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Original poster

We need to talk about Kevin

39 replies

Cosmogirl · 24/12/2007 14:02

Just finished reading this book - amazing! It has taken me a shamefully long time to finish it but the ending just sent shivers down my spine - so unexpected.
Has anyone else read this? What were your thoughts?

OP posts:
BitTiredNow · 24/12/2007 18:08

there was a thread about this about 3 weeks ago- I too did not see the ending and it disturbed me for weeks afterwards. I spent most of the book hating and sympathising with her simulataneously, but OMG - what a twist.....

needmorecoffee · 24/12/2007 18:20

its very disturbing.

Saturn74 · 24/12/2007 18:22

It is disturbing.
And hard going.
I'm glad I read it though - and although I had an inkling about the ending, I thought it was well written.

BitTiredNow · 24/12/2007 18:55

did you? you are much more perceptive than I was... mind you, I didn't see the ending of Salem Falls either, and apparently it was very obvious.....

noddyholder · 24/12/2007 19:05

I loved this book and disturbing as it was it made me confirm that my som is the most important thing in my life

RubySlippedonastraymincepie · 24/12/2007 19:35

disturbing and not an easy read by any means

one of those books where your opinions changed chapter by chapter

Lio · 24/12/2007 20:00

I thought it was brilliant and defended it (and the author) so strongly at my local library book group meeting that two people haven't come back since . They were being very annoying though, actually saying crass rubbish like 'It's just as well Lionel Shriver hasn't had children, she obviously wouldn't be a very good mother.' I might have been a bit over-zealous in reminding them that it was a novel, i.e. something she'd made up...

BitTiredNow · 24/12/2007 20:05

has anyone read anything else of hers that they could recommend?

noddyholder · 24/12/2007 20:09

lio i was the same at my book group

Original poster
Cosmogirl · 24/12/2007 23:22

Haven't read anything else by Lionel but really want to now!

OP posts:
thymeoperator · 04/01/2008 10:24

Hi! New here. I loved this book, and read 'Double Fault' and 'The Post-Birthday World' by her and they were both fantastic, she doesn't seem to write anything where it's easy to have a set opinion about a character, TPBW I couldn't make up my mind which man she should have been with, and in DF I felt so thoroughly furious with both the man and woman by the end of the book, I couldn't believe how really angry I felt over fictional characters!! But once I had time to get over it and look at it more objectively, I could see that was actually the point of both books, it's not meant to be easy, and it was really powerful writing! And incredibly realistic and accurate. I wrote her a letter after reading horrible critical reviews of her and '...Kevin' on Amazon, people saying in interviews she's this awful cold person who would be a terrible mother, I wrote a review in defense of her on Amazon and then wrote her to tell her what an amazing novel it was and how impressed I was at how accurate she got some things considering she'd not had firsthand experience with them, and to thank her for putting something out there that doesn't tell women that pregnancy is a beautiful experience, because I love my son but boy oh boy did I hate pregnancy!

Dinosaur · 04/01/2008 10:25

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

SlartyBartFast · 04/01/2008 10:33

could not put it down and could not recommend it strongly enough

Meeely2 · 04/01/2008 10:38

I am reading this at the mo, when i get 5 mins to myself - finding it hard going sometimes when she uses very long sentences, but the underlying feel of it is very close to home.

elkiedee · 15/02/2008 23:29

I haven't read in print but found the reading on Woman's Hour very compelling and very disturbing, my mum started listening clearly too and advised me not to listen (I have a 9 month old ds).

DarthVader · 16/02/2008 10:31

I have just started this book - and I am suprised about how hugely well written it is - already looking forward to reading her other books!

Nemoandthefishes · 16/02/2008 10:33

havent read it at all but will do..does anyone want to sell a copy?

poshwellies · 17/02/2008 17:09

I've got a copy nemo-let me know if you would like it!

Nemoandthefishes · 17/02/2008 21:01

poshwellies how much do you want for it? [email protected]

expatinscotland · 17/02/2008 21:02

No, no we don't.

Please, not more!

andysbelly · 18/02/2008 13:42

I've just finished this book. I liked it, but does anyone else feel that the author "went on a bit" about irrelavant details? I started skipping huge paragraphs where she was going on about the interior of the cafe she was sitting in etc or the elections...I know it made it sound more realistic but I found myself thinking "just tell us what happened with Kevin..."

Was it just me?

evelynrose · 18/02/2008 21:46

I finished it last night. Riveting and obviously deeply disturbing with some particularly gruesome parts such as Celia's eye. I got annoyed at Eva for not simply taking Celia and leaving a long time before-it was obvious that she was a sitting target for Kevin's envy and spite.
There were also some really funny moments such as when toddler Kevin is late in learning to speak and then just says "idonlikedat" repeatedly.
I did pick up a latent "anti boys" "perfect girls" bias that went beyond Kevin's extreme behaviour which irritated me as a mother of boys. However in LS's defence I suppose all those school shootings in America are carried out by boys.

Overpaid · 18/02/2008 21:47

No we don't

Maidamess · 18/02/2008 21:47

I love love loved it.

evelynrose · 18/02/2008 21:50

I thought it was beautifully written despite the savagery of the plot.

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