We Need to talk about Kevin
by Lionel Shriver.
Whilst some of us found the story gripping and felt the need to push on to the “brilliant denouement” it was generally agreed that the book is certainly overlong.
Some of us hated it finding the twist at the end gratuitous and horrible. None of the characters were likeable and, although Kevin’s parents were certainly dreadful, little contribution was made to the nature v. nurture debate.
Some of us had found ourselves skimming or had given up on the book entirely; others thought it was well-written although over-wordy.
The particular American cultural context came across as alien.
If the book has a serious intent it is certainly not apparent, coming across as a bit of a pot-boiler suitable perhaps for cinematic horror story treatment.
NS September 2010
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