[happyanddandy]

Pleeease give it a go!!:mrgreen:

[Polka Dot Rock]

Pleeease give it a go!!:mrgreen:

I'm with you h&d :D I read it last year and really, really, erm... enjoyed is too weird a word for it! :lol: But it made it into my top 5 books of 2006 as I was completely gripped by it. One of my good friends read it very recently and she loved it!
Couldn't read it at night tho'... :hide:

[madcow]

I read it last year and although I wouldn't go as far as saying I loved it, I did enjoy it and was a memorable read.

[aromaannie]

I found it a bit long and felt I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a bit more condensed

[Sugar]

I'll add myself to the support camp - definitely one of my top reads from last year. One to make you think, although I agree it's not one to "enjoy".

[Lilywhite]

I am also one of the supporters of this book. It really stuck with me and although it did take a bit to get 'into' the style, I was gripped and I have to say quite shocked by it. A fantastic book in my eyes.

[Janet]

I reviewed it on here last year. This is what I said:

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did, wow - I was hooked!

It made me feel shocked and sickened in places, and yes, I'll admit it, a little smug that I have such a good relationship with my children.

It begs the question whether children can be born evil. From personal experience, when I had my son I suffered severe PND. I didn't know what was wrong with me at the time, of course. I just felt that I'd wanted a baby for so long and I had a very difficult pregnancy resulting in a 6 weeks premature baby - but when he was very little, he didn't seem to want to know me.

I never felt he hated me, or that he was evil, and once I started bottle feeding things got much better, and then after a few months I went to say with my husband's parents for several weeks which helped me get over my PND. (My health visitor was a witch who just wanted to stuff me full of anti-depressants).

Anyway, I digress. As Kevin became older, I became more entralled about what would happen next. As soon as Celia was born, I had a sense of foreboding that something bad would happen to her eventually, and when Kevin said "Sure you don't want to say good-bye to Celie one more time? my blood ran cold.

I thought the ending of the book was very good. All too often endings are a real let-down. I didn't realise, until very close to the end of the book, that Franklin was dead - I'd seen Celia's death coming, but not his.

At times was a very difficult book to read emotionally, but compelling and, despite the subject matter, I really enjoyed it.

It's a book that really seems to divide camps - you either love it or loathe it!

[happyanddandy]

Bagpuss, what a marvellous review! I cannot express myself as well as that - you hit the mark - the book makes you deeply reflect on your childrens birth experiences and parenting skills :smile2:

[Janet]

Bagpuss, what a marvellous review! I cannot express myself as well as that - you hit the mark - the book makes you deeply reflect on your childrens birth experiences and parenting skills :smile2:
:blush: Thanks. :)

[Inver]

Thanks everyone.....lots of different views on this book.....:readingtwo: made interesting reading.

[caroline]

I read this book earlier this year. It`s very thought provoking and stays in my mind even now quite a few months after I finished reading it.

[happyanddandy]

I read this book earlier this year. It`s very thought provoking and stays in my mind even now quite a few months after I finished reading it.


agreed - I think about it from time to time :smile2: