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Original poster

Talk about Kevin

38 replies

wheresclaire · 18/04/2009 21:23

I know Im years late but I've only just read this. OMG what a brilliant book. Hard to get into, but once you're there... wow. Read it, everyone.

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 18/04/2009 21:24

Insipid, predictable, laboured, psychologically inaccurate and loathsome book.

We really don't need to talk about Kevin. I wish Shriver hadn't either.

janeite · 18/04/2009 21:25

Sorry - I totally agree with ShowOfHands.

HumphreyCobbler · 18/04/2009 21:26

I liked it.

I hated the other book of hers I read though. The tennis one.

Bleatblurt · 18/04/2009 21:26

I couldn't finish reading it as I hated it so much. I had to force myself to get half way but then just couldn't do it anymore.

BocciBalls · 18/04/2009 21:26

I rather enjoyed it too. SOH - can you give more insight into the psychological inaccuracies? (interested not being sarky)

noddyholder · 18/04/2009 21:27

Loved it.

Original poster
wheresclaire · 18/04/2009 21:30

Maybe I related to Eva (mother character). Sometimes I think my relationship with DS is a constant battle too. But my God not this bad!! Whole nature/nurture thing I suppose. Without sounding thick though, She did use a lot of "big" words when they weren't really needed!

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BlueEyedMaid · 18/04/2009 21:31

Hated it desperately, put it aside then went back to it halfway through. What a twist! Ended up grudgingly quite liking it, sort of. Strange book, strange author...

Bleatblurt · 18/04/2009 21:33

There was a twist? Tell me what it was pretty please. Don't make me finish reading it!

noddyholder · 18/04/2009 21:34

I think as the mother of a son and only child it really affected me.

Geepers · 18/04/2009 21:34

Loved it once I got into it. It did take me quite a lot of attempts though, but once I was there I couldn't put it down.

No way I could have ever predicted the ending. It certainly caught me out.

ByTheSea · 18/04/2009 21:35

It blew me away too.

tillyfernackerpants · 18/04/2009 21:37

I did persevere with it, thought it was ok but very overrated.

Butterball, you might've seen the twist coming, consider what Kevin was particularly interested in (trying not to give away any spoilers)

Original poster
wheresclaire · 18/04/2009 21:37

More than the school killings... the sisters eye thing did it for me. Did he do it? Ugh just horrible.

OP posts:
Bleatblurt · 18/04/2009 21:39

I read it a few years ago and remember nothing about it. Well I remember the bare bones of it of course.

I might go and read the last 50 pages.

scrappydappydoo · 18/04/2009 21:39

I loved it as a good read but equally it frustrated me - I just didn't 'get' why she didn't put kevin in therapy. I found it hard to believe she was the only one who saw something wrong..

sprogger · 18/04/2009 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheCrackFox · 18/04/2009 21:45

Shriver only had one book in her. She has been a big disappointment since.

izyboy · 18/04/2009 21:48

That Shriver woman is very irritating. Put me off reading the book. Glad you enjoyed a good read tho' claire.

BlueEyedMaid · 18/04/2009 21:56

OK so SPOILER coming up in case you haven't read/finished it, just for you Butterball. Don't read on if you don't want to know...

As you may remember it is written in letter form from Eva to her husband, so you get the feeling she's writing to him about their past, explaining her actions and perspective on things after a divorce or break up.

But then it turns out Eva is writing to her now dead husband, as Kevin killed him, along with his little sister, with a bow and arrow in the back garden before he went on his killing spree.

I totally didn't see this coming and the sudden element of grief somewhat changed the feel of the book for me.

Original poster
wheresclaire · 18/04/2009 22:09

Me too blueEyed, although the blurb on the back was misleading. It clearly says "Letters to her estranged husband". Unless estranged CAN mean dead?

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blametheparents · 18/04/2009 22:13

I thought it was really obvious that Kevin had killed his sister and dad.
I didn't get why everyone was asking me, Did you get the twist?
I hadn't even seen it as a twist, it just seemed obvious.

rookiemater · 18/04/2009 22:26

I enjoyed it and borrowed her next one from the library. Complete and utter tosh, it's a parallel story thing along the lines of Sliding doors, but all about the complicated love life of a child free fortyish woman. Struggled to get to the pointless end, and now retain unpleasant feelings for Lionel Shriver.

ramonaquimby · 18/04/2009 22:28

she is a very unlikable person and for that reason I just can't get into any of her books.

namechangecosfeelingsad · 18/04/2009 22:29

I enjoyed Kevin (though I read it just before my son was born and it did unnerve me slightly!). HATED HATED HATED Double Fault though - awful characters IMO.