We Need to Talk About Kevin

Sorry for the delay. Time was not on my side this week. Kevin is written entirely by the perspective of Kevin's mother, Eva to what we assume is her ex-husband, Franklin. The letters chronicle the present as well as dive into the past giving us a glimpse into how she felt when she first wanted to become pregnant (at a later age than some women); how she felt when she actually got pregnant, gave birth, raising Kevin, then having another daughter.
During this book, I thought a lot of how important it is a couple with a child or children to really discuss childraising. I think even more now that it's important to discuss before the child is even conceived, and perhaps before the marriage even takes place. I think in part Kevin grew up the way he did because he had no set rules. His mom said one thing, but his dad ruled all his behavior to "boys will be boys".
Perhaps I should mention this: Kevin shot, I believe, 7 people in a school gym just days before the real-life Columbine events.
This book is excellent because it gives no easy answers - it is unapologetic in its writing. Eva is clearing her head. There are sometimes when if she were face to face with Franklin, she'd be yelling at him - there are other times when I'm sure she would jump into his arms full of love.
Working at Chapters, I know the importance of recommended books to some shoppers. They don't want to start a book that no one they know have read it. I really recommend reading this book.
My feelings during reading this: I was glad I was out of high school, and it reminded me of the time I went home early and skipped the next day of school because a death list was found in the bathroom. Yes, even in Cannington! I was affirmed I never want children, but for two major reasons. I wouldn't want them to turn out like Kevin - heartless and cold, nor would I want them to be affected by someone like Kevin - either shot, or having a friend shot, or even having someone in their school shot - even if they never knew them. It would be a little too close to home for everyone. I was scared when I wrote this, of the evil of Kevin, knowing that evil like that really does exist. I was sad for Eva, for she was all alone, no one in the community liked her - they egged her house, painted her house, because she was the mother of a killer - even though she didn't raise him that way. Eva was all alone, and she visited her cruel, unrepentant son regularly, and she couldn't even get an answer as to why he did what he did. '
When a book makes me feel so many feelings all at once, and still affects me a week after reading it, I know its a good one. A recommendable one, and a buyable one. I have added it to my "to buy list". If you have read it, please let me know what you felt. If you end up reading it, let me know too; I'd love to discuss it with you!
We Need to Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver. For more info, check out talkaboutkevin.com

I'm currently reading The Bourne Identity, but it's slow going, so I think the next post will be a list of books I'm dying to read.