We Need To Talk About Kevin
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Review
'an outstanding reading by Lorelei King who captures all the anger, shock, dismay - but never denial - that Eva Khatchadourian experiences when her 15-year-old son slays nine people at his high school. 'Gripping' is an over-used adjective - but not here, as Eva explores her feelings in a series of letters to the husband who hasn't lived with her since the day of the killings.' (Kati Nicholl DAILY EXPRESS )
'This icily forensic, deeply disturbing story takes the form of letters from the mother of a brilliant, evil, teenage murderer to her husband, recounting her prison visits and remembering the circumstances of his upbringing. Lorelei King is the queen of readers: she brings to this performance sharp intelligence and a perfect, weary restraint, building up to the fearsome denouement that freezes the blood.' (Sue Gaisford INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY )
'may work better as an abridged audiobook than as a novel. Some critics have said that Shriver overwrites but there doesn't seem to be a wasted word as Lorelei King narrates the harrowing tale of a 15-year-old archer who kills seven of his classmates.' (Christina Hardyment THE TIMES )
'Lorelei King is once again the consummate reader. There is no faulting her performance, as she brings every character to life, making you feel the horror that is central to this story.' (Emma Fisher OTTAKARS (staff review) )
'brilliant, especially Lorelei King's reading.' (Sue Arnold GUARDIAN ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
'This icily forensic, deeply disturbing story takes the form of letters from the mother of a brilliant, evil, teenage murderer to her husband, recounting her prison visits and remembering the circumstances of his upbringing. Lorelei King is the queen of readers: she brings to this performance sharp intelligence and a perfect, weary restraint, building up to the fearsome denouement that freezes the blood.' (Sue Gaisford INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY )
'may work better as an abridged audiobook than as a novel. Some critics have said that Shriver overwrites but there doesn't seem to be a wasted word as Lorelei King narrates the harrowing tale of a 15-year-old archer who kills seven of his classmates.' (Christina Hardyment THE TIMES )
'Lorelei King is once again the consummate reader. There is no faulting her performance, as she brings every character to life, making you feel the horror that is central to this story.' (Emma Fisher OTTAKARS (staff review) )
'brilliant, especially Lorelei King's reading.' (Sue Arnold GUARDIAN ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Sue Gaisford, INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
'This icily forensic, deeply disturbing story takes the form of letters from the mother of a brilliant, evil, teenage murderer to her husband, recounting her prison visits and remembering the circumstances of his upbringing. Lorelei King is the queen of readers: she brings to this performance sharp intelligence and a perfect, weary restraint, building up to the fearsome denouement that freezes the blood.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
It's still difficult for me to venture into public. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
It's still difficult for me to venture into public. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
119 of 128 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I saw this book on BBC1's Page Turners and so decided to buy it. This novel is absolutely brilliant, I cannot recommend it enough.
The story is narrated by Eva, in letter form, as she writes to her estranged husband. Eva's son, Kevin, is in a juvenile detention centre, as at the age of 15yrs he went on a killing spree at his high school. He killed 7 fellow students, a teacher and a cafeteria worker. Through Eva's letters, the reader is taken through Kevin and her story, going right back into their past, even before Kevin was born. As Eva spills her heart out onto the paper, you are struck by how she is debating the point of just how to blame, if at all, she is for Kevin's actions.
The story is narrated by Eva, in letter form, as she writes to her estranged husband. Eva's son, Kevin, is in a juvenile detention centre, as at the age of 15yrs he went on a killing spree at his high school. He killed 7 fellow students, a teacher and a cafeteria worker. Through Eva's letters, the reader is taken through Kevin and her story, going right back into their past, even before Kevin was born. As Eva spills her heart out onto the paper, you are struck by how she is debating the point of just how to blame, if at all, she is for Kevin's actions.
The exploration of the past, especially Eva's relationship with her husband, brings up many areas of life and truth that are often not spoken about. This, I think, is why this novel is so good; the book is not just about Kevin's terrible crime. The dynamics of Eva and Frianklin's relationship are also explored, both as a young couple and as a family once Kevin is born.
This novel really does stay with you long after you have finished the last page. The ideas, suggestions and debates it raises are complex and intriguing, something to really get your teeth into.
This is a great book, one of the best I have read, and that really is saying something.
78 of 84 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is very well written. Contrary to other reviews of this book, I think it is a strength in the novel that Eva does not always inspire empathy in the reader. Eva is a terrifically well rounded, believable and flawed character. The book is in the form of letters to her husband trying to rationalise the tragic killings performed by her son. I think it is in trying to rationalise why Kevin committed such atrocities that Eva questions her role as a mother... is it because she didn't really want a baby, because she couldn't bond with Kevin after he was born, because she wanted a career or was Kevin just born inherently evil?
This book is gripping from beginning to end, thought provoking, funny, scary and sad... well worth a read.
This book is gripping from beginning to end, thought provoking, funny, scary and sad... well worth a read.
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Schriver is frequently slated for writing a book about motherhood when she is childless. In slating Schriver and in condemning Eva (Kevin's mother) reviewers overlook the fact that Kevin scores highly on the Cleckley checklist used to identify clinical psychopathy and Eva also alludes to all 3 of the classic triad of childhood indicators of psychopathy. She's done her homework in this respect. Kevin evades diagnosis (there is a great unwillingness to diagnose psychopathy in children) and the family are left to flounder with a child whose behaviour cannot be modified with either reward or punishment.
As a mother, Eva blames herself for not bonding with a son who is incapable of bonding or, indeed, of forming normal relationships. She does her best to understand and cope with his aberrant behaviour, but faced with her husband's refusal to acknowlege the problem and his inability to see through Kevin's play-acting, she is out-manoeuvred by her own son. Through it all she loves her son as best she can, but his inability to respond in a normal fashion stymies her attempts to mitigate his behavioural and deep psychological problems.
It takes a while to get into the book, but as the story progresses, it becomes hard to put it down. The real reason for Eva's estrangement from husband and daughter is a twist I didn't see coming until a few pages from it. The final scene, however, seems out of place.
As a mother, Eva blames herself for not bonding with a son who is incapable of bonding or, indeed, of forming normal relationships. She does her best to understand and cope with his aberrant behaviour, but faced with her husband's refusal to acknowlege the problem and his inability to see through Kevin's play-acting, she is out-manoeuvred by her own son. Through it all she loves her son as best she can, but his inability to respond in a normal fashion stymies her attempts to mitigate his behavioural and deep psychological problems.
It takes a while to get into the book, but as the story progresses, it becomes hard to put it down. The real reason for Eva's estrangement from husband and daughter is a twist I didn't see coming until a few pages from it. The final scene, however, seems out of place.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Quite simply, one of the best books I've ever read...
I literally do not have enough words in my vocabulary to describe how much I love this book. From the very first page, I was hooked. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Amelia
Built into a great, interesting read!
I found this slow going at first, but I persevered and the story built into one a looked forward to finishing. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Endlessly
a superb book !
Beautifully written, an accurate journey through life in general and motherhood in particular - while subtly developing the theme of raising an evil child... What would you do ? Read more
Published 15 days ago by Mum in London
disconcerting
This is a very harrowing story which is nevertheless gripping and not easy to put down. It is a story of a boy with obvious problems and the difficulties he and his family have... Read more
Published 19 days ago by jill withey
Fantastic
One of the best books I've read in a very, very long time. It's strange really, as none of the characters are at all likeable, but that didn't stop me enjoying this book immensely. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Gavin Jones
A wonderful book
This is not a cheerful, light read. It is however a beautifully written, thought-provoking page-turner. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Expat
Great read
Great read with a surprise (or shock) ending - but not everyone's cup of tea as it is quite violent with a few detailed sexual references. Read more
Published 1 month ago by e williams
Couldn't put it down
I avoided picking up this book to read for a very long time as I knew that I would find the subject matter distastful. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ms. D. A. E. Walker
Compelling, mind-boggling story, a disturbing read!
I came across this book by word of mouth, as two colleagues of mine had told me about their reading experience, and both of them in quite different terms. Read more
Published 1 month ago by maximize
Wasn't completely convinced...
I'm a bit late to the party for this book, I know, but I downloaded it to my Kindle so that I could read it before going to see the film. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Maddy Reading
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