We need to talk about Kevin - just how bad does it get?

[claudiaschiffer]

Ok so i'm about half way though this book, Celia has just been born and I'm worried that Kevin does something so awful to her, that i'm a bit "eek" about reading on.

Go on, reassure me, surely it can't be as bad as I'm imagining.

I know this all sounds so wussy but I have a really lovely sweet dd whom Celia reminds me of and I really really don't want to read anything horrifying about gruesome Kevin torturing his lovely little sis.

Apart from that I'm LOVING it. It's fab and such an interesting/appalling (in a good way) read. Anyone got any thoughts?

Errm - don;t know what to say without giving anything away..

It is quite harrowing in parts, but worth finishing imo

You won't like the ending in that case but read on. It's worth it.

But do you mean horrowing in the way it has already been harrowing or does it get worse and worse?

Much worse.

it is harrowing, it is also a good read, yuo need to finish it!

|It is fab Ruby, very interesting about motherhood. It actually makes me feel like a VERY good mum (which is nice) as I don't actively loathe my child(ren). But lummy it's full on.

Oh crumbs mildmanneredjanitor.

I actually found the ending less harrowing than what she went through parenting him. I think the parenting bits hit home more as in ' That could be me - please don't let mine turn out like that!'

keep reading. its a great book!

Can't really say much without posting spoilers.
Just be prepared.

It is shocking.

I don't understand why this book got so much attention and respect for apparently saying something 'important' about parenthood. It's surely just a grand guignol horror, with no insight at all. The loony writer (Lionel ) has no kids, no experience of kids and doesn't like kids.

Because people were gripped by it.

Dontcha think Cornsilk that it's a bit reassuring about parenting tho, as surely I CANNOT be as bad as that.

OomphreyCushion, I shall brace myself for the worst

I think the ending is important as the preceding text is retrospective so you need to know what he did to understand their dynamic when he is detained....
I was shocked to be fair. But not surprised.

Surely msdemeanor it is the whole nature/nurture debate writ to the MAX? Is Kevin just a horrible BAD kid or is his cold mother - at least partly - to blame for his veryvery bad deeds.

You can be gripped by something without thinking it is teaching us something profound though. I was gripped by Dr Who.