We Need to Talk About Kevin

A Novel

By: Lionel Shriver

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

Length: 16 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Eva never really wanted to be a mother - and certainly not the mother of a boy who ends up murdering seven of his fellow high school students, a cafeteria worker, and a much-adored teacher who tried to befriend him, all two days before his 16th birthday. Now, two years later, it is time for her to come to terms with marriage, career, family, parenthood, and Kevin’s horrific rampage, in a series of startlingly direct correspondences with her estranged husband, Franklin. Uneasy with the sacrifices and social demotion of motherhood from the start, Eva fears that her alarming dislike for her own son may be responsible for driving him so nihilistically off the rails.

©2003 Lionel Shriver (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Critic reviews

“Shriver handles this material, with its potential for cheap sentiment and soap opera plot, with rare skill and sense.” ( Newark Star Ledger)

“A slow, magnetic descent into hell that is as fascinating as it is disturbing.” ( Cleveland Plain Dealer)

“Powerful [and] harrowing.” ( Entertainment Weekly)

long but good ending

Yikes, didn't see that coming. Such a disturbing story that's way too relevant for our times. Though very long and detailed, which makes it hard to listen to, it's worth it in the end. Get last the first few chapters and you'll want to know more. I listened at 1.05x and the narration was superb.

Absolutely Amazing and Haunting

This book blew me away. I loved the movie and thoroughly enjoyed the book. It is both beautifully written and performed.

An Brilliant Book -Perfect for Audible!

An absolutely awesome told in the series of letters from Kevin ''s mother to her husband.........hearing the letters read made it so much better...hearing her emotions,. The end runs on a Sixth Sense unexpected ending. A must!

Wow, what a book

The book is expertly written, haunting, grotesque, heartbreaking. I found myself at times almost physically ill listening to it, and also filled with sadness and compassion for the protagonist. The narrator is excellent.

excellent

Never thought about what could happen to the family who are left behind after their child commits a horrific crime. interesting format. Great description and read with emotion. Well done!

Raw and Unfiltered

I loved the poetic way the writer conveyed Eva, she was perplexing, inspiring, and revealing. What a powerfully written account of a mother’s worst nightmare.

Deeply moving

I felt so empathetic to this mother's plight. This story was well written and narrated beautifully. Thank you again for allowing me to review this book. I would recommend this book, especially an audible version.

waded through it

very intriguing story, made me want to keep going, but the author goes on and on during some parts. very good narrator, used different voices for different characters which was amazing.

Best & worst book ever

This is the best terrible book I’ve ever read. It starts out down, drags you through the worst of human interactions, then throws you off a cliff. And it’s great! I didn’t like the narrator at first- but realized that she was exactly how this woman would sound while looking back at her heartbreaking, train-wreck of a life. If this review is too far down the rabbit hole for you, believe me “it ain’t nothin’” compared to Lionel Shriver’s book. Read it in small increments. I found that after a day or two, I wanted to read a little more... and then a little more.
To my Fellow readers: There is one thing that I haven’t heard mentioned. The worst parts of the mother’s personality (snobby, cynic) shows up in the author’s personality! I was disgusted at Lionel Shriver’s interview on Wiki. She wrote a superb and disturbing book, but looks down with distain on (American?) people and our boring, mundane lives. She seems to think her other books are just as good as “Kevin”, but we morons aren’t smart enough to recognize it.
I wouldn’t want to know her, and won’t be reading her other work. But I’m glad I read this one.

Unique

Would you try another book from Lionel Shriver and/or Coleen Marlo?

I would try another book from Lionel Shriver but not if it's read by Coleen Marlo.

Would you be willing to try another one of Coleen Marlo’s performances?

I did not like her voice or portrayal of Eva. Too thin. When she was supposed to crying it sounded like she had a cold with a stuffy nose.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I really liked the story. I have to admit I didn't have a clue how the book would end.I love how it was told through a series of letters. Unique.

Any additional comments?

Are some children born evil or are they reared to become a monster? I could find no redeeming qualities to make me have a shred of sympathy for Kevin. I could however find some sympathy for Eva.