A review by robinudell
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Spoiler
Oof. I understand why people would have clamored for a book like this in the early aughts, but I'm struggling to see what a modern reader would glean from it. I don't have a problem with unlikable female characters- in fact I tend to gravitate towards them. But in this case, I think it was less the character of Eva and more the underlying contempt of the reader by the author that I was alienated by. The constant railing against American Culture TM was tiresome enough, but the casual fat phobia, racism, and bad faith arguments about "political correctness" were jarring, and sadly seem to line up with the author's stated beliefs.The idea of a child born supernaturally evil is not only a rip off of The Fifth Child, it's just a lazy, inaccurate, and unimaginative explanation for people who commit mass violence. Kevin's actions don't make any sense, and don't offer insight into actual mass shooting events. If you want to talk about ambivalence in motherhood and the fear of raising a monster, there are more effective ways to do that. If you're trying to write horror, do that. But walking this weird line between the two just isn't as deep or profound as it was clearly intended to be.
Spoiler
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Mass/school shootings, and Violence