Viewer's review: Sarah Irwin reviews We Need To Talk About Kevin

We Need To Talk About Kevin
Lionel Shriver
ISBN-13: 978-1852428891

We need to talk about Kevin is a deep, disturbing and thought provoking book that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. 

The story is told through letters from Kevin’s mother Eva, to her estranged husband Franklin. Throughout these letters, Eva is trying to come to terms with the fact her son was responsible for the death of 7 students, a teacher and a cafeteria worker in a High School Massacre. 

The letters take the reader into the past, examining Eva and Franklin’s relationship prior to the birth of Kevin. Once born, Kevin appears to be the ‘epitome’ of a problem child from very early on in life, seemingly devoid of all feeling and social consciousness. As he grows up his behaviour becomes more and more insidious, and whilst Eva begins to believe they could have a monster on their hands, Franklin continues to search for the good in his son. 

Through Eva’s narrative, we see her exploring her role in her son’s turbulent life, was the way she approached motherhood to blame for the way Kevin ‘turned out’. Was her son born evil? Or is this something he develops as he grows? Is it nature or nurture that determines our life choices? 

Whilst horrific in places, this book provides an intense, rewarding read culminating with a final twist that took my breath away. ‘Kevin’ is a thought provoking book, raising more questions than answers, it is a shocking read, and not for the faint hearted, but in my view worth reading again and again.

By Sarah Irwin, Epsom

Sarah has also recently enjoyed reading An Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir and The Island by Victoria Hislop