43 pages • 1 hour read
Lionel ShriverWe Need To Talk About Kevin
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2003A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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
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 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.