Review of We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver

The first thing I have to clear up here is that Lionel Shriver is a woman, not a man as I originally though! Apparently, she picked Lionel as her pen name because she liked it. So there.

Secondly, I finished this before the New Year so my memory is a wee bit hazy of it but all the stronger because it was such a gripping, harrowing read.

It tells the story of Kevin Khatchadourian, a 15-year old teenage who has apparently carried out a Columbine style massacre at his local High School.

The book is written in the first person as a series of letters from Kevin’s mother, Eva to her estranged husband, Franklin. To be honest the story is more about Eva’s relationship with Kevin and her husband rather than the massacre that Kevin uses to make his mark.

Through the story we are told of Eva’s background as a successful manager of a travel guide writer similar to Lonely Planet and her carefree life travelling the world researching new editions. She is happily married to Franklin who is a location scout for adverts.

Their’s is a happy marriage until the thorny subject of children comes up. Franklin is certain he wants a son to mould in his own image, Eva doesn’t want to lose independence and freedom to travel. In the end, they fudge it and Eva gets pregnant and gives birth to Kevin. From the off, Kevin is a very difficult child who goes through many nannies and is very noisy and wilful. He is 6 years old before he stops using nappies. Through all these formative years Eva tries very hard to hide the fact that she feels no connection with her son and thinks that his behaviour is just to spite her for bringing him into the world unloved and unwanted.

As time passes Kevin grows up being more difficult and Eva determines to have another child. This is very much against her husband’s wishes. She gives birth to Celia who seems to be the complete opposite to Kevin and is the apple in Eva’s eyes. Unfortunately, she is very afraid of everyday things like the toilet or small insects and she is also very trusting of the people around her including her older brother, Kevin. This is to be her own downfall later in the book.

Of course, the book is all building up to its expected climax, the shoot-out in the school. This is very well plotted and presented by Eva who has gathered her evidence from several sources including her son who she visits regularly in the detention centre where he passes his sentence until transfer to an adult facility when he hits 18,

In all the book is superbly written and is very moving at times. In particular , the ending is quite harrowing and is somewhat unexpected. Deservedly, it won the Orange Prize a couple of years ago. This is a must read.