We need to talk about Kevin

[lemmywinks84]

I've watched the movie a couple of times after reading the book, and fucking hell.

I'm not sure if it's a very important book or the most futile book ever. It's absolutely fabulously written, but oh my god.

Horrible book IMO : it put images in my mind that I never wanted and now are there for ever . Read it for a book group rather than from my own choice.

Deeply, deeply unsettling book. Amazingly written but I think it put me off Lionel Shriver

I've always wanted to read this but I'm scared I won't be able to get it out of my head.
I've not watched the film.

Fantastic book. My favourite. So deeply unsettling, but so well written

I've watched the film and have the book but haven't read it yet? Is it much worse than the film?

Very good book but my goodness it's so dark.

Book is amazing. Not seen the film as the book was enough. Really thought provoking.

I loved this book and thought the film was a very good interpretation - i think kevin was evil from the start. His mother tried so hard with him - that comes through in the book more than the film which inevitably leaves things out. Ive read it about 3 times and re-watch the film every couple of years or so!

Her book ‘the mandibles’ was very good too - quite scary with what is going on in the world at present.

The book is 100x better and more unsettling. The film is good but barely scrapes the surface of the book.

Ha! I read this on holiday last year. Light holiday reading it is not. I found the end incredibly disturbing. DD was 5 at the time so similar age to the daughter in the book.
Amazing book though. I still haven't picked up the courage to watch the film.

But was he evil or unwell? Or both? Can a person be pure evil without having some kind of mental illness?

And at the end when he says he used to think he knew but now he's not so sure - does that make it better or worse? Eva says thank you to him for saying it. Absolute headfuck.

I think it's incredible. And I remember thinking at the time every teenager and every parent should read it

I never want to read it again though. But it's important I think.

@TheSeedsOfADream

I think it's incredible. And I remember thinking at the time every teenager and every parent should read it

I never want to read it again though. But it's important I think.

Exactly my sentiments. Very disturbing in a brilliant way.

All of her books are very thought provoking. I especially enjoyed The Mandibles, Big Brother and So much for all that.
None of them are on the same level as Kevin though.

I read it while pregnant with DC1. Not a good move.

I remember being unable to put this one down. It is a good book. Might have to pick this up again actually.

I thought it was brilliant though very disturbing played on my mind for ages. Must watch the film I've never seen it.

@TheSeedsOfADream

I think it's incredible. And I remember thinking at the time every teenager and every parent should read it

I never want to read it again though. But it's important I think.

That's how I feel as well.

Can a person be pure evil without having some kind of mental illness?

It's a very uncomfortable thought, but I think yes.

@UncleMatthewsEntrenchingTool

I read it while pregnant with DC1. Not a good move.

Omg poor you!

It put me off having children for years!

It's one of the few books that uses an unreliable narrator brilliantly, rather than as a lazy way of plotting.

One of the only books I continue to think about years and years later. Terrifying. It still gives me that weird feeling in the pit of my stomach.
The ending.
I think he was ‘evil’ from the start but also she just couldn’t love him. She never did. Was that because she knew he was evil or she was incapable of love?
Does a lack of maternal love create a monster?
But then she loves the daughter doesn’t she...

I didn’t feel a rush of love for either of my
Children when they were born and had PND.
I thought about this book a lot then and the idea of nature/nurture and what it means to be a mother. Disturbing.
It took a long time for my love to develop and a bond. What if that had never happened?

I've watched the film, but avoided reading the book on the basis of it being too disturbing.

Maybe I should/ will read it one day.

Same with Room.

i can remember when autism was blamed on mothers being too distant, not affectionate, not loving enough with the child.
experts noticed that autistic children did not make eye contact and had communication problems, therefore they said that must be because the mother has failed to make eye contact, not bonded properly etc.
this thinking held sway for quite a while.
some people who suggested it was due to different brain type were dismissed as making excuses for inadequate cold parenting.

some people are different.