Kevin Katchadourian killed seven of his fellow high-school students, a cafeteria worker and a teacher, shortly before his sixteenth birthday. He is visited in prison by his mother, Eva, who narrates in a series of letters to her estranged husband Franklin, the story of Kevin's upbringing.
A successful career woman, Eva is reluctant to forgo her independence and the life she shares with Franklin to become a mother.
Once Kevin is born, she experiences extreme alienation and dislike of Kevin as he grows up to become a spiteful and cruel child. When Kevin commits murder, Eva fears that her own shortcomings may have shaped what her son has become. But how much is she to blame? And if it isn't her fault, why did he do it?
We need to talk about kevin
This book is memorable and emotionally challenging. A brilliantly written novel detailing a woman's inner suspicion that her son is not just like every other boy. His difficult temperament and maliciousness appear to be innate. Her doubts unfold from the moment he is born and are then suddenly realized in his teen years. Her husband doesn't understand her concerns and is manipulated by their son, therefore leading to a split in the marriage. The only person who sees this boy for who he truly is yet still stands by him is his mother, and he knows this. An unforgettable and important novel for readers who like to be challenged. As reviewed by 08mh
Toombul, 28/07/2014
