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43 pages 1 hour read

We Need To Talk About Kevin

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2003

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Book Brief

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Lionel Shriver

We Need To Talk About Kevin

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2003
Book Details
Pages

432

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New York • 2000s

Publication Year

2003

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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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.

Dark

Unnerving

Mysterious

Melancholic

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.2

211,371 ratings

78%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

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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 this

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.

4.2

211,371 ratings

78%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

432

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New York • 2000s

Publication Year

2003

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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