43 pages 1 hour read

Lionel Shriver

We Need To Talk About Kevin

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2003

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver is an epistolary novel composed of letters that Eva Khatchadourian writes to her husband Franklin after their son Kevin commits a horrific crime at his school. The letters delve into Eva and Franklin's marriage, their decision to have children, and Kevin's increasingly disturbing behavior, exacerbating the already tenuous relationship between Eva and Kevin. The book addresses topics including school shootings, child abuse, violence, and rape.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Lionel Shriver's We Need To Talk About Kevin receives acclaim for its daring and introspective narrative, exploring complex themes of motherhood and culpability. While praised for its gripping prose and psychological depth, some readers find the subject matter distressing and the protagonist unsympathetic. Overall, it's a provocative and thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read We Need To Talk About Kevin?

A reader who enjoys We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver would be captivated by intense psychological thrillers that explore complex family dynamics and moral dilemmas. Fans of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold will appreciate the dark, introspective narrative and deeply flawed characters.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Mystery / Crime Fiction

Psychological Fiction

Themes

Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Relationships: Mothers

Relationships: Daughters & Sons

Topics

Incarceration

Relationships

Grief / Death