I recommend We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver

[albosmum]

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

I read this on holiday - not a great choice of holiday reading

I did find it an interesting read, if a little depressing. I found it horrific that all of the shootings referred to in the book were real. So many children gunned down before their prime

But from the book it was the wee girl that got to me! (trying not to give too much away to TSAP)!

Thanks soapbox, once my exmas are over I will read it.

Finished this last night (2am couldn't put it down). Started out as a fairly uncomfortable read...ended up as being a fairly horrific one.

Lol!..then i went to bed and had nightmares!
Errrm ... anyway...recommended...... i think

I finished it today. IMO not as good as Notes on a Scandal, but similar in that the narrator's side is open to interpretation. Cleverly done. My heart went out to the perpetrator, especially when little... in that respect, reminds me of Red Dragon, by Thomas Harris, the precursor to his Silence of the Lambs, horror with humanity. Know what you mean about less than convincing bits, they show up her non-mum status.

I'm reading this at the mo - no spoilers please! I'm really in to it - it's already reminding me of 'the fifth child' by Doris Lessing - anyone else read this one?

this is my bookgroups book this month Is it a long read or could I do it in a week!?!I am finding it hard to get started atm

Yes, Rachey, exactly - like The Fifth Child updated to modern times. Very discomfiting. Noddyholder, I'd say you'd be pushed to read it in a week, although you could - I read it over several weeks, which I think was better, because it does leave you feeling a bit, well, discomfited.

I've finished! and thoroughly enjoyed it despite all the 'uncomfortable' bits. I have to say I thought the character of Celia was a cop-out to tie up loose ends - in real life, I'm not sure she would have even been conceived or brought up in that way - she seemed to be there just to illustrate some points, and that the ending wasn't exactly a twist, I could see it coming and if anything was an anti-climax. However I enjoyed it and the issues it made me think about. I did manage it in a week in a few long sessions (one - a 3 hr train journey). I rather liked her style although I know others think it too American.

I read it in one agog train journey

Did you like it MI?

I didn't find it depressing, just interesting.

Yes, in many ways I did. And it was so damn refreshing after all those 'oh the absorbing mystery of Having Given Birth, how difficult yet how enhancing I'm finding it' palaver [insert finger down throat emoticon]

I agree, I think the mother's struggle to love and do her best for Kevin despite him was brilliant - even the arm breaking incident! People don't talk about these issues enough, plenty of adult parents and children hate/dislike/disown yet still seek attention from each other. If you liked this, do read 'the fifth child' by Doris Lessing, an interesting study of a younger (in birth order) child being 'different'.

Indeed MI, I actually though Kevin was fascinating. It was astounding just how vile he was to everyone.

I've heard about the fifth child, might give that a go.

What did you make of the ending, everyone (everyone who has finished it, that is )?

I've just finished it, great book.
Then end - well, I guess it was a matter of Eva carrying how she had done throughout Kevin's childhood, that is, trying to be a good mother despite his 'character flaws' (understatement of the year?!).
Maybe this was because he started showing a tiny bit of remorse? I don't know how things would have developed had he not given her the eye in the box...

Did you think it was weird the way he seemed apprehensive of adult prison? Nothing else ever phased him including the dirty diapers. In my experience of young offenders they look forward to it bizarrely - it's only when they get there they realise how awful it is.

I found the ending quite surprising - almost as if she finally became the stereotypical caring, nurturing mum after his horrible acts and his honesty about them, i.e. almost as if she was "redeemed" as a mother by his behaviour (and her forgiveness of his behaviour)

I have just read this and wanted to revive the thread - maybe others have also caught up with the earlier readers?
I found it awful and deeply upsetting to read, almost unbearable for its negativity and hatred. Stylistically it was well done, very compelling and gripping, but horrific. Like others here it was the sister's experience that really got to me (but I guess sibling relationships are high on my list of interests at the moment).
The problem that really perplexed me about the mother's behaviour was why she never ever sought any help; why nobody but her saw the depths of nastiness Kevin was capable of; why she never tried to discuss him with anyone outside the family; or why she never seemed to doubt her own mental health. She was a worldly educated woman with bright friends and although she did appear to be a bit socially isolated surely she could have gone to the library - say- and tried to read up around this kind of experience or behaviour? Oh well, that's what I would have done anyway.

hovely, I think she'd read too much around parenting, and thought she was doing all the right things etc (ie over analysed and made that american phrase "quality time" for them, which neither of them obviously enjoyed..). and I'm sure she did try to get help from a paediatrician who dismissed her fears, along with the husband. The book had a far less negative effect on me, I was absolutely drawn to it and found it hard to put down. I also "trusted" less of her testimony the further I read. brilliant read though, and am really looking forward to discussing it with my book group.

The one thing that I found really glaringly unbelievable was that she was sure that Kevin had committed the near psychotic act with the bleach (and how yuck was the bit with the glass eye at the end?) but when she heard there had been an 'incident' at the school it didn't cross her mind at all that Kevin might be the instigator - she was concerned he might be a victim. Just didn't buy that myself. I mean, Mums of plain naughty kids, as soon as they see teacher heading towards them at hometime have that fatalistic air of what's s/he done now?"

I found it quite fascinating, but ultimately unsatisfying.

But again, such a blessed counterweight to all the Motherhood Is Wonderful stuff.

For a much better example of human ambivalence towards procreating, try 'Frankenstein'.

Lionel makes me want to roll my eyes.

Agree it is refreshing for a counter to the motherhood is wonderful stuff - but jeez, it's not that bad

In the world of someone who changes her name from Margaret to Lionel, it is.