I recommend We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver

[albosmum]

I really enjoyed this book and would like to recommend it!

I got to the red-paint-smeared-over-the-house bit. Does it really improve from there on? Do you promise I won't be wasting my time?

I found the style not very easy but the subject matter was so good and the story so persevered and really enjoyed it

pwomise, sweety

ikwym nqc, but wonder if this is becuase my own experience of motherhood has been so positive, i find it hard to imagine feeling like she does, but still don't find it in-credible

(did you get the hat pattern btw?)

suedonim, that's where I got bored too

bp can i implore you to try again?
(i am notorious for abandoning books...star of the sea, cloud atlas - which i did go back to )

Oh well, I'll look for it at the library again . That's if they let me have any more books. I had a phone call about my overdue ones last weekend and still haven't done anything about them.

suedonim, i tell them the children hid them..or just leave the dosh on the counter

go on, bp, if you try it i'll try the alan hollinghurst thingummy

OK I'm going out tonight, will take it in my bag for tube ride. Last chance.
Treats (and a bit of light b*ggery) in store for you, then, Ladybundy

oooh no pressure then

havae just started the Mammoth Cheese, so alan will have to wait his turn...

I thought it was brilliant - but agree with expat, Lionel herself is barking.

They know me too well, LadyBundyful (who are you btw????). I reckon my fines pay for most of the new books they get in our library!

je suis bundle

I did, bundle, thank you! I've not really understood it yet, but I haven't really got my head around crochet, full stop (so the longer instructions will be useful). I've been going mad with knitting hats.

About finding the mothering stuff strange ... it wasn't the big-picture broken stuff, it was something small and subtle. Hmm, I'll have to make a note of it, if I reread it.

I really do like the ambiguity of the book. It isn't at all clear, to anyone involved, if Kevin is broken, if his mum is broken, if their relationship is broken, or what.

I enjoyed it alot although had to suspend disbelief quite a few times. I mean who would put up with so much? She's not a mum herself which explains why some of the mother bits are a bit far-fetched.

Out of interest which bits did you think were far fetched?

Do you mean me KatieR? I am rubbish at remembering what I've read 5 minutes ago let alone a few months, as in this case. However, I think the bit about the bleach and her lack of dealing with it seemed, to say the least, unlikely. And the whole relationship with her husband which had been so good. Although I'm the first to say that having kids changes your relationship I think her husband's complete lack of support AT ALL TIMES was far fetched.

Also the sister's character, Celia or Cecilia or whatever her name was, was totally unrealistic as well.

I mean, did Margaret/Lionel just wake up one night and think, 'Oh gawd! I forgot to give Kevin a foil! Quick, let me conjure up a sister who's his complete opposite!'

WAY too simplistic.

Oooh, yes, the sister was a bit lame.

And I found the fact she didn't divorce her husband or sort things out with her son quite unbelievable. I wasn't convinced (although I was fascinated) by the idea of a child who didn't care about anything, and hence couldn't be disciplined or rewarded.

I thought it was riveting and disturbing. But I did find it odd that the husband appeared not to be able to see any wrong in his son - I mean, most of us are mortified if we think our child might have misbehaved etc. And I did find it hard to believe that a child could all his life be acting several different personae with mum, dad, school - as the mother suggests by his 'out of character' illness.
Still, I thought it was a fascinating read.

I agree singersgirl. It was really compelling despite the belief suspension business. I was always waiting for something more horrific and was never disappointed. Probably says something bad about me.

lionel or kevin?

I have been meaning to get round to reading this, it was featured on a book show on the BBc a few months ago.

Prepare to be depressed, tsap!