Has anyone read Lionel Shriver's novels and would they recommend?

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Your thoughts would be most welcome.

I have only read 'We need to talk about Kevin' but I thought it was fantastic - gripping, insightful characters and thought provoking on many levels. I especially liked the slow deconstruction of family life and the way in which my opinions of the characters changed while reading. It is a very dark book, though.

I thought 'We Need To Talk About Kevin' was a great read; there were some flaws in it but it's a real turn-pager.
I found it quite disturbing so wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a frothy read.
It's a great choice for book group as it invites lots of debate.
Lots of people hate the book.

I am one of those who hated it - i thought it was too black and white and the style of writing we self conscious and turgid - just my opinion though.

Agree that it provokes debate due to the subject matter

DO you mean other than Kevin??
Kevin is a top book club book - lots to talk about + always diverse opinions!

I have read 'We Need To Talk About Kevin'.
It was an interesting book, I found it quite hard work to get into intitially but I think that was because I could not identify with the mother at all and just wanted to slap her round the chops most of the time.
Very very dark and disturbing subject matter though.
If you like stuff like that then Mo Hayder books are a good gripping read, much more gripping that Shriver IMO.

I thought We Need to talk About Kevin was a great book but I haven't read any of her other books.

Has anyone read anything else she has written?

i have read "we need to talk ..." - very readable altho' main characters deeply unlikeable - weirdly compulsive TBH

Thanks guys. One thing thoough - is it depressing. I'd put off reading Kevin because I have to be in the mood to be disturbed, particularly on the topic of children.But Shriver always sounds interesting when she writes for the papers so I wondered if I should stop being so squeamish.

'kevin' can be dark but must admit i found most of it hilarious. she has a really good sense of humour and so does kevin (the character that is).
tempted to seek out her other stuff if only i had any time to read!!

'Double Fault' is another blistering novel she wrote several years before 'Kevin', which I think has recently been republished. It's set in the world of US pro tennis but I think is pretty gripping, even for non-sports/tennis fans (like me); it is much more about the shifting ratio of power between a couple in relation to their individual careers. I loved it, like Kevin, for the small observations that make you sit up and say, 'Oh, that's so true!' e.g. "When boys win, they boast; when girls win, they apologise." One warning, the ending is pretty nihilistic ('more than Kevin!?' I hear you exclaim) and may be upsetting to MNers of sensitive natures.

I can't get into Kevin at all.

'Kevin' is odd and depressing and frightened me as I was expecting dd at the time!

I thought WNTTAKevin was utter utter tripe I'm afraid. Shan't bother trying any more of hers. Sorry to be the voice of dissent.

I might try the Double Fault one. I remember trying to read Vernon God Little and not getting on with it at all. Sounds like Kevin might be similar territory.

I really enjoyed Kevin

You need to remember it is complete fantasy though otherwise you might go mad

No, no, no. Must. Not. Get. Into. This. Thread!

Double Fault was excellent
Kevin, I read it, was absorbed by the narrative and psychological aspects but I would say I enjoyed it per se, a riveting read though.

I wouldn't say I enjoyed it per se [doh]

Read Kevin when I was pg and scared the hell out of me lol - quite good, compelling but not outstanding

Double fault is ok, don't think I'd read it again though

I'm reading Double Fault just now and it is really good, I am very surprised. Very different to Kevin.